At the Opera: Paraphrases, Transcriptions and Fantasies Bergmann Piano Duo Arktos 200584 From: www.thewholenote.com/discoveries_sep_05/discoveries_classical.html Alberta-based Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann, in addition to being talented and spirited virtuoso performers, are also actively expanding the paraphrase repertoire and Marcel Bergmann has adapted parts of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess for this recording. In fairness, it is risky proposition to put one’s own transcription against the genius of Liszt, but the benefit of having a major 20th century work available in this form outweighs any potential failings. A very interesting, enjoyable and recommended recording. 
 -Robert Tomas -------------------- From: La Scena Musicale www.scena.org December 2005 Musique de chambre I Chamber Music At the Opera: Paraphrases, Transcriptions and Fantasies Bergmann Piano Duo Arktos 200584 (58 min 22 s) *****i:-f $$$ Virtuosite pianistique et opera ont fait bon menage depuis le XIXe siecle. Le duo de piano Bergmann (Elizabeth et Marcel, deux etudiants de Jean-Eudes Vaillancourt a l'Universite de Montreal) maintient brillamment la tradition avec des arrangements, ou des paraphrases, de l'ouverture de la FJate enchantee (selon Busoni), de la Chauve-Souris de Strauss, la Sonnambula de Bellini (selon Liszt) et «Der welcher wandert» de la Flute (egalement dans une vision de Liszt). Le jeu des Bergmann est au-dela des attentes. On est- surpris par la brillance et le chatoiement des textures et des atmospheres. Leur lecture fait de ces peregrinations virtuoses des moments d'ecoute fort agreables. La fougue des passages les plus eblouissants rei eve parfois du feu d'artifice! En plus de maitriser le repertoire existant, ils l'enrichissent avec une fantaisie de leur cm sur des airs de Porgy and Bess de Gershwin. Lelegance mondaine c6toie les dehanchements sensuels dans une relecture tres appropriee, expression d'un equilibre delicatement maintenu entre explosion de puissance et subtilite. J' aime particulierement leur Summertime, pare d' arabesques ensorcelantes. Bravo a ce duo canadien. FC -------------------- Craig Smith – La Pasa Tempo, Santa Fe, New Mexico Thanks to the husband-and-wife team's fine, focused performances, they were fun to listen to live, and they're equally pleasant on disc. Busoni's arrangement of the overture to Mozart's The Magic Flute shows off the Bergmanns' powerful playing and clear pedaling. So does the "Der, welcher wandert" section from the same opera, as heard in Liszt's setting. Stephen Kovacs' sparkling if musically stop-and-go paraphrase of themes from Johann StraussJr.'s Die Fledermaus is waltz tempo in excessive excelsis, and the Bergmanns' energetic reading of Liszt's fantasy on themes from Bellini's La sonnambu/a make this vapid but scintillating romp a real party piece. But it's Marcel's 12-movement fantasy on themes from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess that rightfully dominates the CD. Judiciously conceived and musically vivid, it's an excellent demonstration of how to write effectively for two pianos. The jaunty "Oh, I Can't Sit Down" section, the passionate "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" duet, the dramatic scene of Crown's death, and "There's a Boat" prove that arrangements aren't always second best. - Craig Smith William Bolcom – Music for Two Pianos, Naxos From: Musicweb International The two pianists on this disc, Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann, give focused and intelligent performances, - Adam Binks -------------------- From: Musicweb International These pieces are superbly written for the two pianos and infectious in the extreme. … The rest of this CD has me grasping for superlatives like a sports commentator whose home side is unexpectedly winning everything in the Olympics…. Fleeting filigrees of notes, twists and turns of dynamic and extremes of range flow effortlessly from the fingers of the excellent Bergmann duo, which make a forceful argument for this mature sounding ‘jugendwerk’…. I love this CD more than anything else on my shelves at the moment, and want to keep it all to myself. It’s hard to believe Naxos can get away with selling such wonderful productions at the budget level they do. Stick a yellow plaque on it, triple the price, and many would be rejoicing at the refreshing and adventurous revival of a respected label which has lost its way a little in recent years. Naxos seems to conjure this sort of thing from their sleeve like a magician’s never-ending handkerchief – long may it remain so. -Dominy Clements -------------------- From: Classics Today.com I'm not certain that Bolcom supervised or coached these recordings, but I can't imagine he'd be less than ecstatic over the Bergmann duo's caring, refined, and meticulously worked-out interpretations. -Jed Distler -------------------- From: David's Review Corner - November 2005www.naxos.com/sharefile/review/David_review_corner_NOV2005.htm The Sonata is dramatic and very challenging to the performers, and throughout the disc the playing is superb, the unanimity so perfectly co-ordinated.  …As a Bolcom piano anthology this disc is invaluable, but be prepared for some surprises. The sound quality is immediate and vivid. -------------------- From: www.sarah-ash.com/journal.htm Five Star Review!… Now I am hooked on his 'Music for Two Pianos' (played by Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann) which includes 'Recuerdos' written as homages to Latin American composers Nazareth, Gottschalk and Palacios. -------------------- From: Musical Pointers www.musicalpointers.co.uk/reviews/cddvd/BOLCOMTwoPianos.htm Everything is expertly written and rewarding to hear under the fingers of the Bergmanns, in an up-to-date studio recording from Banff, January 2005. -Peter Graham Woolfe --------------------- The Globe and Mail CLASSICAL Friday, January 27, 2006, Page R32 ..Duo pianists Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann are at their best in the mesmerizing keyboard juxtapositions of Bolcom's Frescoes for two pianos, harmonium and harpsichord, and his War in Heaven plays like dead-serious children's fantasy. - Elissa Poole http://www.thewholenote.com/discoveries_sep_05/discoveries_classical.htmlhttp://www.scena.orghttp://www.sarah-ash.com/journal.htmhttp://www.musicalpointers.co.uk/reviews/cddvd/BOLCOMTwoPianos.htmshapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1shapeimage_2_link_2shapeimage_2_link_3