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we have pleased to offer you to Prokofiev: Sonata No.7/Toccata, Op.11/Barber: Sonata, Op.26/Kabalevsky: Sonata No.3/Fauré: Nocturne No.13/Poulenc: Pr Reviews
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful 
The Mad Barber, December 8, 2005 By This review is from: Prokofiev: Sonata No.7/Toccata, Op.11/Barber: Sonata, Op.26/Kabalevsky: Sonata No.3/Faur�: Nocturne No.13/Poulenc: Pr (Audio CD) I last listened to this CD years ago, and now that I'm working on the Barber sonata myself, I checked it out of the library again after spending some time alone with the piece. Now that I'm listening to it with new ears, I was shocked at how different it was from how I remembered it! It's a great performance which can be a little bit too hard-edged at times.
The pianistic exactitude displayed in the first movement is absolutely authoritative. The tempo is correct and rock-solid (without being mechanical), the dynamic contrasts are all beautifully executed, and there is no romanticizing of this very modern score. I went back and listened to Olga Kern's Cliburn CD again, and I was surprised to hear all kinds of misreadings I missed when I heard her play in San Jose - so many rhythms which are scrambled, so many dynamics steamrolled over, so many wrong articulations. But Horowitz is extremely precise, especially for his time - I had never appreciated how astute he... Read more
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful 
Get this CD. Be amazed. Tell a friend., March 27, 1999 By A Customer
This review is from: Prokofiev: Sonata No.7/Toccata, Op.11/Barber: Sonata, Op.26/Kabalevsky: Sonata No.3/Faur�: Nocturne No.13/Poulenc: Pr (Audio CD) This is a desert island disc if ever there was one. Let's get skip ahead and talk about the Toccata. This piece can only be described in roller-coaster terms. For 4'00" you will experience every conceivable twist and turn, the music will only slow down to gather momentum (like when you are slowly hoisted up on a bungee cord just to get ready for a free fall). Exhilerating!
Don't think for a minute that we would skip over Prokofiev's 7th Sonata. The first movement has enough material to last for hours. Only someone like Prokofiev, with his limitless supply of fresh material, could rapidly shift between themes without milking them for all they are worth. The 2nd movement could be described as haunting, lyrical, mysterious, and chilling. The 3rd movement is a pure show of brute force. This is the kind of music that annoys the neighbors, unless they have exceptional musical taste.
The Barber Sonata bursts on to the scene with a brash into. Nothing on this... Read more
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful Pure, Unadulterated Horowitz..., July 6, 2003 By Al Magliano (Nesconset, NY USA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Prokofiev: Sonata No.7/Toccata, Op.11/Barber: Sonata, Op.26/Kabalevsky: Sonata No.3/Faur�: Nocturne No.13/Poulenc: Pr (Audio CD) This recording makes it clear why Horowitz is so often referred to as "king of the piano". His staggering technique is more than evident, and his seemingly limitless tonal palette is constantly in effect. The Barber Sonata is a most electrifying experience, especially in the insanely virtuosic fugue, and definitely the best on record. The Prokofiev Sonata has more rivals (Richter, Argerich, Pollini, etc.), and to no one's surprise, it stands with the best. The last movement may not be as exciting as Argerich's version, but on the whole, the performance is top-notch. The Toccata is taken in a record four minutes flat, but does anyone notice that Horowitz makes a cut several pages from the end? Still, this account in one of the most stunning on record (the only real competition coming from Argerich on her debut CD). It is interesting how Horowitz slows down the tempi in certain sections to prepare for more heart-stopping climaxes. The rest of the CD is also enjoyable, but it... Read more
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| 20 of 21 people found the following review helpful The Mad Barber, By This review is from: Prokofiev: Sonata No.7/Toccata, Op.11/Barber: Sonata, Op.26/Kabalevsky: Sonata No.3/Faur�: Nocturne No.13/Poulenc: Pr (Audio CD) I last listened to this CD years ago, and now that I'm working on the Barber sonata myself, I checked it out of the library again after spending some time alone with the piece. Now that I'm listening to it with new ears, I was shocked at how different it was from how I remembered it! It's a great performance which can be a little bit too hard-edged at times.The pianistic exactitude displayed in the first movement is absolutely authoritative. The tempo is correct and rock-solid (without being mechanical), the dynamic contrasts are all beautifully executed, and there is no romanticizing of this very modern score. I went back and listened to Olga Kern's Cliburn CD again, and I was surprised to hear all kinds of misreadings I missed when I heard her play in San Jose - so many rhythms which are scrambled, so many dynamics steamrolled over, so many wrong articulations. But Horowitz is extremely precise, especially for his time - I had never appreciated how astute he... Read more 17 of 19 people found the following review helpful Get this CD. Be amazed. Tell a friend., By A Customer This review is from: Prokofiev: Sonata No.7/Toccata, Op.11/Barber: Sonata, Op.26/Kabalevsky: Sonata No.3/Faur�: Nocturne No.13/Poulenc: Pr (Audio CD) This is a desert island disc if ever there was one. Let's get skip ahead and talk about the Toccata. This piece can only be described in roller-coaster terms. For 4'00" you will experience every conceivable twist and turn, the music will only slow down to gather momentum (like when you are slowly hoisted up on a bungee cord just to get ready for a free fall). Exhilerating! Don't think for a minute that we would skip over Prokofiev's 7th Sonata. The first movement has enough material to last for hours. Only someone like Prokofiev, with his limitless supply of fresh material, could rapidly shift between themes without milking them for all they are worth. The 2nd movement could be described as haunting, lyrical, mysterious, and chilling. The 3rd movement is a pure show of brute force. This is the kind of music that annoys the neighbors, unless they have exceptional musical taste. The Barber Sonata bursts on to the scene with a brash into. Nothing on this... Read more 7 of 8 people found the following review helpful Pure, Unadulterated Horowitz..., By Al Magliano (Nesconset, NY USA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Prokofiev: Sonata No.7/Toccata, Op.11/Barber: Sonata, Op.26/Kabalevsky: Sonata No.3/Faur�: Nocturne No.13/Poulenc: Pr (Audio CD) This recording makes it clear why Horowitz is so often referred to as "king of the piano". His staggering technique is more than evident, and his seemingly limitless tonal palette is constantly in effect. The Barber Sonata is a most electrifying experience, especially in the insanely virtuosic fugue, and definitely the best on record. The Prokofiev Sonata has more rivals (Richter, Argerich, Pollini, etc.), and to no one's surprise, it stands with the best. The last movement may not be as exciting as Argerich's version, but on the whole, the performance is top-notch. The Toccata is taken in a record four minutes flat, but does anyone notice that Horowitz makes a cut several pages from the end? Still, this account in one of the most stunning on record (the only real competition coming from Argerich on her debut CD). It is interesting how Horowitz slows down the tempi in certain sections to prepare for more heart-stopping climaxes. The rest of the CD is also enjoyable, but it... Read more |
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