add to wish list | library


8 of 12 recommend this,
would you recommend it?

yes | no

Support this site by purchasing from these vendors using the paid links below. As an Amazon Associate SA-CD.net earns from qualifying purchases.
 
amazon.ca
amazon.co.uk
amazon.com
amazon.de
 
amazon.fr
amazon.it
 
jpc

Discussion: Ravel, Prokofiev, Schlimé - Schlimé, Pletnev

Posts: 6

Post by Windsurfer July 2, 2006 (1 of 6)
I believe I have only heard the Ravel once in concert, that was a very petite Helene Grimaud with the Boston symphony several years ago, and man were we impressed! Maybe because it seemed so unlikely that such volume with precision and elan, could come from that mere wisp of a teenager. Whew!

I am intriqued by Castor's review of this wherein he states that some orchestral detail that shows up in the Zimmerman/Cleveland recording doesn't get through here. What I am wondering is whether that detail would have been so audible to someone out in the hall or whether it was a function of multi-miked highlighting by the producers. That is probably a rhetorical question. I have the Schlime recording and have given it one listen and must give it another to let my reactions gel. I don't however, intend to purchase the redbook Zimmerman for comparison!

Taking it on its own merits, and based on that one listen, I was quite impressed with this recording.

Curious as to other's thoughts.

Post by terence July 2, 2006 (2 of 6)
i wouldn't recommend the zimerman recording - it's spoiled for me by the pianist whimpering audibly, in apparent admiration at the beauty of his own playing.

Post by Claude July 2, 2006 (3 of 6)
Speaking of petite piano players ...

More than ten years ago I attended a jazz film evening in Luxembourg. Between the three films (Jazz on a summer's day, Round Midnight, Bird) an unannounced piano trio played live in the cinema.

The drummer and the bassist were quite boring, but everyone was amazed by the playing of the very young and fragile looking pianist with long curly hair, who I thought was a girl. I found out later that it was Francesco Schlimé, the biggest upcoming piano talent in Luxembourg.

http://www.francescoschlime.com

I don't have the Pentatone disc yet, but most reviews I've read were quite negative, stating that the playing lacked energy. Diapason gave it thumbs down (it had given a raving review of his previous Berio CD), and the (controversial) Christophe Huss of Classics Today France even gives low marks for the sound quality of the recording (without any explanations):

http://www.classicstodayfrance.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=1587

Anyway, I have to get it, but it's not on my priority list as I already have some good recordings of both concertos, though not on SACD (Argerich 1988 for the Ravel, Richter for the Prokofiev).

Post by Edvin July 2, 2006 (4 of 6)
Claude said:

Anyway, I have to get it, but it's not on my priority list as I already have some good recordings of both concertos, though not on SACD (Argerich 1988 for the Ravel, Richter for the Prokofiev).

In my opinion it´s a waste of money. I listened to the recording again today and then I re-read my review. This is the dullest recording ever made of the Ravel concerto. The lack of sparkle is alarming.

Post by Windsurfer July 2, 2006 (5 of 6)
Claude said:

Christophe Huss of Classics Today France even gives low marks for the sound quality of the recording (without any explanations)

Lets give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that (irresponsibly) he did not audition the SACD MC mix because it is quite nice on my system at least!

Post by pentaman July 5, 2006 (6 of 6)
Windsurfer said:

Lets give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that (irresponsibly) he did not audition the SACD MC mix because it is quite nice on my system at least!

just heard that Gramophone selected the album for the Editor's Choices in its September issue

Best,Pentaman

Closed