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Reviews: Beethoven, Schumann: Piano Concertos - Van Cliburn, Fritz Reiner

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Reviews: 1

Review by Celebidache2000 August 4, 2007 (12 of 14 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
I have been deeply impressed with everything that I have heard in the re-mastered Living Stereo SACD series and this recording featuring Van Cliburn performing the Schumann Piano Concerto as well as the Beethoven Emperor Concerto just continues in this tradition of excellence.

There is something freakish about the level of maturity in Van Cliburn's performances of both the Schumann and Beethoven. Judging from the picture on the disc jacket, he can be no older than his early twenties (when these recordings were made), yet he plays with the profundity and perfection of someone far older, of someone who has spent a lifetime performing these pieces.

I have the sneaking suspicion that Van Cliburn is one of those rare people who lives life in reverse or perhaps he is channeling the knowledge, wisdom and experience of a previous existence…whatever the case he always seems to play with profound wisdom and insight and beauty (particularly in the recordings made at the beginning of his concert career).

Fritz Reiner supports Van Cliburn with nobility and the kind of wisdom that has indeed come from a lifetime of experience. These recordings are full of details that other teams (of performers and engineers) simply gloss over.

I rate this recording of the Schumann Piano Concerto in my top two of any that I have heard. Similarly, this recording of the Emperor Concerto now vaults to the top of those in my collection.

The recordings are simply superb, as are all the recordings in the re-mastered Living Stereo SACD series. The Soundmirror team are giving us the master tapes pure and unadulterated at the highest level of fidelity that they have seen since the recordings took place. I can only thank everyone involved (in the production of the recordings). Thank you.

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