Jurassic Bug Bus Piano

Wilhelm Kempff was a master of poetic lyricism, with a wondrous keyboard touch and a breathtaking command of subtle dynamics and tonal colorations–all invaluable attributes of any Schubert interpreter. He also had the knack of holding together large structures that can often seem aimless, thus avoiding another trap many pianists fall into, that of lavishing so much attention on passing detail that Schubert's "heavenly lengths" can seem wayward wanderings. The one criticism often heard is that Kempff emphasizes poetry at the expense of drama. This magnificent set leaves that claim unsubstantiated.

John Ogdon's 1971 recordings of Alexander Scriabin's piano sonatas and other works for piano may not be the first choice of devotees of the mystical Russian composer, but this EMI Classics twofer is highly recommended. Those well-acquainted with Scriabin's music will likely hold particular recordings as indispensible – Roberto Szidon's on Deutsche Grammophon, Vladimir Ashkenazy's on London, and Marc-André Hamelin's on Hyperion are celebrated sets – yet in terms of technique and interpretation, Ogdon's performances are every bit their equal and should not be discounted for being less touted.

For those new to Mendelssohn's music, this might look like a recording of some major works of the composer; be aware that they're virtually unknown music of Mendelssohn's early teens, first published in complete form only in 1999. For those already a fan of Mendelssohn, however, they're very intriguing works that show the developing talents of the young composer in a different light than do the set of twelve-string symphonies that are his most frequently performed works of the period.

“Superlatives are likely to flow towards this stunning Avie release, not least thanks to the eloquent, emotionally-insightful playing of Austrian violinist David Frühwirth and his Finnish pianist Henri Sigfridsson”. “With a good mixture of musical humor and deep seriousness both the artists make their claim clear to be accepted in the league of international and interesting rising generation of Soloists“