| What the critics are saying
About
Scarlatti / Beethoven /
Saygun / Bernstein / Muczynski and
pianist
ZEYNEP
Ucbasaran
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"An elegant double-helping
from Pianist Zeynep Ucbasaran: An agreeable elegance pervades
pianist Zeynep Ucbasaran's playing on these discs...She fully captures
[Beethoven's Bagatelles] lighthearted nature. Two selections by Ahmet
Saygun showcase Ucbasaran's heritage: The harmonic delights of Preludes
on Aksak Rhythms are aurally pungent in her hands while the 'episode in
a little girl's imaginary world' of Inci's Book emerge with vivid
color. Playful works by Leonard Bernstein and Robert Muczynski round
out the disc, the latter's ranging Six Preludes presented with
particular verve."
Andrew Druckenbrod, The Gramophone
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"This recital amply
displays [Zeynep Ucbasaran's] already amazing ability to capture the
different styles and moods of the baroque, romantic and modern eras.
Her Scarlatti and Beethoven are wonderful examples of controlled
playing, yet the impression I got was that of a musician revelling in
the simple beauties of these straightforward pieces; I dare say she
really makes the music float through thin air. Ucbasaran is not daunted
by the formidable demands of these pieces, on the contrary, she grabs
the opportunity with 'both hands' to project and promote her amazing
natural skills and virtuosic instincts."
Gerald Fenech, Classical Net
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"I have already reviewed
three discs by Zeynep..and have much appreciated her unselfed, very
musical playing. So far she has concentrated on larger-scale works,
with two CDs dedicated to Liszt – including the Sonata – and one to
Schubert, with the Wanderer Fantasy as its centrepiece. Now she
presents a series of very brief pieces, showing a completely different
side of her musicianship..In Scarlatti she seems to take her pleasures
rather seriously, with three minor-key works and the middle two in slow
tempi – a rather different aspect of Scarlatti from that chosen by most
pianists..I have no reservations at all about the Beethoven – the
playing offers elegance, boisterousness and gravity as required,
together with a scrupulous observance of every marking in the score. In
some ways the Bagatelles are harder to get right than the Sonatas,
where a wider interpretative range is possible. Here, if one thing jars
the whole effect is lost, and nothing jarred at all for me..The mixed
programme will probably make this a disc mainly for those who have been
following Zeynep’s career – no bad thing to do – but others will find a
very fine performance of the Beethoven Bagatelles and some interesting
excursions into contemporary byways."
Christopher Howell, MusicWeb,
London
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"This varied program reveals Ms.
Ucbasaran as an exceptional talent. She brings real personality to the
Scarlatti sonatas. The music seems to inhabit a free-flowing, almost
improvisatory realm... the recording has a first rate concert hall
prespective with wide-range, dynamic sound.. this recording heralds an
impressive keyboard talent."
Lawrence Budmen, American
Record Guide
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"Zeynep Ucbasaran .. 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 nicely diversified program marks this
installment of the ongoing discography of Turkish virtuoso Zeynep
Ucbarasan, who works and records in Santa Barbara, California. The four
sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti show off some brisk, pearly play, with
quicksilver runs and crossing of hands.. Lucid, sober, and unforced
playing from Ucbarasan keeps these pieces piquant and vivacious.. I
find Ms. Ucbasaran a natural Beethoven exponent, as she balances
musical mischief and pungent or lyrical impulses in Beethoven’s
lexicon..Clear, crisp, piano sound, intelligent liner notes (by
Ucbarasan), and a class production make this keyboard survey a keeper."
Gary Lemco, Audiophile Audition
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