I'm Jolly...

Amazon.com's Best of 2001
The 44-year-old Russian pianist-conductor Mikhail Pletnev made a belated Carnegie Hall debut as a pianist in November 2000. Listening to that recital on this CD confirms the wisdom of the pianist's decision to resign as music director of the Russian National Orchestra. In the Bach-Busoni "Chaconne," Pletnev's crescendos wash over the listener like tidal waves; the mighty edifice of the music seems to rise, mysteriously and inexorably, on its own. The angry surges in the first movement of Beethoven's Sonata, opus 111, are perhaps overdrawn. But the concluding movement's variations glide by as if in a dream, suggesting the transformation of the earlier movement's passionate anger into a vision of Paradise beyond the power of words to describe. In Chopin's Four Scherzos, Pletnev emphasizes too many details and inhibits the music's lyrical sweep. But the charm and dazzling pyrotechnics of his encores help make this the first great piano recording of the millennium. After Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Scarlatti, and Moszkowski, Pletnev's fifth and final encore was Balakirev's transcendentally difficult Islamey. The superhuman virtuosity, sonorous splendor, and Technicolor exoticism of this performance will knock your socks off--and the rest of your clothes as well! --Stephen Wigler

Virtuosism and Musicality in a perfect balance, February 5, 2001

Reviewer:

Carlos del Cueto "condoraji" (Hurleyville, NY USA) - See all my reviews

One of my musical highlights last year was attending Mikhael Pletnev's recital at Carnegie Hall, and I must say that it is extremely appropriate for this concert to have been recorded. The quality of the music is at its fullest. 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 supberb 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 it exquisite. I cannot forget the experience of the second scherzo (the one that can almost make you sick if it isn't played really well) being a total surprise for me. In the slow section Pletnev makes the piano sing melodies that I had never heard before, melodies of great musical depth. The playing is, in my opionion, a lot more profound and stimulating than Rubinstein's. A most extraordinary effort by Pletnev.

This was the official ending of the concert. However, after came an exquisite set of five encores where Pletnev proved even further how his attitude is of service to music. The order of the encores in the CD is actually the order in which he played them. It was very surprising to hear him start the Islamey after having given four other encores. A major work like this is usually part of the program, and with what mastery he plays it.

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!
Fabulous Pletnev Concert, March 6, 2001

Reviewer:

Alex Serrano (Perrysburg, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

As well as another reviewer for this double cd, i was also at the concert and am very happy this recital was taped including the encores. Pletnev plays the 4 Chopin scherzos in a daredevil act following the footsteps of Sviatoslav Richter's Carnegie Hall debut more than 30 years ago. It pays off with outstanding bravura, lyricism, and sober planning and laying out of the works. The Bach-Busoni Chaconne is a viruosic approach, however never neglecting the dark angst of the original violin solo. The encores include Balakiriev's Islamey which truly brought the house down - amazing speed and clarity. But at the concert, those of us fortunate to remember even without this disc, the most memorable moments came in the Beethoven sonata #32 - i remember the deep respect of the public, the spaciousness of the hall, and that loud silence which very rarely a performer is granted in recognition by the public. Get this cd if you went to the concert - but more important if you missed it, you will be able to understand the enthrallment shared by us who were there.

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