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| |  | DVD-CD-VIDEO | Home » » Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F / Rhapsody in Blue / Cuban Overture | | | | | | | Description: | | Jon Nakamatsu won the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1997 and has made several fine recordings since then. This all-Gershwin program is probably his finest. He plays the Piano Concerto with great rhythmic sass, the Charleston always underpinning the melodies. Rather than opt for a showy reading of this or the Rhapsody in Blue, he and conductor Jeff Tyzik emphasize the music’s sultry quality; the smoke-filled nightclub is there right alongside the concert hall at all times. The clarinet solo that opens the Rhapsody is stunningly evocative. Nakamatsu and the horn player duet with a keen jazz ear, and the solo piano work is songful and elegant. If you’re looking for fireworks, there are plenty in the Concerto’s finale – it’s a thrilling reading. The Cuban Overture, a work so familiar that it’s hard to look forward to, is given a terrific reading here by Tyzik and The Rochester Philharmonic, with the Latin percussion sounding wonderfully at home with the "regular" orchestra. This is a splendid release. --Robert Levine | | | Product Details: | | | Audio CD Release Date:
| May 08, 2007 | | Studio:
| Harmonia Mundi Fr. | | Composer:
| George Gershwin | | Conductor:
| Jeff Tyzik | | Orchestra:
| Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra | | Number Of Discs:
| 1 | | Format:
| Hybrid SACD - DSD, Import | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 12 reviews |
| | | Track Listing: | | | 1. | I Allegro | | 2. | II Adagio | | 3. | III Allegro Agitato | | 4. | Rhapsody In Blue | | 5. | Cuban Overture | |
| | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 12 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 26 found the following review helpful:
Waited 50 years for this versionJun 01, 2007
By Richard A. Edwards
This is a simply incredible album. It is the Rhapsody in Blue to add to your collection for both excellent sound quality & superb performance. Both soloist & orchestra are completely inspired. I've heard several competent but dutiful versions on disc, but this one soars. Heard it on HD radio & could not wait to own it.
23 of 23 found the following review helpful:
Blew me away: incredible fluidityMay 12, 2007
By Cecilia Craig
"Ceal"
I had the privilege of hearing Jon Nakamatsu perform a Beethoven Concerto recently and as a result, purchased this CD, loving Gershwin. I have several other versions of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, and this interpretation is the best for me. The fluid lines of play warm my heart. The humor found in the piece comes through with playful notes making me smile. The other pieces are similarly enjoyably performed. I just went on line to purchase all the rest of his albums, I liked this one so much. I can't wait until they arrive!
12 of 12 found the following review helpful:
fun, satisfying listeningJun 15, 2007
By Carol Greenley
Jon Nakamatsu is one of the brightest rising stars in classical music. As a classical label owner, I have listened to a lot of music and this pianist is at the top. These fabulous pieces are treated with Nakamatsu's usual tenderness and lyricism that he affords his Chopin and Brahms CDs, and still leaves room for the jaunty, sassy, fun that these compositions ask for. Leave a space on your Favorites list for this one!
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
Critically Ignored performancesJan 13, 2009
By Roderick Keech
Being a bit of a collector with an eclectic taste, I often refer to the Penguin Guide to Recorded Classical Music, and to the Gramophone Classical Music Guide for reviews and guidance. I have every edition of these tomes going back years, and frequently find myself wondering how certain recordings get glowing reviews in one and poor reviews in another. Subjectivity is one thing, but when the opinions are at complete odds with each other, I find myself at a loss.
What is more puzzling to me are the omissions.
This wonderful SACD was recorded in July 2006, and should have made it to the editors' desks in 2007, yet it has not once been reviewed. Why is that, I wonder ?
Given the excellence of this recording I would have thought that both of these supposedly revered reference books would have it listed with a high recommendation. Both Jon Nakamatsu and the Rochester Philharmonic do great justice to these seminal and truly American works of art. It isn't that Penguin & Gramophone regard Gershwin as declasse, and therefore not worthy of inclusion, as if you look, you will find listings by Bernstein, Previn and Wild. A performance of this stature should stand together with those.
Whatever the reason, at least Amazon provides a forum for buyers to write their own reviews, and hopefully one day the aforementioned publications will become more inclusive.
Performance 5 stars
Recording 5 stars (based on listening to the 5.1 layer)
Packaging 5 stars
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
An Amazing Piano Concerto in FAug 25, 2007
By Birdman
For those who have never heard Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F, Nakamatsu's performance will come as a revelation. In particular, the soulful Adagio, with its roots deeply into blues is unusually moving. While viewed as symphonic filler by snobs, Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue sounds fresh here. Evn the opening catches you by the throat, while Nakamatsu's arpeggio's, trills and jazzy interpretations of Gershwin's text are a revelation. The piece opens more slowly perhaps, than most listeners are accustomed to, but the piece builds to a fabulous emotional crescendo. You'll love it.
The only minor letdown is that the disc concludes with the Cuban Overture. It's a wonderful piece, but far more orchestral than the other two works, with much less latitude for the conductor.
The sonics vary from dead flat and natural to strident. The engineers often went heavy on the bottom and top frequencies, but this is a minor consideration. All this aside, Harmonia Mundi USA has assembled a fine team for this release, and the the Piano Concerto in F alone is worth your purchase.
See all 12 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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