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Pletnev Live at Carnegie Hall

Pletnev Live at Carnegie Hall

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Customer Reviews

I wish I'd been there!

Rating: 5/5

I have had the very good fortune to attend several highly anticipated Carnegie Hall debuts over the last 20 years or so. I was in the audience for the debut recitals of violinist Midori, pianist Evgeny Kissin and mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, all glorious events. Despite the wonderful memories I have of those performances, I'll always wish that I could say that I had attended the Carnegie Hall recital debut of Russian pianist Mikhail Pletnev, given the evidence of the stunning performance heard on this two-cd set from Deutsche Grammophone; this is one of the finest live recordings that I have ever owned!
Since winning the Tchaikovsky Piano Competition 30 years ago, Pletnev has proven himself over and over again to be one of the finest pianists in the world. This set is simply futher proof of that realization. I'm particularly taken with his marvelous performance of the Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 32, Op. 111. You would be hard-pressed not to admit that Pletnev is one of the finest Beethoven pianists of his generation.
The rest of the program is excellent as well, with the four Chopin scherzi being most worthy of mention. The DG sound is strkingly vivid, and while some may find the enthusiastic applause of the audience a bit distracting, it never does impede the enjoyment to be had with the exceptional release. One only wishes that all live recordings could sound this brilliant! Do not hesitate for one moment to add Mikhail Pletnev's Carnegie Hall recital cd to your music collection. Highly & enthusiastically recommended!

Monumental Recital!!

Rating: 5/5


Horowitz gave his memorable comeback recital at Carnegie Hall in 60s. But Pletnev's recital recorded here in 2000 was no less exciting event as you can tell from ecstatic ovation from audiences.

The recital open's with magnificent account of Bach/Busoni Chaconne, and then moves on to electrifying performance of Beethoven late sonata. But Highlight of the recital must be four Chopin Scherzos played through without break as if the pianist was possessed. The fire and sheer concentration of his playing is absolutely mind-blowing, delicacy of tone reminiscent of Horowitz. Scriabin's well known Op.32 Poem displays Pletnev's super-sensitive pianism. He finishes with the formidable Islamey as encore piece played with amazing ease.

Some reviewers think Pletnev's playing is shallow and showy. Yes, his pianism is ego-centric, but why not enjoy different styles of playing! Richter is no Horowitz, but both of them left many gripping performances for us. Same can be said for Pletnev.

Recording quality is very life-like and present, audience applause is at time too overwhelming. This recital will certainly remain as the legendary event in future.

Breathtaking!

Rating: 5/5

This is an amazing performance, especially as it was recorded live and not reworked in a studio. Pletnev is one of this generation's greatest pianists. He manages to find nuances in the music that make these works fresh, particularly the four Chopin Scherzi that are part of every concert pianist's repertoire. The bonus CD is especially fine as it shows how Pletnev is capable of playing just about any style of music. As if the rest of the program wasn't virtuosic enough, Pletnev caps off the concert with the fiendishly difficult Islamey as one of his encores.

A Unique Millennium Event

Rating: 5/5

Having written extensively on Mr Pletnev's hyper-idiosyncratic playing in his 1997 Chopin Recital, it is interesting to turn to his 2000 live Carnegie Hall Recital--where the main programmed attractions are the four Chopin Scherzos. You will not find a better recording of the Scherzos as a group--even if Argerich surpasses Pletnev in terms of ferocious drive and sheer brilliance in Nos 2 & 3. Pletnev's Scherzo No 4 is the best yet to have appeared on disc--`perfect' in the sense that music virtually comes to life as a free-standing organism. Never before has Chopin's genial writing in this work been conveyed with such impeccable mastery.

As one can expect, all the large-scale bombast in the Bach-Busoni Chaconne is delivered with high-voltage pianism in the Grand Manner. By sharp contrast, the second movement in Beethoven's last Sonata is given its probably dreamiest account ever--which evidently reveals Beethoven as one of the main initiators of the romantic era. As far as the encores go, generously provided by DG on the supplementary disc, they are delivered with such panache and masterfulness that you are unlikely to find them bettered--irrespective of where you look. The Balakirev Islamey really has to be heard to be believed--other great modern versions by Gavrilov and Berezovsky pale by comparison.

This extraordinary live recital more than anything confirms Pletnev's position as one of the truly greatest living pianists. The only drawback is that the CD makes you envy those lucky souls who had the opportunity of being there on site. Luckily enough, DG's recording is a worthy second best.

Glenn Gould on Acid.

Rating: 4/5


My whole review is in the title.

--E. R. O'Neill