Rachmaninov and Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 2

Reviews

Piano News

"Even in the Chaconne for the left hand, she lets the moment have its effect. Nothing sounds heated or overplayed; Sandberg prefers to mould with calm and deliberation. This does not mean that she loses sight of the virtuoso. On the contrary, she plays the Hungarian Dance No. 1 in G minor full of fire and sparkling esprit. The runs flow elegantly and clearly, full of brilliance and Sandberg creates bold caesuras. The Intermezzo No. 3 from Op. 76, which this great pianist begins with such restrained dynamics that it takes your breath away, is fine and delicate.

Politiken

"5 hearts: Danish pianist is not afraid to measure up to the elite in a Brahms recording that commands respect."

Politiken

"Few Danish pianists make as big a difference in our musical life as she does."

Jyllandsposten

"The magic happened in the Queen's Hall when pianist Rikke Sandberg inaugurated the new Steinway Grand Piano in The Black Diamond. Rarely have you heard such a poetic and sensitive interpretation of Brahms' romantic piano sounds."

Politiken

"She combines vast lakes of notes into long, breathing sequences with sharply drawn details, colourful nuances and an expressive declamatory presence that draws attention to itself" and "First and foremost, she is an artist, she is not interested in showing off. The listener gets a sincere, deeply concentrated and completely unconstrained picture of the music."

Jyllandsposten

"Sandberg plays with such authority that few Danish pianists would be able to match her richly nuanced and superbly controlled playing."