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Beethoven: Complete String Quartets
from: Nimbus Records
: :Beethoven's quartets are a cornerstone of Western music, and this bargain-priced set of all of them is wonderful. The Medici, an English quartet, play without frill or exaggeration, and their techniques cannot be faulted. From the joy of some of the early works to the torment of the last handful (and 'Grosse Fuge'), they communicate all the composer's humanity. This eight-CD set is a real find. --Robert Levine
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Baroque Festival
from: Compendia
: :Beethoven's quartets are a cornerstone of Western music, and this bargain-priced set of all of them is wonderful. The Medici, an English quartet, play without frill or exaggeration, and their techniques cannot be faulted. From the joy of some of the early works to the torment of the last handful (and 'Grosse Fuge'), they communicate all the composer's humanity. This eight-CD set is a real find. --Robert Levine
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Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 61
from: RCA
: :It's a shame Rubinstein didn't record more of Mozart's music, for his obvious affinity for the composer shines through these 1958-1960 stereo recordings of five concertos. Rubinstein's Mozart is forthright--he refuses to sentimentalize by swooning over the music's beauties or to indulge in larger-than-life playing that would rupture its classical framework. Even in the famous Andante of the 21st Concerto, his melting legato traces the curve of the melody without excess. Moderation was his byword, so while there are times one could wish for over-the-top risk taking--a more unbuttoned Allegro of ...
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Beethoven: The String Quartets
from: Deutsche Grammophon
: :It's a shame Rubinstein didn't record more of Mozart's music, for his obvious affinity for the composer shines through these 1958-1960 stereo recordings of five concertos. Rubinstein's Mozart is forthright--he refuses to sentimentalize by swooning over the music's beauties or to indulge in larger-than-life playing that would rupture its classical framework. Even in the famous Andante of the 21st Concerto, his melting legato traces the curve of the melody without excess. Moderation was his byword, so while there are times one could wish for over-the-top risk taking--a more unbuttoned Allegro of ...
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Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 1-6 - Mikhail Pletnev
: :A disaster. These dull, lackluster performances demonstrate conclusively that, however interesting Mikhail Pletnev may be as a pianist, he simply does not yet know how to conduct an orchestra. How can you tell? Because as a pianist he's willful, rhapsodic, eccentric, but full of ideas and never boring. As a conductor, he's metronomic, reserved, inhibited, and simply unable to impress any interpretive character on the music at all. And despite the fact that these are recent digital recordings, they don't even sound that great. Avoid. --David Hurwitz
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Alexander Scriabin: The Complete Piano Sonatas
from: Nonesuch
: :A disaster. These dull, lackluster performances demonstrate conclusively that, however interesting Mikhail Pletnev may be as a pianist, he simply does not yet know how to conduct an orchestra. How can you tell? Because as a pianist he's willful, rhapsodic, eccentric, but full of ideas and never boring. As a conductor, he's metronomic, reserved, inhibited, and simply unable to impress any interpretive character on the music at all. And despite the fact that these are recent digital recordings, they don't even sound that great. Avoid. --David Hurwitz
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100 All Time Classical Favorites (Box Set)
from: Madacy Records
: :A disaster. These dull, lackluster performances demonstrate conclusively that, however interesting Mikhail Pletnev may be as a pianist, he simply does not yet know how to conduct an orchestra. How can you tell? Because as a pianist he's willful, rhapsodic, eccentric, but full of ideas and never boring. As a conductor, he's metronomic, reserved, inhibited, and simply unable to impress any interpretive character on the music at all. And despite the fact that these are recent digital recordings, they don't even sound that great. Avoid. --David Hurwitz
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Strauss: Tone Poems
from: Deutsche Grammophon
: :A disaster. These dull, lackluster performances demonstrate conclusively that, however interesting Mikhail Pletnev may be as a pianist, he simply does not yet know how to conduct an orchestra. How can you tell? Because as a pianist he's willful, rhapsodic, eccentric, but full of ideas and never boring. As a conductor, he's metronomic, reserved, inhibited, and simply unable to impress any interpretive character on the music at all. And despite the fact that these are recent digital recordings, they don't even sound that great. Avoid. --David Hurwitz
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Monteverdi: Selva morale e spirituale
from: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
: :A disaster. These dull, lackluster performances demonstrate conclusively that, however interesting Mikhail Pletnev may be as a pianist, he simply does not yet know how to conduct an orchestra. How can you tell? Because as a pianist he's willful, rhapsodic, eccentric, but full of ideas and never boring. As a conductor, he's metronomic, reserved, inhibited, and simply unable to impress any interpretive character on the music at all. And despite the fact that these are recent digital recordings, they don't even sound that great. Avoid. --David Hurwitz
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Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 2/4/5/7; Pierre Monteux
from: Decca
: :A disaster. These dull, lackluster performances demonstrate conclusively that, however interesting Mikhail Pletnev may be as a pianist, he simply does not yet know how to conduct an orchestra. How can you tell? Because as a pianist he's willful, rhapsodic, eccentric, but full of ideas and never boring. As a conductor, he's metronomic, reserved, inhibited, and simply unable to impress any interpretive character on the music at all. And despite the fact that these are recent digital recordings, they don't even sound that great. Avoid. --David Hurwitz
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