The Art of Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli

Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli

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The Art of Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Review

by James Leonard

This is the best -- the noblest, the grandest, the most tragic -- Ballade in G minor ever recorded. This is the best -- the most virtuostic, the most colorful, the most imaginative -- set of Book I Preludes ever recorded. This is the best -- the most Romantic, the most heartfelt, the funniest -- Carnaval ever recorded. This is the best -- the most elegant, the most witty, the most athletic -- recording of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 ever recorded. This is the best -- the most brooding, the most violent, the most consoling -- set of Brahms Ballades ever recorded. This is the best -- the most loving, the most awe-inspiring, the most transcendent -- "Emperor" Concerto ever recorded. This is the best -- the subtlest, the most sorrowful, the most sublime -- set of Chopin mazurkas ever recorded. And on and on and on. While there are some performances here that are not the best ever recorded, this box of recordings by Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli from 1957 through 1990 is arguably the greatest single set of piano recordings ever released. And while there have been a few better recordings than Michelangeli's of the four Mozart piano concertos, Michelangeli's are at such an extraordinarily high level, so beautifully toned and so ethereally interpreted, that they are still among the best ever recorded. And while there have been more passionate recordings of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3, Michelangeli's is so brilliantly played that passion would only be an untoward intrusion in Michelangeli's ideal world. But as for the rest, these are simply the best piano performances of the works ever recorded. And the remastered sound is the best any of them have ever had. This is absolutely essential for every man, woman, and child.

Track Listing - Disc 1

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time
	1	Applause Recorded Sound	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	00:22
Piano Concerto No. 13 in C major, K. 415 (K. 387b)
	2	1. Allegro Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	11:40
	3	2. Andante Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	08:18
	4	3. Rondeau. Allegro Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	09:34
Piano Concerto No. 15 in B flat major, K. 450
	5	1. Allegro Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	11:42
	6	2. Andante Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	06:15
	7	3. Allegro Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	09:55

Track Listing - Disc 2

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time
	1	Applause Recorded Sound	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	00:40
Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466
	2	1. Allegro Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	15:11
	3	2. Romance Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	09:35
	4	3. Allegro assai Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	08:44
	5	Applause Recorded Sound	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	00:44
Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major, K. 503
	6	1. Allegro maestoso Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	15:45
	7	2. Andante Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	07:25
	8	3. Allegretto Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	09:40
	9	Applause Recorded Sound	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	00:48

Track Listing - Disc 3

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
	1	1. Allegro con brio Ludwig van Beethoven	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	18:38
	2	2. Largo Ludwig van Beethoven	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	10:42
	3	3. Rondo. Allegro Ludwig van Beethoven	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	09:09
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
	4	1. Allegro con brio Ludwig van Beethoven	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	18:12
	5	2. Largo Ludwig van Beethoven	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	11:23
	6	3. Rondo. Allegro Ludwig van Beethoven	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	10:48

Track Listing - Disc 4

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major ("Emperor"), Op. 73
	1	1. Allegro Ludwig van Beethoven	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	21:35
	2	2. Adagio un poco mosso - attacca: Ludwig van Beethoven	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	08:36
	3	3. Rondo. Allegro Ludwig van Beethoven	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	12:15
Piano Sonata No. 4 in E flat major ("Grand Sonata"), Op. 7
	4	1. Allegro molto e con brio Ludwig van Beethoven	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	09:49	Amazon
	5	2. Largo, con gran espressione Ludwig van Beethoven	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	08:39	Amazon
	6	3. Allegro - Minore - Allegro Ludwig van Beethoven	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	05:28
	7	4. Rondo. Poco Allegretto e grazioso Ludwig van Beethoven	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	07:40	Amazon

Track Listing - Disc 5

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
Piano Sonata No. 4 in A minor, D. 537 (Op. posth. 164)
	1	1. Allegro, ma non troppo Franz Schubert	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	10:05	Amazon
	2	2. Allegretto, quasi andantino Franz Schubert	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	07:31	Amazon
	3	3. Allegro vivace Franz Schubert	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	05:05	Amazon
	4	Mazurka for piano No. 43 in G minor, Op. 67/2, CT. 93 Frédéric Chopin	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:02
	5	Mazurka for piano No. 34 in C major, Op. 56/2, CT. 84 Frédéric Chopin	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	01:48
	6	Mazurka for piano No. 45 in A minor, Op. 67/4. CT. 95 Frédéric Chopin	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	03:10
	7	Mazurka for piano No. 47 in A minor, Op. 68/2, CT. 97 Frédéric Chopin	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	03:09
	8	Mazurka for piano No. 46 in C major, Op. 68/1, CT. 96 Frédéric Chopin	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	01:33
	9	Mazurka for piano No. 22 in G sharp minor, Op. 33/1, CT. 72 Frédéric Chopin	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:05
	10	Mazurka for piano No. 20 in D flat major, Op. 30/3, CT. 70 Frédéric Chopin	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	03:18
	11	Mazurka for piano No. 19 in B minor, Op. 30/2, CT. 69 Frédéric Chopin	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	01:38
	12	Mazurka for piano No. 25 in B minor, Op. 33/4, CT. 75 Frédéric Chopin	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	06:20
	13	Mazurka for piano No. 49 in F minor, Op. 68/4, CT. 99 Frédéric Chopin	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	03:45
	14	Prelude for piano No. 25 in C sharp minor, Op. 45, CT. 190 Frédéric Chopin	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	04:54
	15	Ballade for piano No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23, CT. 2 Frédéric Chopin	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	09:16
	16	Scherzo for piano No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 31, CT. 198 Frédéric Chopin	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	11:02

Track Listing - Disc 6

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
Carnaval for piano, Op. 9
	1	1. Préambule. Quasi maestoso - Più moto - Animato - Vivo - Presto Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:30
	2	2. Pierrot. Moderato Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:15
	3	3. Arlequin. Vivo Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	01:09
	4	4. Valse noble. Un poco maestoso Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	01:53
	5	5. Eusebius. Adagio Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	01:19
	6	6. Florestan. Passionato Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	00:57
	7	7. Coquette. Vivo Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	01:37
	8	8. Réplique. L'istesso tempo - (Sphinxes) Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	01:09
	9	9. Papillons. Prestissimo Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	00:38
	10	10. A.S.C.H. - S.C.H.A. (Lettres dansantes) - Presto Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	00:58	Amazon
	11	11. Chiarina. Passionato Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	01:35
	12	12. Chopin. Agitato Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	01:13
	13	13. Estrella. Con affetto Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	00:28
	14	14. Reconnaissance. Animato Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	01:40
	15	15. Pantalon et Colombine. Presto Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	00:57
	16	16. Valse allemande. Molto vivace Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	01:03
	17	17. Paganini. Intermezzo. Presto Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	01:29
	18	18. Aveu. Passionato Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	01:14
	19	19. Promenade. Comodo Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:40
	20	20. Pause. Vivo Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	00:16
	21	21. Marche des "Davidsbündler" contre les Philistins Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	04:04	Amazon
Faschingsschwank aus Wien ("Phantasiebilder"), for piano, Op. 26
	22	I. Allegro. Sehr lebhaft Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	10:10
	23	II. Romanze. Ziemlich langsam Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	03:09
	24	III. Scherzino Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:20
	25	IV. Intermezzo. Mit größter Energie Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:18
	26	V. Finale. Höchst lebhaft Robert Schumann	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	05:01
Ballades (4) for piano, Op. 10
	27	1. Andante - Allegro - Andante (after the Scottish Ballad "Edward" from Herder's "Stimmen der Völke Johannes Brahms	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	04:31
	28	2. Andante - Allegro non troppo - Molto staccato e leggiero - Andante Johannes Brahms	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	07:11
	29	3. Intermezzo. Allegro Johannes Brahms	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	04:15
	30	4. Andante con moto Johannes Brahms	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	09:28

Track Listing - Disc 7

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117
	1	I. Danseuses de Delphes. Lent et grave Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	03:18
	2	II. Voiles. Modéré Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	04:30
	3	III. Le vent dans la plaine. Animé Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:13
	4	IV. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir. Modéré Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	03:39	Amazon
	5	V. Les collines d'Anacapri. Très modéré Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	03:19
	6	VI. Des pas sur la neige. Triste et lent Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	04:58
	7	VII. Ce qu'a vu le vent d'Ouest. Animé et tumultueux Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	03:41
	8	VIII. La fille aux cheveux de lin. Très calme et doucement expressif Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:54
	9	IX. La sérénade interrompue. Modérément animé Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:43
	10	X. La cathédrale engloutie. Profondément calme Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	06:52
	11	XI. La danse de Puck. Capricieux et léger Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	03:12
	12	XII. Minstrels. Modéré Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:42
Children's Corner, suite for piano (or orchestra), L. 113
	13	I. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum. Modérément animé Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:15
	14	II. Jimbo's Lullaby. Assez modéré Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	03:28
	15	III. Serenade for the Doll. Allegretto ma non troppo Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:16
	16	IV. The Snow is Dancing. Modérément animé Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:38
	17	V. The Little Shepherd. Très modéré Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:28
	18	VI. Golliwogg's Cake-walk. Allegro giusto Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:56

Track Listing - Disc 8

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123
	1	I. Brouillards. Modéré extrêmement égal et léger Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:56
	2	II. Feuilles mortes. Lent et mélancolique Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	03:19
	3	III. La Puerta del Vino. Mouvement de Habanera avec de brusques oppositions d'extrême violence et d Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	04:07
	4	IV. "Les Fées sont d'exquises danseuses". Rapide et léger Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	03:07
	5	V. Bruyères. Calme - Doucement expressif Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:54
	6	VI. "General Lavine" - eccentric. Dans le style et le Mouvement d'un Cake-Walk Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:38
	7	VII. La Terrasse des audiences du clair de lune. Lent Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	03:59	Amazon
	8	VIII. Ondine. Scherzando Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	03:27
	9	IX. Hommage à S. Pickwick Esq. P.P.M.P.C. Grave Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:27
	10	X. Canope. Très calme et doucement triste Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:36
	11	XI. Les Tierces alternées. Modérément animé Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	02:55
	12	XII. Feux d'artifice. Modérément animé Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	04:47
Images (3), for piano, Set I, L. 110
	13	I. Reflets dans l'eau. Andantino molto Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	04:54
	14	II. Hommage à Rameau. Lent et grave Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	06:35
	15	III. Mouvement. Animé Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	03:43
Images (3), for piano, Set II, L. 111
	16	I. Cloches à travers les feuilles. Lent Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	04:23
	17	II. Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut. Lent Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	05:15	Amazon
	18	III. Poissons d'or. Animé Claude Debussy	Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli	04:01