专辑简介

Van Cliburn's performances, full of all the virtuosity of a true piano artist, has gotten even a competition named after him- the Van Cliburn competition in which hopeful and promising new pianists are discovered. Van Cliburn was a musical genius. His skill and unrivaled technique made him a star, even for one so young. On this recording, Van Cliburn plays two concerti that are considered virtuosic pieces and he's doing one hell of a terrific performance. It's a great album to have if you like the music of Beethoven and Rachmaninov and also the stylings of Van Cliburn. It's incredible and you will not be disappointed. This is how these concertos should be played. Van Cliburn is a role model for pianists all over the world.Beethoven's Emperor Piano Concerto, Number 5, his last piano concerto, is his most brilliant. The monumental piece has a dignified grandeur and lyrical splendor that made the piano much more than a solo instrument. It made the piano a symphony in its own right. The first movement is classical in structure but the piano is given a lot more attention. Also, it's more Romantic ultimately than classical. For years to come afterward, piano composers were greatly influenced by this concerto and its romanticism. The second movement, the adagio, is heart-warming and lyrical, a romantic piece that was even used prominently as the love theme in the film about Beethove and his true love, Immortal Beloved. The finale, the Rondo, is a dazzling and passionate as fireworks and concludes the concerto in the typical Beethoven heroism and triumph. Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 is his best. It's one of the most difficult and technically demanding concerti in all of the piano repertoire.