To a great degree, this disc captures the excitement of Jorge Bolet's legendary recital at Carnegie Hall on February 25, 1974, and only falls short in conveying this pianist's enormous sound. The original analog recording is somewhat diminished in the digital transfer, and the inadequate technology of 1988 makes this CD a prime candidate for a new remastering. Yet Bolet's performances shine through the limited audio, and his mastery is what makes this album an essential item in any collection. His playing of the Bach/Busoni Chaconne in D minor is as controlled as possible, in light of its contrapuntal crossings and sudden changes of textures. Bolet gives a vigorous performance with only a few wrong notes -- easy to forgive when the daunting complexities of this arrangement are considered -- and the music is rich and powerful. In Chopin's Preludes, Bolet balances the shifting moods with great discipline, perhaps favoring the pensive preludes by minimizing the exuberance of the brighter pieces, but never at the expense of the set's continuity. Bolet's incredible ability to orchestrate at the keyboard is most apparent in Liszt's transcription of Wagner's Tannhäuser Overture, a tour de force of the piano's timbral possibilities. Decidedly the most dazzling offering of the evening, this extraordinary performance invites repeated listening.
© TiVo