| What the critics are saying
About
Virtuoso Schubert Album and pianist ZEYNEP Ucbasaran
"In each of the four movements of the
mighty A major sonata she establishes a tempo which allows the music to expand
and express itself simply and strongly; nothing is exaggerated or pulled out
of shape. I would single out the finale in particular as a piece of supremely
musical playing; it just flows naturally from her fingers..This is a finely
conceived, thoroughly Schubertian-sounding performance which rises to an exceptionally
good finale, and the "Wanderer" is perhaps finer still..The recording
is rich and full-toned and, as in her Liszt album, Ucbasaran provides notes
that are clear and go straight to the point. In an age where you can easily
pass for an "original" interpreter by disrupting the musical line and bringing
out "different" inner voices, I can only salute pure musicianship such as
Ucbasaran’s which puts itself at the service of the composer; this is the
sort of art which is likely to grow while other supposed phenomena blaze
and fall by the wayside. I suspect we will gradually hear more and more from
this pianist."
Christopher Howell, MusicWeb, London
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"The Turkish pianist gives us objective performances
of clarity, sharp detail, rhythmic vitality, and integrity. She is obviously
a player for whom outward brilliance and virtuoso display are of secondary
importance, markedly sublimated to purely musical values. Her liner notes
are concise and informative, and her CD has been carefully produced and engineered,
though the sound is on the dry side. Gustav Klimt's beautiful painting
of Schubert at the piano appears in the brochure.. In overall evaluation,
I would place this release on a par with the recordings of Schubert's A-major
Sonata by Jando and Andsnes reviewed in the last ARG. I am happy to have this
recording in my collection.."
David Mulbury, American
Record Guide
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"Zeynep
Ucbasaran's playing of Schubert's A Major sonata and "Wanderer" Fantasy
is very persuasive. Although the playing is not overly nuanced, her
remarkable rhythmic steadiness keeps the music moving
forward impressively, and is neither stilted nor breathless."
Paul Turok, TUROK'S CHOICE
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"In this rewarding CD recorded at the
Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California, she plays two works
by Franz Schubert: his profound and noble Sonata in A major and the visionary
Wanderer-Fantasy. Both pieces are awe-inspiring in their scope and demanding
for the performer but Zeynep Ucbasaran plays superbly and intelligently throughout.."
John Pitt, New Classics, UK
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"Recording the large-scale Schubert piano works
is a challenge. The music does not respond fully without a performance vibrating
to its depths in gathering up the scintillating decoration of Schubert's style
without undue exaggeration, yet with a perspective that is both stable and
credible. Only occasionally do I consider Zeynep's playing a touch less convincing
than expected, but there is plenty of insight with which to draw the
music together and to maintain a sense of propulsion. We have here the Wanderer
Fantasy and the Sonata in A -- a very fair choice of Schubert at his best,
and even today gripping us with its sustained quality."
Basil Ramsey, Music & Vision,
UK
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"This disc shows off the versatility of Turkish
pianist Zeynep Ucbasaran...She takes on the most Apollinian of Schubert's
three late (1828) piano sonatas, the A Major, whose second movement Andantino
features some haunting writing melodically and polyphonically, with a kind
of ferocious homage a Bach. She keeps a light hand on the proceedings, emphasizing
the lyrical energies in this monumental piece. I found myself much admiring
her technique, often forgetting about the import of the music.."
Gary Lemco, Audiophile Audition
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