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Evgeny Kissin & James Levine: The Carnegie Hall Concert
by (Composer: Franz Schubert) (Performer: Evgeny Kissin) (Performer: James Levine)
Product Group: Music
Studio: RCA
ISBN: B000E1JOU2
EAN: 0828766928228
UPC: 828766928228
Audio CD
Original Release Date: 2006-01-01
Release Date: 2006-02-07
SKU: 08050034
Condition: New New
Comments: New audio 2 CD set with remainder hole in case sealed in factory shrink wrap.
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Customer Reviews
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A meeting of Schubertian minds
Rating  (5)
Date: 2008-10-13
James Levine and Yevgeny Kissin - what a pair. Already in the Beethoven piano concertos 2 and 5 issued by SONY CLASSICAL several years back they had shown wonderfuly musical playing and connection. This is totally engaging. The depth and feel for the music shown by the artists in Schubert's music for two hands needs no mention.
This to me is one of those events where if one had the chance, then one should attend. They dont happen every other day. Just once in a lifetime perhaps.
A truly remarkable meeting of minds in Carnegie Hall!
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Two pianists playing from different planets
Rating  (1)
Date: 2007-05-16
4 out of 13 customers found this reveiw helpful
I heard this exact same concert live in Boston two days before this concert was recorded in NYC. As someone who knows and loves Schubert's four-hand music, especially the Fantasy in F-minor (one of the greatest pieces of music for piano ever composed), I have to say that this concert was a complete disaster. The problem is that Kissin and Levine aren't remotely on the same page (or planet) in their approach to the music: Kissin plays with real passion and sensitivity, and Levine plays as if on Prozac--no real highs or lows, just a lot of notes played loud and soft as required. While they sat at two different pianos because of Levine's girth, it was an appropriately figurative statement also, because of the unbridgeable gap between their approaches. Sadly, I can not recommend this recording at all. If you are interested in Schubert's Fantasy in F-minor, make sure you hear the performance by Emil and Elena Gilels, which pretty well blows all others away. Perahia and Lupu also have recordings of the other four-hand works that are recommendable.
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Energetic Schubert, with impressive partnering
Rating  (4)
Date: 2006-05-02
13 out of 14 customers found this reveiw helpful
I imagine this concert could be the only time that Schubert's four-hand piano music, which was intended to be played at home, filled Carnegie Hall. Levine and Kissin are stars, but the big surprise is their unanimity--it's nearly impossible to tell on this CD which one is playing the first or second part. I heard not a single slip in ensemble. The music is self-recommending to Schubertians, since every work is a masterpiece (the F minor Fantasy is all but obligatory on such programs).
As to style, Kissin and Levine don't tiptoe around, which is gratifying--they take a forceful, energetic appraoch, and their tempos tend to be brisk. At times the phrasing lacks inwardness, but it's incredibly hard to bring out both the poetry and the strength of Schubert's piano writing. Britten and Richter came closer in their live recordings from the Aldeburgh Festival (BBC Legends), but Levine and Kissin are still first-rate. I am not fond of two-paino music (as the pieces are played here, rather than at a single keyborad), finding it too percussive, but this CD kept my attention from beginning to end. Lots of applause before and after each item, by the way.
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SUBLIME TOGETHERNESS
Rating (5)
Date: 2006-02-28
34 out of 37 customers found this reveiw helpful
Piano music for four hands played an integral part in Schubert's compositional output. (Robert Schumann thought very highly of Schubert's compositions in this genre). He composed like music throughout his very short life. This recording contains works from the last years of his life and it certainly contains some of his best compositions for the piano-I really think that the Sonata for Piano 4 hands in C major, D 812/Op. 140 "Grand Duo" was really a symphony for two pianos. Whatever it is, Levine and Kissen give it a splendid reading! To me these works are far more than mere "housemusic" (or music known as music to be played exclusively among friends at evening gatherings in the home). As a piano major during my college days (many years ago) I played (not well) many of Schubert's piano works for four hands (with other piano students). I remember liking and enjoying them immensely. Since that time, Schubert's piano music for four hands has sort of disappeared from my "musical radar". This release is very welcome indeed. Hearing these works played by musicians of the caliber of Evengy Kissin and James Levine is phenomenal. (I simply ADORE the first number--Fantasie in F minor--it's achingly lovely)
Evengy Kissin and James Levine recorded this album "live" at Carnegie Hall in New York in 2005. Musicians of this acclaim don't' get together often to play this kind of music. Therefore, I would call this "a once in a lifetime" recording. Kissin and Levine play these wonderful works splendidly. Their playing reeks of almost a "second sense" with each other. They are always together as if anticipating each other's next move. There is a keen sense of rhythm, beautiful tone and dynamics. BRAVO! I really don't expect, in my lifetime, to hear these works played again as well as they are played on this album-it's is really amazing.
For some divine piano playing by two master musicians, buy this disc!
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