Memory [Includes Bonus CD] [Import]

I have never questioned Lang Lang's technical brilliance, but rather, whether he truly has a feeling for the music he plays. Here, at last, I think he's finally demonstrating himself as a fine interpreter of Romantic piano music, due to the encouragement and tutelage he's received from distinguished pianists and conductors Daniel Barenboim and Christoph Eschenbach. Lang Lang offers a thoughtful, suprisingly restrained, performance of the Chopin piano sonata, though my own personal tastes run more along the likes of Martha Argerich and Maurizio Pollini, who are tempermentally poles apart, but have still offered splendid interpretations. Lang Lang's best performance is of Schumann's "Kinderszenen", which is quite expressive, without demonstrating the exuberant, melodramatic performances I heard both live - I was present at his Carnegie Hall solo recital debut - and on CD in his Carnegie Hall solo recital debut CD. Fans who crave Lang Lang's exuberance at the keyboard, will be pleased with his interpretation of Vladimir Horowitz's interpretation of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody Number Two, which is the bonus CD in this two CD set (I am surprised that Lang Lang and Deutsche Grammophon did not opt to include a recording of the Rachmaninoff preludes I had heard last night at his second Carnegie Hall solo recital.). The only disappointment is Lang Lang's interpretation of the Mozart K. 330 sonata, which lacks the thoughtful, technical brilliance I've come to expect from the likes of Alfred Brendel and Mitsuko Uchida. This new recording from Lang Lang may not win him new converts from serious classical music fans and critics alike, but at least he demonstrates that he is a talented young classical pianist (And not a overhyped, young Chinese version of Liberace whom I thought was actually auditioning to become a member of the Elton John Band, joining Guy Babylon as Elton John's third keyboard musician.). However, I still believe that the best young classical pianist from the People's Republic of China is Yundi Li, not Lang Lang.

Just how many 'memories' can a 23-year old pianist have? Usually reflective recitals such as this are reserved for the older giants of the keyboard and often come to us a clippings from previous recordings. But finally in this 2 CD album the much discussed and ballyhooed Chinese pianist takes us by surprise in reflecting on the works he played as a child of 11 and beyond, works from the Romantic repertoire that demonstrate more sensitivity of interpretation than we are used to hearing.

The program is well balanced, opening with Mozart's 'Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major, K. 330' in a performance that embraces the delicacy of line and the technical finesse of a solid keyboard master. Yes, and even some of the poetry is showing. Lang Lang then proceeds to demonstrate his prowess and an in-control technician in Chopin's 'Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58', reigning in much of his overstatement heard frequently in his live performances, and opting instead for clarity of line and dexterity of approach.

The highlight of the recording is Schumann's 'Kinderszenen, Op. 15'. This beautifully introspective and gently tender performance shows us an aspect of this young dynamo of the keyboard that we have not heard. Yes, he leans into ritards, and stretches phrases like taffy, but that was the style of pianism when these works were performed. Gone are the days of the Romantic Pianists whose own transcriptions and variations were superimposed on individual performances. That is a lost art and one that welcomes a new proponent in young Lang Lang in a time when audiences search for pianists who are 'purists': this is another form of pure.

And to please his countless fans Lang Lang adds the 'Hungarian Rhapsody, for piano No. 12 in C sharp minor', the Horowitz transcription, to reassure everyone that he can still burn up the keyboard and make more sound come from the piano than many of his colleagues today. Though Lang Lang is not tops on the list of this listener's favorite pianists, this CD does offer evidence that there is more to him than his playing TO the audience quirks indicate: it seems that he may be turning toward playing FOR his audience - and for the composer! Grady Harp, May 06

Chopin Piano Sonata No.3 in B minor, Op.58 - III. Largo is one of my all time favorites and this recording is the best I've heard (something I discovered a few days ago thru NPR accidentally). It's much slower (and more space) than any other recordings I know of but truly intimate and spoke direct to my heart. The slow massaging of each of those lustrous notes Chopin wrote (you know the passage I'm referring to) gave me the goose bumps every single time! The beauty it resonated is almost too much and too full for the heart to take and brought me to verge of tears.

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