Hi-Do Shin <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Hello!  A while ago, I was listening to the radio on my way to work,
>and the classical music station played a beautiful romantic orchestral
>piece with a piano soloist playing in it.

You are telling me.  I was just mentioning to Roger Hecht that the very
first time I heard it, I want to grab my girlfriend and hug her.  But she
isn't there.:(And the work is supposed to be written for his son to play!
That is interpretation of emotions for you...

>Anyway, although I don't know what the other movements will sound like,

Will you have a chance to see Fantasia 2000? It should be showing at an
omniplex theatre in Seoul.  You can hear the 1st movement of this piano
concerto.  However, this movement is the light/flippant mode which you
mentioned about Shostakovich work.  The third movement has a "comical"
setting as well.

>I think this has whet my appetite for Shosty's PC #2.  So, could someone
>recommend a good recording of this work? Someone strongly recommended an
>EMI version where the composer himself plays the piano. The Gramophone
>recommendation seems to be Alexeev on EMI/CfP.  How is the Houston/Lyndon-
>McGee version on Naxos? How about Bernstein? Any comments are welcome.

If you are convinced about Shostakovich now, why don't you try Yefim
Bronfman with Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting the LA Philharmonic.  Sony
classical SK60677.  It has both his piano concerto No. 1 and 2 and the
piano quintet.

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