Couperin: Organ Works

On this CD:

1. Invitatoire de la Feste Dieu (Éditions de l'Oiseau-Lyre No. 53)
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

2. Work(s) [Unspecified] Fantaisie
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

3. Work(s) [Unspecified] Fantaisie
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

4. Work(s) [Unspecified] Fantaisie
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

5. Work(s) [Unspecified] Fantaisie
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

6. Work(s) [Unspecified] Fantaisie
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

7. Pange lingua en basse [á 4]
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

8. Pange lingua en basse [á 3]
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

9. Pange lingua en basse [á 3]
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

10. Simphonie, for organ
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

11. Work(s) [Unspecified] Fantaisie (Récit de basse)
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

12. Fantaisie pour les Violes
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

13. Fantaisie pour les Violes
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

14. Ave maris stella (en basse) (Éditions de l'Oiseau-Lyre No. 9)
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

15. Ave maris stella, trio (Éditions de l'Oiseau-Lyre No. 10)
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

16. Work(s) [Unspecified] Fantaisie (Récit de basse)
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

17. Simphonie, for organ
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

18. Work(s) [Unspecified] Ut queant laxis (á 3)
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

19. Work(s) [Unspecified] Ut queant laxis (á 3)
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

20. Fantaisie á Paris au mois de décembre 1656
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

21. Duo for organ
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

22. Regina coeli (en basse) (Éditions de l'Oiseau-Lyre No. 50)
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

23. Simphonie, for organ
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

24. Work(s) [Unspecified] Fantaisie (Récit de basse)
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

25. Work(s) [Unspecified] Fantaisie (Récit de basse)
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

26. Work(s) [Unspecified] Fantaisie
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

27. Fantaisie sur le Cromhorne (Éditions de l'Oiseau-Lyre No. 57)
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

28. Fantaisie sur la tierce du Grand Clavier (Éditions de l'Oiseau-Lyre No. 58)
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

29. Work(s) [Unspecified] Fantaisie
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

30. Iste confessor (trio) (Éditions de l'Oiseau-Lyre No. 33)
Composed by Louis Couperin
Performed by Jan Willem Jansen, Jean-Michel Verneiges

Tracks:

Air And Variations In E Major From Harpsicord Suite No. 5: The Harmonious Blacksmith
Keyboard Suite No. 11 In D Minor: Sarabande
Greensleeves (16th Century)
Lavolta
The Earl Of Salisbury: Pavan, The Earl Of Salisbury
Ut re mi fa sol la, In F
The King's Hunt
The Nightingale (17th Century)
For Two Virginals
The Prince Of Denmark's March
The 18th Order (3rd Book Of Pieces For Harpsicord): Le tic-toc-choc, No. 6
The 15th Order (3rd Book Of Pieces For Harpsicord): Musete de Choisi, No. 4
Le Tambourin
La poule
Le Coucou
Sonata In D Minor, 'Pastorale'
Sonata In E Major, 'Capriccio'
Sonata in D Major
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, BWV 846: Prelude and Fugue No. 1 In C Major
Italian Concerto In F Major, BWV 971: III. Presto
The Anna Magdalena Notebook: Minuet In G Major, BWV Anh. 114
Sonata No. 11 In A Major, K. 331: III. (Rondo) Alla Turca
Wo0 10, No. 2: Minuet in G Major
Trumpet Tune 'Martial Air'
Round O (Rondo)
The 6th Order (2nd Book Of Pieces For Harpsichord): Les baricades misterieuses, No. 5
The 15th Order (3rd Book Of Pieces For Harpsicord): Musete de Taverni, No. 5
Cuckoo Toccata

Customer Reviews:

"Best Harpsichord Recording".......2005-11-05

I have always loved the sound of the Harpsichord and for many years hearing poorly recorded or played Harpsichord this treasure is a must have. From the fine compositions to the good sound quality this CD is definately a keeper.
Plenty of music for a moderate price as well.

Great.......2005-08-09

This CD is very very good just what I was looking for. I highly recommend this CD if you are planning on purchasing a Harpsicord CD, this one is the best.

a must-have for harpsichord lovers.......2004-04-30

I love the sound of this most unusual instrument, the harpsichord. Especially the fast intricately melodic songs. Very enjoyable. This "Greatest Hits" includes many compositions perfectly suited to this wonderful old predecessor to the piano. There's even a little funny trivia thrown in: on the song sheet is written: Q:"what did the famous conductor Sir Thomas say that the harpsichord sounds like? A: "Like two skeletons screwing on a hot tin roof" :)

David Rehak
author of "Love and Madness"

keeno.......2001-01-08

This is a fun cd. BYRD, BULL, BACH ETC come through great Scarlatti bits sound like a flock of unhappy cows running of a field of burnt popcorn but those bits generally do unless played on the African Kalimba [or thumb piano] in Africa where I need not hear them.

This is a well engineered CD. Many featuring the harpsichord demand a level of equipment beyond that of any regular person with bills, which means this disk sounds just fine on a boom box. Everybody in the family will like some part of this disk `cept for the 13 year old whose lost to punk rock or hip hop.

The Most Superb Harpsichord Sampler.......2000-07-27

I can't imagine a better sampler of harpsichord 'hits' played by one of the great stereo-era masters. A full complement of emotions is displayed here, from the most delicate and sparing texture to the most rip-roaring martial roar. If you're wondering what the harpsichord is about, or if you're already a fan and want a great sampler to play for your own delight and amusement, you cannot go wrong with this recording.

Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 (Organ") Encores à la française

Average customer rating:

Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 (Organ") Encores à la française

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0001KL4JK
Release Date: 2004-03-23

Average customer rating:

A beautifully thought-out programme and stunning playing
Nancy Allen

A Celebration For Harp

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Nancy Allen Plays Ravel & Debussy
The Most Relaxing Harp Album in the World... Ever!
Music for Solo Harp

ASIN: B000002SDH
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Toccata
French Suite No.6 In E, BWV.817: Allemande and Courante
Sonata In E K 380: Andante comodo
Three Lute Dances: Courante
Three Lute Dances: Pavane
Three Lute Dances: Bransles
Three Lute Dances: Le Coucou Daquin
Romeo And Juliet: Aubade
BMV.1031: Siciliano
Violin Sonata No 2: Andante
Op12 No 7: Prelude
Siciliana
B Flat K545: Sonata
Les Barricades mysterieuses
A K208: Sonata
A K 209: Sonata
BMV639: Ich ruf zu dir
Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring
Confusing

Customer Reviews:

A beautifully thought-out programme and stunning playing.......2007-04-18

I bought this CD (with slight trepidation) because I was sure I would enjoy most of the music. The trepidation was only because, having discovered the inimitable Andrew Lawrence-King, I wasn't sure how the sound of the modern harp would stack up against his amazing instruments and the even more amazing range of sounds he gets from them. But I needn't have worried. Nancy Allen makes a beautiful, if mostly conventional, sound on her modern harp and her virtosity takes away one's breath. Her articulation is possibly the cleanest of any player of the modern harp I've heard and her sense of rhythmn is faultless. I'm no fan at all of modern music but I even enjoyed the two pieces by Prokofiev on this CD. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Nancy Allen.......2007-04-16

Nancy Allen is the best harpist in the world and this CD reflects that.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Poulenc, good solo works
Great performance, great instrument, great music!

Encores à la française

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Ruffatti Organ in Davies Symphony Hall
The Great Organ at Methuen - Bach: BWV 540, 542, 582, 643, & 737
The Willis Organ at Salisbury Cathedral
Jongen: Symphonie Concertante For Organ & Orchestra/Franck: Fantasie In A/Pastorale
Bach: Toccata & Fugue in D minor; Prelude & Fugue in B minor; Concerto No. 2 in A minor; Prelude & Fugue in D major

ASIN: B000003CTG
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Chacone in G minor
Carillon, Op. 27, No. 4
Scherzo
Piece Heroique
Toccata, Symphony V
Sinfonia, Cantata 29
Final, Symphony
Musette, Op. 51
Fanfare
Concerto in G minor for Organ, Strings and Timpani - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Poulenc, good solo works.......2004-03-28

This CD has actually become one of my favorites. In fact, I often bring this out when demonstrating my stereo to guests.

The solo works on the Boston Symphony Hall organ are cleanly played and effectively show the colors of this instrument while also taking advantage of the room's amazing acoustic. Mr. Murray's playing is accurate with much attention to phrasing, however, I personally could stand for more rhythmic flexibility. At times, it seems that he's playing along with a metronome. Still, the first 9 selections give a good sampling of this historic Aeolian-Skinner organ.

However, it is the Poulenc Concerto for Organ and Strings which makes this recording invaluable. Recorded on another large Aeolian-Skinner organ at St. Phillip's in Atlanta, this track features a near-perfect balance between the strings and timpani of the Atlanta Philharmonic, under the direction of Robert Shaw, and the large organ.

The sound-stage in this particular recording is immense and those of you who have invested in high-end audio will be richly repaid when listening to this particular piece at home. The organ has tremendous clarity and dynamic range, the strings are so well-captured that you would swear the players are right in the room with and the timpani strikes have perfect percussiveness, and balance.

In this particular piece, Mr. Murray's playing is anything but metronomic. In fact, he seems to hook into the wonderful lyric qualities of the string parts and presents a very flexible, musical and insightful performance. To me, this is one of the great pieces for organ and strings and he pulls off the challenging organ part with confidence and style.

For those of you who like Poulenc and are looking for a beautiful performance which is well recorded, you can't do much better.

Great performance, great instrument, great music!.......1999-05-08

Albert Schweitzer, writing in 1906, describes the French organ-playing tradition thus: The modern French school is the result of this perfected organ construction....The French organist seeks a quiet plasticity that brings the tone pattern to the listener in all its greatness. It seems to me that the French organist even sits more quietly at his console. With all of them one finds an absolute precision in pressing and releasing the keys, which results in blending and clear,natural phrasing. "Organ playing," Widor once said to me on the organ bench at Notre Dame as the rays of the setting sun streamed through the dusk of the nave in transfigured peace,"is the manifestation of a will filled with a vision of eternity. All organ instruction, both technical and artistic, has as its aim only to educate a man to the pure manifestation of the higher will. This will, expressed by the organist in the objectivity of this instrument, should overwhelm the hearer, so that even the thoughtless hearer cannot escape from it, but even after the second measure grasps and comprehends it whether he will or not..." Michael Murray follows the French organ school teaching to a "T" at the great Aeolian-Skinner organ at Boston's Symphony Hall. The first nine selections were recorded there. The last selection, Poulenc's Concerto for Organ,Strings and Timpani was recorded at the Cathedral of Saint Philip in Atlanta and uses sound itself as an expressive device, offering abundant contrasts, particularly of tone color, as the solo instrument's palette of diapasons, flutes,strings and reeds intermix with each other and with the timbres of the orchestra.

Average customer rating:

300 Years of French Glory

Manufacturer: Titanic
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001I71
Release Date: 1996-06-20

Average customer rating:

Historic Organs of Portland

Manufacturer: Organ Hist. Society
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Hymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005TQ6M
Release Date: 2001-11-27

Tracks:

The Harmonious Blacksmith - Michael Barnes
Canzone Alla Francese - Beverly J. Ratajak
IV Fr.5 Versi Spirituali - Beverly J. Ratajak
Herzog Moritz-Tanz - Marilyn Kay Stulken
O Welt, Ich Muss Dich Lassen, Op.122/3 - Marilyn Kay Stulken
Hymnus Exulte Celum Laudibus - Dean Applegate
A Voluntary - Dean Applegate
Come Down, O Love Divine - Cantores In Ecclesia
Magnificat - Cantores In Ecclesia
Sarabande Con Partite - Mark Brombaugh
Rondo - Allegretto - David Dahl
Petite Offertoire - David Dahl
Allegro For A Musical Clock - David Dahl
15th C. Pistoia: Toccata - David Dahl
Erhalt Uns Herr - David Dahl
Lord, Keep Us Steadfast In Your Word - David Dahl
Air From The 14th Suite - MaryAnn Grugher Balduf
Impromptu - MaryAnn Grugher Balduf
4 Miniatures For Organ - MaryAnn Grugher Balduf
Noel, Votre Bonte Grand Dieu - James Denman
Quattro Pezzi - Paul Klemme
Toccata - B. Thomas Curry
Variations On Home Sweet Home - Jane Edge
Praeludium Pastorale - Jane Edge
Ye Watchers And Ye Holy Ones - Jane Edge

Tracks:

Postlude In C - Joseph Adam
Prelude & Fugue In G, Op.109, No.2 - Joseph Adam
Herzlich Lieb Hab' Ich Dich, O Herr - Karl Mansfield
Toccata In C - Karl Mansfield
Awake, My Heart, With Gladness - William Schuster
Little Prelude No.6 in C - Grant Edwards
Recit De Cornet (Sanctus), Parishes Mass - Grant Edwards
Toccata Planyavska - Grant Edwards
Offertory O Filii, Op.49/2 - Will Headlee
Prelude On An Old Folk Tune - Will Headlee
O Gott Wir Danken Deiner Gut - Cheryl Drewes
Babson Rag - Cheryl Drewes
Amazing Grace - Cheryl Drewes
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling - Tim Drewes
Sonata Op.65 No.6 - Peter Sykes
Jesus, Priceless Treasure - Peter Sykes
Fanfare For Concert Use - Peter Sykes

Tracks:

Pastorale - Charles Rus
Adagio - Charles Rus
Trumpet Tune - Charles Rus
Fughetta In A Major - James Hammann
Andante With Variations In D - James Hammann
Sortie - Paul Wood Cunningham
Three Of 'Cinq Improvisations': O Clemens! O Pia! - Robert Vickery
Three Of 'Cinq Improvisations': Stella Matutina - Robert Vickery
Three Of 'Cinq Improvisations': Electa Ut Sol - Robert Vickery
1st Mvt., Orgelsonate, Op.18/II - Bruce Neswick
Toccata On Fortunatus - Bruce Neswick
Improvisation On A Submitted Theme - Bruce Neswick
O Heilige Geest, O Heilige God - Tamara Still
Toccata: Energetic - Tamara Still
Offertoire Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant - James Holloway
Scherzando - James Holloway
Two Of 'Four Etudes For Organ': Taiga - Ronald McKean
Two Of 'Four Etudes For Organ: Sempervirens - Ronald McKean
Partita On Old Hundredth - Ronald McKean

Tracks:

Praeludium In G Minor - Mark Brombaugh
Come Down, O Love Divine - Mark Brombaugh
Herr Christ, Der Ein'ge Gottes Sohn, BWV 601 - Lanny Collins
Der Tag, Der Ist So Freudenreich, BWV 605 - Lanny Collins
Jesu, Meine Freude, BWV 610 - Lanny Collins
Wir Christenleut, BWV 612 - Lanny Collins
Premier Livre D'Orgue (6 Versets) - Barbara Baird
Partita On Herr Jesu Christ, Dich Zu Uns Wend (Excerpts) - Margaret Evans
Aria In C (With 10 Variations) - William Poter
Improvisation Victimae Paschali - Douglas Cleveland
Esquisse E Minor, Op.41 - Douglas Cleveland
Esquisse B-flat Minor, Op.41 - Douglas Cleveland
Toccata In A Minor - Marian Ruhl Metson
Scherzo, Dance And Reflection - Marian Ruhl Metson
O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing - Marian Ruhl Metson
Hymn Prelude - Marian Ruhl Metson

Average customer rating:

Diamond Settings: Hommage À Satie

Manufacturer: Koch Schwann (Germ.)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Minuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001SXX
Release Date: 1996-03-19

Tracks:

Diamond Settings: Satie: Passacaille
Diamond Settings: Satie: Trois Gymnopedies: No. 1
Diamond Settings: Satie: Trois Gymnopedies: No. 2
Diamond Settings: Satie: Trois Gymnopedies: No. 3
Diamond Settings: Satie: Messe Des Pauvres: Prelude (Larghetto Sostenuto)
Diamond Settings: Satie: Messe des Pauvres; Priere des orgues (Non Troppo Lento)
Diamond Settings: Satie: Messe des Pauvres; Chant Eccesiastique (Andante Cantando)
Diamond Settings: Satie: Messe des Pauvres; Priere pour les voyageurs (Lento)
Diamond Settings: Satie: Messe des Pauvres; Priere pour lesalut de mon ame (Adagio)
Diamond Settings: Satie: Diamond: Hommage a Satie
Diamond Settings: Satie: Debussy: Hommage a Haydn
Diamond Settings: Satie: Ravel: Menuet sur le Nom de Haydn
Diamond Settings: Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin; Prelude
Diamond Settings: Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin; Fugue
Diamond Settings: Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin; Forlane
Diamond Settings: Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin; Menuet
Diamond Settings: Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin; Rigaudon

Average customer rating:

One of the great 20th century pianists.
Mighty Fine!

Emil Gilels

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Emil Gilels 3 (III) (Great Pianists of the Century series) - Brahms / Chopin / Clementi / Grieg / Schubert / Schumann (2 CDs)
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli 2
Mikhail Pletnev
Andrei Gavrilov
Artur Rubinstein 3

ASIN: B00000DBU7
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

Ferruccio Busoni: Prelude & Fugue in D - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Piano Concerto No. 27 In B Flat: 1. Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 27 In B Flat: 2. Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 27 In B Flat: 3. Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G, Op. 58.: 1. Allegro Moderato
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G, Op. 58.: 2. Andante con moto
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G, Op. 58.: 3. Rondo. Vivace

Tracks:

French Suite No. 5 In G - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Piano Sonata No. 2 In A Flat, Op. 39.: 1. Allegro moderato. Con Spirito ed a
Piano Sonata No. 2 In A Flat, Op. 39.: 2. Andante
Piano Sonata No. 2 In A Flat, Op. 39.: 3. Menuetto capriciosso. Presto assai
Piano Sonata No. 2 In A Flat, Op. 39.: 4. Rondo. Moderato e molto grazioso
Images (Book 1): 1: Reflets dan l'eau
Images (Book 1): 2. Hommage ameau
Images (Book 1): 3. Mouvement
Jeaux d'eau - Maurice Ravel
Le tombeau de Couperin: Toccata - Maurice Ravel
Miroirs: Alborada del gracioso - Maurice Ravel

Customer Reviews:

One of the great 20th century pianists........2001-10-14

This is a superb collection from a man who was, by any measure, one of the supreme keyboard artists of the 20th century (and whose life was criminally shortened by medical malpractice at a Moscow hospital). Gilels' versatility is evident, and his rich tone, elegant phrasing and thundering virtuosity are undeniable.

That said, I would like to take issue with a few of the previous reviewer's statements. First, to say that Gilels didn't tour much "during the Soviet years" (the only years he was alive; when else would he have toured?) is patently false. Gilels was one the best-travelled performers of his time. Second, to say that he was not a typical "Russian" pianist is an extraordinary statement. Gilels was trained by Heinrich Neuhaus (that most Russian of teachers) and was criticized when he made his 1955 New York debut for a lack of subtlety (which he was to remedy within a few years) that was widely attributed to his narrow, exclusively Russian training. Finally, to say that Gilels made few recordings is ridiculous. The man's repertory was huge (from Bach and Scarlatti to Shostakovich and Prokofiev) and he left a recorded legacy that few pianists can rival.

Hopefully in the future, reviewers will do a little homework before making ignorant statements.

Mighty Fine!.......2000-09-01

Emil Gilels' Ravel is always shattering (his old Melodiya recording of the Pavane can only be characterised as made by god!) and this recording's Ravel is no exception. To my mind, Gilels is the supreme pianist of the last century, and relatively unappreciated in the West, due partly to his, as well as Furtseva's, decision not to tour much during the Soviet years, and partly, I've always suspected, because he clearly is a kind of anti-Russian pianist, I'm saying, relative to the mold of Horowitz, Ashkenazy, Kissin, etc. Gilels commands by the subtlest suggestion, persuasion of a kind no longer heard on the classical stage. The Bach on this recording is a lesson for every pianist, truly. An unbearably perfect RESPECT on Gilels' part for Bach's thought, even, I think, an intrinsic desire for Bach's religiousness! The D Major is mesmerizing. Having heard it, you will never forget it. The Debussy (Images I) is everything it can be, more finely sifted than Gieseking's, and the Mozart -the amazing 27th with that loping First Movement- is miraculous, rich and rhythmical! This is fine stuff, people! The Weber (Horowitz liked this piece, too!) is so brilliant, it barks! The audacious last movement will knock your socks off! But for me, the Ravel is everything; `Jeux d'eau' sparkles like the morning, and the `Alborada' has the most majestic dancing heart- it'll take your breath away. Get all the Gilels you can find, recordings of this man's art are not abundant, but the rewards are life-altering.