9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb technique, beautiful music, Jun 30 2000
By Eric Brinkmann - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Piano Concertos 1-3 (Audio CD)
Yefim Bronfman is certainly one of the greatest living pianists, and the results here are magical. The three Bartok concertos are known as among the most technically difficult piano concertos ever written, yet Bronfman has everything in control here. The toccata-like movements gleam with precision and the slow movements have just the right kind of beauty. Forget Rachmaninoff. These are the great piano concertos of the 20th century.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Total Involvement for Bartók's Progression of Concerti, Oct 1 2005
By Grady Harp - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Piano Concertos 1-3 (Audio CD)
Having recently praised the beauties of the Pierre Boulez recording of the three Bartók piano concertos each with a different orchestra and soloist (Zimmerman, Grimaud, Andsnes), returning to this wholly satisfying CD with Yefim Bronfman at the keyboard and Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic traversing these miraculous concerti is grounding. No hype here, just brilliant music making.
Bronfman has these three works so melded into his psyche that he makes the challenges sound simple and pulls the angst and romance of the slow movements into such pure and clear resonance with the orchestra that the result is transcendent. Salonen doesn't just conduct this fine orchestra: he collaborates with not only the soloist but also with each first desk player who has solo lines and then with the lush tutti sounds for which this orchestra is known.
In short, this is as fine a performance of I, II, and III of Bartók as any coupling on record. Indispensable Bartók! Grady Harp, October 05
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
powerful piano and rich orchestral playing., Feb 12 2001
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Piano Concertos 1-3 (Audio CD)
4.5 stars! This record is worth getting just for the interesting things, possibly by accident, that happen on the recording. First of all, the LA phil is really improving...the brass and wind playing is excellent and Sallonen's leadership over the group is proving itself to be top-notch. Bronfmann's playing is strong, confident, and amazingly clear...the Second Piano COncerto has an energy to it that sounds completely original and unabashed. But interestingly, there are moments when Bronfmann lifts the pedal or holds on to his notes a little too long--but it is a great effect....and undoubtedly intentional. Just listen to the second movement of the Second Concerto and you will know what I mean. Too hard to explain here. You could buy the record just for this reason! Hats off to Bronfmann.