MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Pletnev live at Carnegie Hall (Incls bonus CD)

"He makes each work his own, redeeming the repetitious character of the first and second scherzos by finding viewpoints undreamt by any other pianist…the five sumptuous encores pretty well defy description."
***** Five Stars (Pick of the Month) BBC Music Magazine
(May2001)

Critic's Choice - The Best CDs of 2001 (BBC Music Magazine)

"Seems to make time stand still" -Chicago Sunday Times

Pletnev manages at all times to show a very high level of virtuosism, but never for a second abandoning the musical maturity of a great musician. The combination never fails to give us daring, interesting, impressive and new results.

The Chacone is an extremely tough piece that challenges the pianist in every way conceivable during the full fifteen minutes of its length. In it, Pletnev plays with an interesting approach that is full of sonority. The huge chords just resonate in the air and together create a wonderful ambiance for the harmonies and melody to unfold. Beethoven's last piano Sonata is such an interesting work because each pianist does such a different thing with it. Pletnev plays it with with a huge range of emotions and does a superb version of it. Its definitely closer, for example, to Pogorelich's interpretation than Arrau's. Its bold and yet, subtle and sublime. Chopin's Scherzos are also pieces that allow virtuosism to overflow. However, to play them well requires a lot more than just that. What Pletnev does with them is exquisite. In the slow section Pletnev makes the piano sing melodies of great musical depth.
This CD is a set of master interpretations put together of some of the greatest works around. Additionally, live recordings always have that extra flavor to them, and it certainly is very present here. Bravo for Deutsche Gramophon and for Pletnev!