Pogorelich plays Islamey

Mily Balakirev: Islamey

Ivo Pogorelich, live at Carnegie Hall, May 7th 1990.

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Pogorelich
• Balakirev
• Islamey
• Carnegie
• Hall

[gtimny]

I think I was at this concert and I remember being stunned by this Islamey. If it's the one I remember, it was at Lincoln Center - Avery Fisher Hall not Carnegie and had been postponed from earlier in the season. He played some Scarlatti Sonatas, Chopin Mazurkas (weirdly) Scriabin 4th (magically) and I forget what else. Have to see if I can find the program - I'm sure I kept it. He's become a rather sad figure in recent years, but then he was one of the few who could really mesmerize.

[thetunr]

The recital at AFH was on May 13th, the one at CH was held the previous Monday (May 7th). But I actually don't know if this recording comes from one or the other concert. Lucky you to be there among the audience.

[Pischnaholic]

There is no more capable pianist living or dead. This is beyond virtuosic -- it is TRANSCENDANT.

Head and shoulders above the elite group that plays this extremely well. There's an animal energy, a lyricism -- and above all an understanding of STRUCTURE and DIRECTION I've never heard in anyone else's performance of this beast.

[blnli10]

Martha Agerich is right, Pogorelich is a great genius!

[ggalexhutchings]

@HotSo0P ya, i find more of the senseless, purposeless readings to be a recent development. the interpretations from the era that this recording came from were some of the most sublime piano work done in the recorded era however. his readings of gaspard from this era, and the liszt, were in a world of their own.

[simon051093]

best interpretation ever!!

[alpianoforte]

It was an encore also in Milan, Italy, Teatro La Scala, two years ago, after 2nd Concert by Rachmaninov!

[Agenamigo]

@gtimny He played this piece as an encore in San Francisco. I was there. This man really can deliver an unforgettable concert. I remembered seeing two pianos on the stage. First half, all Scarlatti Sonatas. Second half, a few Brahms Intermezzi and Liszt B minor Sonata. Islamey was one of his encore. Simply amazing man.

[carlhopkinson]

Incredible....super-humnan....­

[JoePatrych]

Just a couple of comments about this concert: in my experience, having heard about 4500 piano events i the past 36 years (recitals and concerti), the 3 Liszt Etudes (Wilde Jagd, Feux Follets and the F Minor-no 10) were among the best 12 minutes of piano playing that I have ever heard - it was an unbelievable experience to hear what he did with them. The Islamey was great - but the jewel Pogorelich Islamey was on Feb 20th, 1992 - an encore at Carnegie - simply the best Islamey I ever heard.

[JoePatrych]

Just to clear up a bit of confusion about this post: The concert was May 7th, 1990 at Carnegie Hall (He played the same program 6 days later at Avery Fisher) - The program was as follows: Haydn: Sonata No 19 Brahms: 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117 Liszt: 3 Transcendental Etudes Intermission Scarlatti: 6 Sonatas Chopin: Mazurkas, Op. 59 Scriabin: Sonata No 4, Op. 30 Balakirev: Islamey There were no encores.