Beethoven:Diabelli Variations

Rating:
Summary: Genius!
Review: I was familiar with Anderszewski's playing from his CD of Bach Partitas and Mozart concertos, both of which I found above the norm of the exceptional young keyboard lions of today. His phrasing, nuance and dynamic control was simply above the norm of most top pianists.

However, I was simply stunned by this DVD! The playing was, how should I put it? REVELATORY! Truly, it is one of the most astonishing performances I've ever heard of ANYTHING! His maturity in the musical language of the Diabelli's is incredible for such a young artist (although he had been playing it for at least 10 years when this DVD was made). Some of the slow playing seems like it's from another world; and the fugal passages as well as the great fugue in variation 32 (before the ending variation) is fantastically musical, not just simply "Punched Out" how some artists have played it.

Bruno Monsaingeon's filming of this event is an artistic achievement in itself. This is the filmaker who made legendary films with Glenn Gould and Richter when they were alive. His method of filming the work is explained in the notes (I won't tell them here so it will make you buy the DVD). Suffice it to say, Monsaingeon's as much of an artist in his own right as Anderszewski and this DVD is the stunning result!

The only thing I would be curious to know is how much the filmaker had an influence in pauses between the variations. I would think that was Mr. Anderszewski's call and there were sometimes lengthy pauses between some variations. But it seemed artistically valid and thought out for overall effect by the pianist (and filmaker? that's what I don't know). Anyway, I'll end this review by echoing what was in the liner notes: namely that this recording should do for Mr. Anderszewski's reputation what the Goldberg's did for Gould. That's how good this is! GET IT!

Rating:
Summary: Benchmark!
Review: On every level of evaluation, this DVD could not be bettered. It is simply state-of-the-art: from musical conception (Beethoven's genius) to execution (masterful interpretation by Anderszewski); documented & edited flawlessly by Bruno Monsaingeon in high-definition & digital audio; finally presented by Virgin Classics in 16:9 & DD/DTS 5.1 in what results as a stunning achievement.

yeah, i think i'll keep it.