Martinu: Piano Works

Advantages: dynamic and gripping
Disadvantages: none

...Fantastic to have another additional collection of all five of Beethoven's piano concerti. Spanning his life we can really get to grips with his evolving use of the orchestra in these works. From the Third's action packed finale to the Fourth's beautiful expressions to the grandeur of the much loved Fifth. The playing is precise, dramatic and full of energy; as indeed it should be. Aimard's playing is always well crafted and beautifully shaped. This is an insightful disk and has taken the musicians an awful lot of hard work. A must-have for any lover of Beethoven's piano music. If you usually go for his chamber music or string quartets why not branch out and explore Aimard's wonderful take on these concerti? Well worth buying and indeed an inspiration for myself and other pianists alike.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Amazingly meaningful and addictive.
Disadvantages: Can't stop listening to the album, in fact, i'm listening to it know.

...I bought the album a couple of months ago and I'm still listening to the album almost religously. Sometimes I start singing along and this music is addictive. When i'm not listening to it, i'm either at work (where music is banned), or playing the music on the piano. That's another great thing about this album. The background music is easy to play on the piano and sounds wonderful. Hats off to Coldplay, their music is awesome. I recomend Amsterdam to anyone with the album. It's awesome and sounds great on the piano if you can play it. If you can't then hire a teacher and buy the book with the music in it. Or download it from...www.geocities.com/freesheetmusiclinks/ Hope that this has been helpful.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Dreamy, peaceful, emotional music; range of abilities catered for
Disadvantages: None!

...From a piano player's point of view, Debussy is a true master of the composing craft. His pieces wash over you as you play, enfolding you in the various emotions - joy, sadness, surprise, peace - which are so deeply engrained in the music. There are pieces to suit all abilities, from the (for the most part) fairly easy Rêverie to some of the fiendishly difficult Préludes, for which the scores look like nothing you've seen on earth; and whilst the pieces on occasion may sound discordant and even simply bad at first, stick with them as every time you will in the end be richly rewarded. Playing a Debussy piece isn't about learning notes and precise regimented time signatures, as with Bach for example. It's about letting your emotions flow out into the piano, about letting yourself go completely, just for a few moments. Start with Rêverie... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful