Tchaikovsky: The Three Piano Concertos (2005 Sony Classical Original Recording Remastered)

All of the other reviewers below have said all that can be said about this 2 CD set of Graffman's performace of all three Tchaikovsky piano concertos. Superb performances of all three. The second and third concertos have always been lesser known among concert-going audiences; the singing melody of the opening of the first concerto and the "war horse" status is has achieved has cast a long shadow over the second and third concertos (akin to the situation we find between the Rachmaninoff second and third concertos). Nonetheless, the second concerto is equally good but quite different. The third movement of the second is simply fantastic music, and Graffman really plays it extraordinarily well and riveting (listen to those octaves!). Graffman does not really have the reputation of being a "super virtuoso" (or does he? I might be wrong). But upon a listening of his performance of Balakirev's Islamey, one sits back in the chair and gasps, "I had no idea!" This is one of the most even and over all best performances of Islamey I've ever heard (yes, Barere's might be faster, but Graffman's is better; and if you want tempo in your Islamey, Graffman's is right up there; it is not as slow or dragging as other recordings). Graffman is really a solid, tasetful, and great pianist. One wishes that he had recorded more of the Romantic solo piano repertoire. These recordings of the Tchaikovsky concertos are some of the best. Barry Douglas' performance of the first is a bit more riveting than Graffman, but Graffman's version seems to possess a quality that is lacking in all other versions of this concerto. Highly recommended.

Track Listing

Disc: 1
1. Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23: Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23: Andantino simplice
3. Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23: Allegro con fuoco; Allegro vivo
4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 44: Allegro brillante e molto vivace
5. Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 44: Andante non troppo
6. Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 44: Allegro con fuoco

Disc: 2
1. Piano Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, Op. post. 75
2. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano: Promenade
3. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano: Gnomus
4. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano: Promenade
5. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano: The Old Castle
6. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano: Promenade
7. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano: Les Tuileries
8. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano: Bydlo
9. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano: Promenade
10. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano: Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks
11. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano: Two Polish Jews (One Rich, the Other Poor)
12. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano: Promenade
13. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano: The Market Place at Limoges
14. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano: The Catacombs
15. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano: The Hut of Baba Yaga
16. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano: The Great Gate of Kiev
17. Islamey, Oriental fantasy for piano