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Reviews: Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 5 - Nakamichi/Järvi

Reviews: 2

Review by Daland November 4, 2005 (14 of 15 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
A first-class recording that fills a gap in the SACD repertoire. There appears to be an excellent rapport between soloist, conductor and orchestra. The Japanese pianist, Ikuyo Nakamichi, looks rather delicate on the cover photo, but her approach is bold and imaginative. She offers the right combination of bravura and finesse. The poetic qualities of her playing are very much apparent in the slow movements where the interplay between soloist and orchestra is magnificent.
I have rarely heard a recording with such an impressive soundstage. The piano sound is very natural and so is the orchestral accompaniment. My only caveat is that the strings are a bit undernourished, but after all this is a chamber orchestra. I hope that Beethoven's remaining piano concertos will follow in due course.
I have listened only to the multi-channel version.

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Review by darkroommd March 13, 2009 (8 of 10 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:    
What a hidden gem! This album has been on my wish-list for at least 2 years, and finally laid down $45 USD to Amazon.co.uk to have it imported, as I was tired of waiting for a new American release of the Emperor concerto.

Thoughts: I am in complete agreement with the prior reviewer. The sound of this Steinway is captured magnificently, with uncanny detail and a lifelike sparkling quality rarely heard on other recordings. The piano is relatively forward with respect to the orchestra and has a notably "large" sound, especially on the background of the "smaller" sound provided by this chamber orchestra.


The Deutche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen is a chamber orchestra, of course, and they play and sound like one. For those looking for the lush string sound of, say, the Berlin Philharmonic, THIS IS NOT IT. The orchestra here has a "small" thin sound which affords tremendous transparency, dynamic musicality and sharp accents (apropos for Beethoven). I do not mean to imply that the orchestra is covered up by the big Steinway; in fact, the balance is ideal.

Regarding the interpretation, I also agree with the previous review. Nakamichi and Jarvi are clearly in lockstep here. This is an unidiomatic but altogether pleasing reading, at turns powerful and at turns tender.

Stereo and MC layers are equally outstanding. Cannot comment on the RBCD layer.

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