Piano Music for Four Hands - The Carnegie Hall Concert - RCA: 82876692832 - download

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On paper it seems an unlikely pairing. On disc, however, it is something of a triumph, a recording that is far more than a mere souvenir d'occasion of a memorable night in Carnegie Hall. Intriguingly,... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Release Date: 27th Mar 2006
Catalogue No: 82876692832
Label: RCA
Length: 85 minutes

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Schubert: Fantasie in F Minor for Piano 4 Hands, D. 940

Work length18:45

Album only

Evgeny Kissin (piano), James Levine (piano)

Schubert: Piano for Four Hands, D. 947, "Lebensstürme": Allegro in A Minor

Work length15:16

Album only

Evgeny Kissin (piano), James Levine (piano)

Schubert: Grand Duo Sonata in C major, D812

Work length40:47

Album only

Evgeny Kissin (piano), James Levine (piano)

I. Allegro moderato

Track length14:34

Album only

II. Andante

Track length10:00

Album only

II. Scherzo - Allegro vivace

Track length5:16

$1.30

$1.70

IV. Allegro vivace

Track length10:57

Album only

Schubert: Characteristic March No. 1 in C Major, D. 968b

Work length6:02

$1.30

$1.70

Evgeny Kissin (piano), James Levine (piano)

Schubert: Marche Militaire, D733 No. 1

Work length4:39

$1.30

$1.70

Evgeny Kissin (piano), James Levine (piano)

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Reviews

2010

On paper it seems an unlikely pairing. On disc, however, it is something of a triumph, a recording that is far more than a mere souvenir d'occasion of a memorable night in Carnegie Hall. Intriguingly, it is difficult to detect purely aurally which is the world-famous pianist and which the world-famous conductor. From his familiar sometimes over-insistent tone, we guess it is Kissin who takes the primo part in the F minor Fantasie (he plays to the back of the hall, not to the microphone) but elsewhere it is impossible to tell them apart, so well do they blend dynamics, phrasing and ensemble. This is even more remarkable given that the music, written for four hands at one piano, is played on two (beautifully balanced) Hamburg Steinways – less of a squeeze on the piano stool but trickier to coordinate.
The Fantasie is the least successful item. Its dramatic elements are energetically characterised but its introspective, questioning discourse goes by the board, leaving the emotions untouched. Lebensstürme ('Storms of Life'), written a month after the Fantasie, is given a terrific whirlwind of a performance and completes the first short disc (34'05").
The second half features the Grand Duo (40'49"), a symphony for piano in all but name.
Here Kissin and Levine come into their own with a fiercely argued, compelling account some way removed from the intimacy of a Schubertiad, and the best reason for buying this release.
They close with two fast and furious crowdpleasers bringing as much pleasure to the audience as they so obviously do to the players.

New York Times

Schubert played by such fine players – beautifully done

Offer,Piano Music for Four Hands - The Carnegie Hall Concert

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