anderson@uwvax.UUCP (05/07/84)
<> Oops... I left out the following crucial entry from my list of great keyboard music recordings: Alfred Brendel/ Petrouchka Suite (Stravinsky), Pictures at an Exhibition (Mussorgsky) and Islamey (Balakirev). Turnabout/Vox TV 34258 The Petrouchka Suite (Stravinsky's piano reduction of the orchestral work) makes the Hammerklavier sonata look easy (only Ravel's "Gaspard de la Nuit" is in its class as far as difficulty). Like the Rite of Spring it is very rhythmic, and is neither tonal nor atonal. Both this and the Mussorgsky invite comparison with the orchestra versions; I have always felt that more rhythmic precision and drive are possible when there is only one performer. I had never heard of Balakirev before buying this record; "Islamey" may have been his one moment of inspiration. It is a virtuostic fantasy based on Russian folk tunes (the other two works also have a Russian flavor). It is a fun piece to play, though not at Brendel's tempo. David Anderson (uwvax!anderson)