Grieg - Piano Concerto [Anda/Kubelik-Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra]Wow!, another Grieg Piano Concerto, i only listened to this work a couple of days ago [3rd May 2010], but i enjoy this Concerto so much, i don't feel i'm over-listening to it.
Geza Anda is Hungarian, he died in 1976, and he made this recording in 1964, even though it's nearly 45 years old, it's a very clear bright stereo recording, maybe slightly treble heavy, the piano has a nice ring to it.
I love the slow second movement Adagio, it is one of the greatest slow movements ever composed, there's a long intro before the piano comes in, the intro is strings only at first, but a solo horn has a wonderfully atmospheric entry [1:39+], giving a lovely colour to the string work, and what an entrance by the piano!, it steals in with such sublimity, it's a heavenly moment [2:25+], it's almost a piano solo, the whole thing caresses and soothes, hardly a brass or woodwind in sight, it leads smack bang into the final movement, however a wonderful surprise is in store as the Adagio makes a cameo appearance in the middle [2:55-5:47], a truly astounding reprise, so welcome, and then another surprise right at the end, as the 'big closing tune' is none other than the Adagio played with tremendous forte to the close [9:28-10:44].
Here's Ana Maria Otamendi playing the Adagio on YouTube.
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