Andrei Gavrilov, Walter Gieseking, Emil Grigoryevich Gilels, Friedrich Gulda - Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Selections from the definitive collection [Sampler]

Philips' 100-volume Great Pianists of the 20th Century series is one of the most ambitious projects ever put together by a record company. For all the debate that will surely ensue over who was chosen and who was passed over, it's obvious that careful, loving attention has gone into the selection of content for the happy 72 to be admitted to this special pantheon (certain especially significant pianists are allotted two or even three volumes, such as Vladimir Horowitz). Each of the handsomely designed, sepia-tinted volumes--adorned with a black and white photo--contains two CDs and a thoughtful essay on the artist in question. Prospective buyers should be aware that this sampler volume offers only short vignettes (averaging between two and three minutes), along with a thumbnail sketch, for each pianist. Still, it's a smorgasbord of morsels that allow you to taste some of the major trends in philosophy and approach to the instrument throughout the century (and reaching well back into the 19th), and the overlap of repertory permits some fascinating quick comparisons as style and technique have evolved. Delve into some of the artists in the series--say Alfred Brendel or Martha Argerich--and trace in greater depth the piano's identity crisis. Is it, for example, a resonantly string-like instrument ideal for pastel shadings or a steely, percussive machine meant to express the hardness of the 20th century? There are countless discoveries to be made here, both for the connoisseur and for anyone taking the first step into getting acquainted with great keyboard artistry. --Thomas May Amazon.com

Tantalizing preview of good things to come

This is an introductory 2-CD set to introduce a very grand series of CD's featuring the 20th Century's greatest pianists.
As a sampler, there are some incredible jewels here, for example Nikita Magaloff's sparkling Chopin Tarantelle and Paganini Etude No.3: 'La Campanella' played excitingly by John Ogdon. There is even an early recording of Paderewski playing (predictably) Paderewski.

This sampler seems a bit of a Euro-centric, but the editors wisely chose to include Earl Wild doing Gershwin and Roslyn Tureck doing Bach. I ended up purchasing the Andre Watts volume from this series, and wondered what it would be like to own the whole shootin' match. I saw the entire CD series on display in a top notch music store in Germany--it was overwhelming to see the line of brown covers stretching impressively across an entire wall. The sampler is a good way to have a taste of this ambitious series of the giants of piano in the 20th Century. I listen to it often with great enjoyment. January 7, 2003

RE: Glenn Gould

RE: Those of you who complained/rejoiced about Gould's abscence: he is not on the sampler, true, I believe for... purposes or something along those lines. Rudolf Serkin is also not included, but both are among the "greatest pianists of the 20th Century" set. May 23, 2001

Missing no one except Katia Skanavi

I was pleased after reading the list of performers to see that Gould's machine-gun jiffy-pop piano "playing" is not included. I would like to hear more of Skanavi tho. April 19, 2001

Forget Somebody?

Although I understand that it must have been very diffiult to decide which pianists got put in the collection, let alone a two-disc sampler, I still feel that any anthology of the piano (other than one highlighting the romantic era)should contain at least one piece by Gould, yet this one doesn't. Gould has been almost unanimously hailed as one of the most influential artist of the twentieth century, yet he is not included on this disc. Other than that, a great buy. September 20, 2000

Unparalled Excellence (Mark G. Davis)

If you only purchase one classical piano cd in your entire life, this one should be it. All the masters, at their very best on it.

If you have piano cd's, this should be part of that collection. I purchased one, almost not believing what I read on the jacket. I'm telling my friends about this one, as I'm aware of no other CD having all those piano masters - - at any price?)... August 1, 1999

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