I do not like Prokoviev and I need a lot of meditations to do :-) in order to “force” myself to listen him. Although I appreciate his clean and child-like expressionism but I rely do not LIKE whatever he does… unit the last night.

The last night I come across a phenomenal CD set: “Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Andrei Gavrilov”. I was well familiar with Garvilov and his “before” and “after” stories. He always had some magnificent performances form the end of the 70s and some “off the wall” performances later on.


Anyhow, this CD-set featured on the second disk something absolutely amassing: the famously short Prokofiev’s: Piano Concerto No 1 with Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under Simon Rattle. I have to say that the entire CD is superb and I LOVE the entire 2 disks tremendously but this Prokofiev’s Concerto really stands away even from what Garvilov showed within this compilations.

This performance of Garvilov and Rattle is very difficult to find and the “Great Pianists of the 20th Century #31” (456787-2) is a rare opportunely to have this compilation, wonderfully mastered and very tastefully arranged. Do not confuse the Birmingham performance with Garvilov and Rattle attempt to play the same work with London Symphony Orchestra. The Birmingham took place at July 1977, sounds like “live”, in the City of Birmingham. This performance will be as cherished by you as Garvilov/Lazarev Their Rachmaninoff’s Concerto, perhaps even more.

Harry up, as soon all CDs will be done and the SACD kaka will flood the stores…

The caT

Did you score the full 200 CD collection:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00002EITP.01._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

or just the Gavrilov 2 CD set?

I've been wondering if the whole set is worth the price. Individual sets are very difficult to find, I tried to get the Michelangeli's and I'm still after them....


Rgrds,
aj

Antonio J. wrote:

Did you score the full 200 CD collection: http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00002EITP.01._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg or just the Gavrilov 2 CD set? I've been wondering if the whole set is worth the price. Individual sets are very difficult to find, I tried to get the Michelangeli's and I'm still after them....