| What the critics are saying
About
W. A. Mozart Album
(JDT3222) and pianist ZEYNEP
Ucbasaran
"An elegant double-helping
from Pianist Zeynep Ucbasaran: An agreeable elegance pervades
pianist Zeynep Ucbasaran's playing on these discs. Many a pianist can
manage the technical elements of Mozart's piano catalog; fewer have the
affinity for his tonal shading and delicate phrasing. There is less
room to maneuver, interpretively speaking, and Ucbasaran displays the
nuance needed in her recital...Ucbasaran's treatment of the Fantasias
is particularly telling of her innate ability. Eschewing the flashy
interpretation often brought to these works in the name of capturing
Mozart's improvisatory prowess, she pulls back. Her readings
acknowledge that Mozart was indeed composing fantasias, and they should
be treated with the same care as any of his works. Her patience unpacks
these works in a more polished and ultimately convincing manner. Both
sonatas then receive compelling performances."
Andrew Druckenbrod, The Gramophone
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"The Turkish pianist
Zeynep Ucbasaran, who since 1996 has been living in California is fast
becoming one of the foremost performers amongst today's legion of
excellent pianists. In this album, she amply displays not only her
great affinity with the composer, but also her innate sense of
musicianship. Van Gogh's reproduction of 'A Vase with Violet arises
against a Pink Background' on the front cover also caught my attention
and sets the seal on an excellently played and recorded disc."
Gerald Fenech, Classical Net |
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"Her textures are
clear and clean, with the pedal so sparingly used that it almost seems
not to be there at all (perhaps it is not, but I think there are
occasional touches here and there). Though happily using a modern piano
her approach to phrasing suggests a certain awareness of what is today
called 'period practice', with an avoidance of gratuitous legato lines
where none are written. In the first movement of K.309 you might find
Alicia de Larrocha, with a not dissimilar approach, more warmly
inflected at times, while Joyce Hatto, at a slightly slower tempo,
finds more of a smile, and of a dialogue between the different themes.
But Zeynep’s plain-speaking has its own truth too.. In the "Adagio" [of
the C minor Sonata] Zeynep is again expansive without any suggestion of
romanticism, and this movement may be seen as a touchstone of her
musicality, her ability to go straight to the point without frills. De
Larrocha is slightly faster, offering a warmer, more romantic sound
while Hatto provides another miracle of poise – without any sense of
haste she plays the movement in 07:40, as compared with de Larrocha’s
08:11 and Zeynep’s 08:21. Certainly, she removes any feeling of
heaviness from it and I must say I am happy to have all three
available....In the less 'profound' music of the variations she
provides a splendid display while never losing her essential
seriousness...As always, [the CD] comes with her own booklet notes,
very much to the point, and a splendid recording."
Christopher Howell, MusicWeb,
London
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"Her Mozart is straightforward,
technically adept, and shows a reasonable affinity for the composer..
Sonata 10 in C (K. 330) shows how effective things can sound when pedal
is sparingly applied.. The Variations
on a Minuet by Duport,
Fantasia in D minor, and Fantasia in C minor all sparkle with delight
and further demonstrates what this pianist is capable of at her best."
Alan Becker, American
Record Guide
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"She has previously recorded the
music of Liszt and Schubert and this new CD features assured and vital
performances of two Sonatas
and two Fantasias by Mozart, plus Variations on a Minuet by Duport.
Zeynep Ucbasaran also plays with great poise on another new CD of piano
works by Scarlatti and Beethoven, together with three twentieth century
composers: Ahmet Adnan Saygun, Leonard Bernstein and Robert Muczynski
(EROICA JDT 3223). Both discs feature virtuoso performances that are
never too flamboyant or hurried from a pianist of world class."
John Pitt, New Classics, UK
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"A most intelligent and convincing
Mozart recital, this collection of
solo piano works, recorded 1-3 February 2005 at Abravanel Hall in Santa
Barbara, has Turkish virtuoso Zeynep Ucbasaran on her Steinway in
strong form, making plastic and clear lines of works composed
1787-1789. Ucbasaran’s strong suit is her clean articulation girded by
a powerful sonority..."
Gary Lemco, Audiophile Audition
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"As a Mozart
player, Ucbasaran touches the sublime. Ucbasaran's program starts with
the effortless classical elegance of the C major Sonata, K. 330,
and the Duport Variations, K. 573, but moves to the expressive
emotional power of the Fantasy in D minor, K. 397, and
especially the nearly tragic Fantasy, K. 475, and Sonata in
C minor, K. 457. Ucbasaran's
tone is deep and her technique is true, but it is her ability to phrase
a line and shape a structure, her ability to make the lines sing and
the shapes dance, her ability to go beyond playing the notes to
transcending the score, her ability, in a word, to touch the sublime.
Eroica
Classic's sound is big, close, and immediate."
James Leonard, All Music Guide
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