Ugorski

Deutsche Grammophon presents Piano: Essentials - 25 piano compositions from Daniil Trifonov, Maria João Pires, Víkingur Ólafsson, Sviatoslav Richte and others.

Beethoven is undoubtedly one of the most influential and important composers of all time. This album features the landmark symphonies, concertos, chamber music and solo piano music from this giant of music, all performed by the greatest interpreters – Claudio Abbado, Martha Argerich, Wilhelm Kempff, Carlos Kleiber, Rafael Kubelik and many others.

"On his debut solo album the Russian pianist Alexey Pudinov (*1988) plays a very diverse program, which can only escape the impression of a hodgepodge if the interpretations are continuously exciting. In the interpretation of the second Brahms sonata Pudinov shows immediately the outstanding level of his performing. His highly musical and very spontaneous performance is never dominated by sound masses, but remains clear and transparent even in massive passages, even somehow light and flexible."

The intent of this set is pretty clear from the titles of each of the six discs: Meditations; Orchestral Fireworks; Invitation to the Dance; Nocturne; Pomp & Circumstance; Grand Opera. This is mood or 'theme' music designed to provide either a background or a sequence of 'tasters' initiating the person who comes fresh to classical music with a sampling from the 'great and the good'. True the 'great and the good' are all from the core repertoire; not even a scintilla of Janacek, Nielsen, Adams, Reich which is a shame.