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Title: Great performances!
Review: Von Karajan obviously enjoys conducting the Prokoviev, and it shows in the vivacity of the performance. Sometimes the pp passages are ppp, but all else is fine. The Tchaikovsky is an unusual performance, with much slower tempos and more deliberation during transitions (even pauses) than are generally found in this work. Probably played five minutes longer than Horowitz or Gilels would have required. The break between the 2nd and 3rd movements surprised me. The 17 year old pianist is excellent; he surely does like his deliberate, almost hesitant, tempos. Great clarity of finger attacks on keys, separation of notes. Remarkable, really. The camera could spend a bit more time on Kissin's hands and less on his and Herbert's faces.
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