Search - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Leopold Ludwig, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Tschaikowsky: Piano Concertos 1 & 2 / Cherkassky, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Marvelous Performances

D. A Wend | Buffalo Grove, IL USA | 08/30/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have quite a few recording by Shura Cherkassky but I was prompted to buy this one after hearing the last two movements of the Tchaikovsky Second Piano Concerto played on the radio. I thought that the playing of the concerto was very different from what I had heard before and found it daring and exciting. Then, it was revealed who the pianist was and I was hooked.



For some listeners Shura Cherkassky will take some getting used to since he comes from the Romantic school of pianists who believed that the player was equally as important to the performance of music as the composer. This idea changed around the 1930s when the pianist was seen more as a performer and less as an interpreter. Mr. Cherkassky was somewhat unpredictable in his choice of tempi and on more than one occasion a concerto performance would find the Cherkassky and the orchestra in different places.



The two recording here are among Shura Cherkassky's best; his keyboard work is dazzling and in both the Tchaikovsky First and Second concerti he is well-supported by the Berlin Philharmonic. The Second Piano Concerto has had its supporters and detractors over the years but I have always found it stimulating and an antidote to the over-played First concerto. Shura Cherkassy plays the edition by Alexander Siloti which made some substantial cuts from Tchaikovsky's original version. I find the original edition preferable and can recommend the recording by Peter Donohoe. The sound is good but these are mono recordings so the engineering will not come up to current standards; however I would not want to be without these performances and the ear will adjust to the sound quality. A nice disc at a nice price.

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