S PROKOFIEV VISIONS FUGITIVES STEVEN OSBORNE complete

SERGEI PROKOFIEV VISIONS FUGITIVES Op. 22 COMPLETE
STEVEN OSBORNE piano
March 10, 2012 Amaturo Theatre Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
"The complete cycle of Prokofiev's Visions fugitives is rarely played but Osborne offered all 20 vignettes. Unlike many pianists who approach Prokofiev's music in an aggressive manner, Osborne emphasized, the lightness and playful naiveté of the miniatures. The whimsical march of the third piece was conveyed with a deft touch. In the final Lento, Osborne's ruminative version sustained the moody depth beneath the surface glow of Prokofiev's writing. As a demonstration of rock-solid pianistic technique, Osborne's reading of the entire cycle was outstanding, a textbook demonstration of precision and musicality."

Miami International Piano Festival

[cicakbg]

0:06 - 1. Lentamente
1:10 - 2. Andante
2:19 - 3. Allegretto
3:06 - 4. Animato
3:59 - 5. Molto giocoso
4:23 - 6. Con eleganza
4:47 - 7. Pittoresco (Arpa)
6:40 - 8. Comodo
7:34 - 9. Allegro tranquillo
8:35 - 10. Ridicolosamente
9:29 - 11. Con vivacità
10:37 - 12. Assai moderato
11:30 - 13. Allegretto
11:59 - 14. Feroce
12:52 - 15. Inquieto
13:41 - 16. Dolente
15:05 - 17. Poetico
16:07 - 18. Con una dolce lentezza
17:17 - 19. Presto agitatissimo e molto accentuato
18:00 - 20. Lento irrealmente

[meredith]

Osborne has an obvious affinity for Prokofiev. He vividly combines the percussive elements along with those quiet glacial moments which typifies the composer. A highly worthy account of these fine miniatures.

[ssprokofiev]

Osborne plays these well and clearly demonstrates an affinity for Prokofiev's music. His dynamics are fine and his subtle sense of nuance, along with an almost unerring feel for the proper tempo, make his set of these twenty masterly morsels among the most attractive ever offered.

[ghostwriter]

Masterful performance. Prokofiev's miniature studies are a rethinking of Beethovenian bagatelles for the dystopian 20th century. Osborne captures all the excitement, danger, anguish, and complexity of living in a post-Romantic world. Bravo!

[jacqueslinder]

Its a pleasure to hear, they are never played in concert, why? These pieces show the lyrical side of Prokovieff and Osborne gives a truely wonderful performance. jacques linder

[harrietbushman]

Beautiful, thoughtful pianist. Really hears himself. 👏

[Allegro]

Numbers 16 to 20 of the set were great, with nos. 17, 18 and 20 being very poetic. The extrovert accents at the end in no. 19 were appropriate and effective. A lovely set of pieces which should be played more often in concert programmes.

[TheKeenanBoy]

I love these pieces, the first and eighth especially. He plays them very well.

[docsketchy]

If you like this, then you should definitely check out Osborne's recording of Messiaen's masterpiece, Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant-Jesus. Amazing. There is a Youtube video of an entire performance, as well. Over two hours of insanely difficult music, without a break.

[lflagr]

Oh wow..12:00, that one is awesome, even better than Rubinstein on his Carnegie Hall cd! He makes this whole set sound so easy.

[markchentx]

Though I do not agree with his interpretation for Prokofiev, it is rather refreshing when Prokofiev almost sounds Debussirique.

[icareg]

when he played comodo, I felt like he was playing too fast, but when he got to the last section at half time, it all made sense. Amazing!

[chongkeetan]

All the places where Prokofiev notated hands crossing, he swapped them and played with hands not crossed instead! But a masterful performance and formidable technique!

[osmike]

So many people who can only play one or two of the pieces ripping him a new one with comments for a ideal that wasn't quite lived up to in their imaginations! Perhaps they could've better spent their time seeing the performance as a whole for what it really was which was nothing short of spectacular!

[Allegro]

Osborne plays these very well and has a great affinity for the style. He follows all of Prokofiev's markings. However, I think he plays no.3 a touch too fast for Allegretto. Also the Cs marked forte with an accent in no.11, although bring strong, are a little bit too dramatic for a miniature piece.

[philosophyprof]

Why hasn't he recorded these (and other small pieces by Prokofiev) for Hyperion?

[TheKeenanBoy]

I am looking at my score...he plays different notes! I like it when players change things a bit.

[michelangelomulieri]

Maria Yudina account still stands the test of time and other interpretations.

[xyloplax]

I didn't know this work before hearing this, so this was a great treat. Compared to other performances and Prokofiev himself, this has great accents, though some are too fast or too slow. Overall, really great.

Has anyone else noticed that #16 is a bit of a variation on Fur Elise?

[johndoily]

Clean articulation and sound, but overall tends to STRIKE the keys rather than LEAN into them.
He misses out on the variations in tone color, by not following all the dynamic markings, along with dispatching some of the more nuanced sections with mere mechanical efficiency.
Still, he's got some good pianissimos.