Search - Ponti, Chopin, Beethoven :: Unissued Live Performances 3

An album of collection!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 08/31/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

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Michael Ponti is a pianist worthy to admire due his demonical technique, sublime passion displayed, sheer lyricism, mercurial energy and powerful presence on stage.



This CD contains a living recital given in Hamburg 1987. The first part begins with Chopin's Etudes Op. 25. Believe or not, I would not doubt to include among the great performances ever released before about these extraordinary pieces that conform this emblematic Op. Ponti recreates with admirable dramatic eloquence every one of these pieces, conferring them of interpretative suppleness, radiant splendor and sheer warmth. He knows to emphasize every piece with admirable sense of wholeness as they indeed would configure a Sonata in three movements (The first six Etudes would equal the first movement, an expressive Andante that would span from the seventh until the Ninth, and finally the thunderous Tenth Etude until the last one would integrate the last movement. Iincandescent vitality and feverous commitment.



Beethoven `s Les Adieux finds in Ponti a very honest reading, nourished of deatield insights.



But when we arrive to Liszt, I really was shocked, because to my mind Pontu rivals with Earl Wild in which bravura energy, steeled fingering, feline phrasing and demoniac intensity literally make of Reminiscences of Don Juan a memorable performance.



Finally and I guess it was an encore he played Chopin's Etude No. 5, loaded of sober sentiment and austere lyricism.



An album of collection!

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