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Our discussion on r.m.c.r. about a week ago prompted me to order the new release of the newly discovered recording referenced above with Monteux (NYPS, 13 June 43). It arrived a day or so ago and I finally listened this morning. Very impressive and certainly worth the $10 pre-release price. Maggi Payne's 'technical reconstruction' as it is called is quite good and overall the performance is quite thrilling; for it's day, it is recorded well. I won't give an in depth review here, just make 2 points. 1) Everytime I hear a recording by Schnabel I am reminded of the incredible dynamic range and nuance the man could produce on the piano. Wrong notes, there are some, but I don't care. Too bad we will never know what he could have done with Debussy had he cared to play the French master's music. 2) I hear phrases being shaped that I don't hear in some more contemporary pianists, the result being very clear lines.
I love this recording. This is one of the most exciting discoveries in a long time.
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