Excerpts of Concert Reviews
New York Times “An artist of superior accomplishments. His prodigious technical control is matched by a concept of great imagination”.
New York Times “Awesome dexterity of Rogoff fires his recital! He has as fleet a set of fingers as anyone might wish and he can make them do almost anything he wants”.
Herald Tribune “There is a constant tension and relaxation that grabs the listener relentlessly and guiding it all is a basic intelligence that permits little self indulgence or tampering with the music. The evening showed the power and sweep of his musicality”.
New York Times “Authoritative stamp of unassailable musicianship with a rightness that goes beyond intellectual appreciation”.
NY Daily News “Bold, incisive playing of exceptional clarity, never lacking in imagination or drama. We could almost hear George Sand herself exclaiming: C’est formidable!”
Washington Post “Rogoff prevailed on the strength of his personality and artistry. Stroking the keys like so much delicate brushwork…creating a large sound through superb coordination…mesmerizing”.
Minneapolis Star “Superb control, taste and subtlety in bringing out all the expressive contrasts”.
The Detroit News (Herbig/Rogoff) “A first rate pianist with a blend of poetry and fire. Soloist, orchestra and conductor performed brilliantly”.
Toledo: The Blade (Zaliouk/ Rogoff/Prokofieff 3rd Concerto)“The ideal musician at the keyboard. Brilliant, lyrical and puckish. Never, but never have I heard the Allegro played with such lightness, the subsequent Theme and Variations with such polish and meaning, and the slow segment of the final Allegro with such sweet empathy. Ir was a superb reading.”.
Harrisburg, Pa. The Patriot "Superb Concert with William Steinberg & Ilan Rogoff. A memorable rendition with rare feeling and perception”.
Montreal Gazette “A pianist of talent and taste, capable of giving the definitive account of Prokofieff’s work”.
Quebec – Soleil “A fabulous technique, virtuosity and lyricism”.
St. Louis Post Dispatch “Melodic inventiveness and nobility of character in a rich and thoughtful performance of Mozart’s concerto”.
Norfolk, Va. Ledger-Star “Mehta & Rogoff, Magnificent! He is a performer who contrasts the grand style with lyricism”.
Virginian Pilot “The team of Mehta, Rogoff , the IPO and the “Emperor” concerto will not soon be forgotten by local concert goers”.
London: The Times “Entirely at one with the spirit of the music, protecting it with profound sympathy and understanding”
Daily Telegraph “He is both a poet and a giant! Remarkable sweep, assurance, brilliance and passion”.
Music & Musicians “’Poetic Virtuosity’. Playing of haunting beauty, exceptional intensity and rare insight. A gripping performance of Schumann’s Sonata…The Chopin Etudes again emphasised the poetry which lies at the heart of Rogoff’s mighty technique.”
Jewish Chronicle “A sheer joy to hear. His playing is invested with a glowing warmth that will remain long in the memory”.
Liverpool Echo (Rogoff & Weller) “Gripping, crisp and elegant. One of the most enjoyable concerts this season.”
Liverpool Daily Post (Weller/ Rogoff) “Brilliant in the extreme. Masterful playing”.
Liverpool Daily Telegraph (Rogoff & Weller) “Ilan Rogoff played with dazzling technique and expressiveness”
Newcastle - Evening Sentinel (Herbig/ Rogoff) “Thoroughly enjoyable and exciting performance. A virtuoso and scintillating performance in which power and ebullience never lapsed into brashness”.
Dorset Evening Echo “Powerful playing. Stormy and passionate with tenderness and brilliance”
Manchester Evening Sentinel “A thoroughly enjoyable, virtuoso and exciting performance”.
Jerusalem Post “Beyond virtuosity! Reaching real heights of beauty and inspiration”.
Yediot Achronot “We were privileged to assist at an extraordinary event”.
Ha’Aretz “Ilan Rogoff possesses that rare quality only great artists have. He climbs from the international standards of excellence to unique artistic achievement”.
Jerusalem Post “Nothing less than extraordinary! Sheer beauty!”
Wiener Zeitung "Brilliant virtuosity, a perfect assurance, understanding of style and exquisite musicality”.
Arbeiter Zeitung “Self assured brilliance and majestic sweep. The highlight was his lyrical and poetic insight”.
Kurier “Awsome technique and virtuosity at the service of interpretative excellence. Brilliant and poetic music making”.
Wiener Zeitung “His Schumann’s concerto had great instinct for phrasing and musicality, powerful sound and essence of Romantic flow”.
Berliner Algemeine Zeitung “One is enthralled by the sovereignty of his playing. His worldwide acclaim is fully merited”.
Berlin: Welt “Stupendous technique, clear perception of form and musical intelligence replete with his own individuality”.
Berlin: DPA “Magic touch with dynamic and rhythmic precision”.
Westdeutche Allgemeine Zeitung “ A marvelous understanding in a strong and arresting performance of Brahms second piano concerto”.
Ruhr Nachrichten (Rogoff/Chmura)“Powerful playing. Sensitivity and nuance in a glittering and stirring performance”.
Westdeutche Allgemeine Zeitung “Highly charged and beautifully shaped Beethoven third piano concerto”.
Tribune de Geneve “ The most delicate, dreamy and beautiful touch with a majestic sweep”.
La Suisse “His playing is marked by a secure and precise technique dedicated to a variety of timbres, colours, and an intelligent choice of contrasts.”
Basler Zeitung “Ilan Rogoff carried the concerto brilliant technique. Clear and precise, with fine differentiating of his touch for each variation.”
Basellandschaflische Zeitung “Enchantment, beauty, brilliance, in a rhythmic and motoric interpretation…Endless ovations of a happy audience ”.
Monaco: Nice-Matin “The soloist offered all that the soul, spirit, form and content could wish for in Prokofieff’s piano concerto. Playing with great freedom, lively imagination, allure and colour. And what a cadence! "
Nice: Nice-Matin "His playing reminded us of the Great Russian virtuosi…Virile, assured,, powerfully sonorous, steely rhythmical, yet alluringly poetic, refined and intimate”.
L’Alsace “What a fiesta of a soloist! What virtuosity, what plasticity, and what phrasing alternating brio with lyricism”.
Cannes: Nice-Matin (Bender/Rogoff)”The absolute victory of intelligence and spirit put at the service of the heart and sensitivity, head, soul and fingers. A Magnificent pianist, expert in substance and style. He is the ideal interpreter of romantic music, bringing to life a virile, ardent, profound and lyrical Chopin”.
Amesterdam: Het Parool “ Extraordinary pianist! variety of touch, brilliant technique. Magnificent”.
Telegraaf “Brilliant and very sensitive artist”.
Limburgs Dagblad "A fine touch in the second movement and brilliantly powerfull in the outer movements. Ilan Rogoff contrasted in his piano part sensitivity and dynamics in a perfectly controlled sound".
La Libre Belgique “A pianist of great class!”
Le Soir “Brilliant virtuosity with sensitive musical feelings”.
Derniere Heur “Brilliant and refined, clarity and sobriety combined with elegant phrasing, perfect style, natural musicality and a nimble yet profound introverted poetry of pure beauty. His coloured and fluid playing created marvels in three of Debussy’s Preludes”.
Patriot Illustré “Convincing as well as convinced, poised, noble, calm, assured and clear. His Bach was astonishing in its command of sonorities. His Chopin was marked by passion, grandeur and power. Simply Magnificent”.
Madrid: ABC "Ilan Rogoff's playing of Prokofieff's Third Piano Concerto had all the right gradations of sound and volume, perfect understanding of style and content, conquering with ease all its terrible stumbling blocks with his excellent technique".
Mallorca: El Mundo / El Dia “An interpreter of exquisite transparency, impulsive, passionate, intimate and totally dedicated to serving the score, makes him the ideal vehicle for Chopin’s music”.
El Mundo / El Dia “Ilan Rogoff, a genius in Mallorca… I would not let anything but a hurricane stop me from attending a concert by Rogoff.
Ultima Hora “Through a precise and exquisite interpretation, the pianist transmitted the most profound intimacies and strong emotions in a magnificent execution of both Chopin Concerti”.
Diario de Mallorca “The pianist and his excellent collaborators presented every minute detail with loving care in an exquisitely musical language. An interpretation which went directly to the heart and would have made Chopin’s muse happy, while surely bringing tears to her eyes”.
Diari de Baleares “The public’s fervour and enthusiasm matched the performance and obliged Rogoff and the string quintet to repeat various movements of the concerti”.
El Mundo “Superbly brilliant interpretation of Prokofieff’s concerto, with attention to the minutest details”
Diario de Ibiza “The closing of the 10th edition of the festival was a huge success with Ilan Rogoff playing both Chopin Concerti”.
Lisboa: Diario de Noticias “Do not ever miss a concert by Ilan Rogoff”.
Lisboa: O Dia “One of the best ever heard here”.
Buenos Aires: La Nacion (Mehta/ Rogoff) “Magnificent playing, highest quality of pianism and musicianship. An interpreter who penetrates the music with assurance, persuasiveness and acute sensitivity”.
Cronica Comercial (Mehta/ Rogoff) “His magical hands, elegance, spontaneity, exquisite colouring and phrasing gave a miraculous concert”.
Santiago de Chile: Mercurio “A recital marked by powerful serenity, magical suspense, captivating and eloquent”.
Mercurio “A magnificent performance of orchestral richness by an extraordinary musician”.
Jornal Do Brasil “Instinctive grasp of the music, infinite delicacy and brilliant effortless virtuosity”.
O Globo “ He enchanted everyone with his sublime playing”
Caracas: The Daily Journal “Rogoff’s demonstrated his mastery as an interpretative musician and a virtuoso. An interpretation of the concerto was as profound as technically excellent”.
Lima: El Comercio “He imposed his strong and rich and extraordinary musical personality; phenomenal technique, hypersensitive, explosive, delicate, passionate, impeccable stylistic conceptions, yet lucid and controlled".
Ecuador: El Telegrafo “A consummate pianist and astounding in his perfection and emotional power. I have never seem a public applaud with such fervour, nor listen within such concentration”.
Colombia: El Tiempo “A magician with a velvet touch who left us glued to our seats in admirations”.
El Espectador “Exquisite musicality, delicious elegance, subtle transparency and freshness illuminated the contrasts of lyrical and virtuoso moments alike”.
El Pais “One of the greatest musicians of our age”.
Uruguay: La Mañana “Came, Played, and won!… A master pianist that Montevideo acclaimed with prolonged applause and Bravos”.
Johannesburg: Rand Daily mail “He is a later day Lhevinne with the poetry of Joseph Hoffman. It was big playing – big in tone, big in phrasing and big in overall conception. Warm tone and nimble fingers work were the servants of Rogoff’s mind and heart”.
The Star “Ilan Rogoff and Edgar Cree gave a great start to the season in a rousing performance of Rachmaninoff’s 2nd piano concerto. Subtle shading and bravura led to a crisp cadenza and a coda of impressive power”.
Rand Daily Mail “Brilliant as a diamond. Moods were conveyed with skill, artistry and taste”.
Cape Town: The Argus “Rogoff’s Chopin playing has personality and plenty of it. He is supremely professional, does not linger, maintains a strong forward flow yet can pause to ‘pick the daisies’ in this work”.
Cape Times “Rogoff stormed into Beethoven’s fifth piano concerto with elan and power”.
Die Burger “He possesses the widest range of tone colours possible, from which he chooses most selectively to expose subtle differences in each nuance. A powerful intensity captivating the listener’s attention making one feel consciously concerned and magnificently a part of the interaction: composer, pianist, listener”.
Durban: Sunday Tribune "Subtle manipulation and great control, delicate balance of poetry, melancholy and brilliance.Outstanding soloist".
Kwana " His performance was a revelation, both lyrical and tender - we got it all in a peformance which was mesmerizing. Rogoff gave two generous encores to confirm his virtuosity".
Artsmart " A memorable performance. He extracted a beautiful singing tone in the lyrical passages... His sense of total absorption communicated itself to the audience, who listened with rapt attention. A prolonged foot-stamping ovation elicited two encores".
Excerpts of reviews as Conductor and as Pianist / Conductor:
Israel: Jerusalem Post “Performing with subtle touch, he led the Israel Philharmonic with sensitivity, verve and skill. A truly rewarding and convincing performance”
Al Hamishmar “He created in the Haydn Symphony an aristocratic ambiance. A brilliant and colourful interpretation. I would love to listen to Rogoff many more times, either as conductor, pianist, or both”.
Ha’Aretz “From the dark beginning, dramatic continuation and glorious ending there was a complete unity between pianist/conductor, the orchestra and the composition”.
Virginia Pilot “His interpretation had virtuoso fire and exquisite delicacy, brilliant extroversion and deep philosophical musings. A grandeur of thought and approach consonant with the music”.
Norfolk Ledger Star “Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony was a rare treat. A director who
wields the baton with intelligence and musical sensitivity”.
Manila: Daily Express “Rogoff’s ‘tour de force’ was unique. A formidable pianist! Each work he played or conducted was strikingly distinctive, intensely personal statement”. Daily Express
Bulletin Today “ ROGOFF: 3-in-1 Music Magi!”
Colombia- El Pais “He deserves to be counted as one of the great musicians of our age. A great success, the likes of which has not happened here”.
El Tiempo “Performing the five Beethoven Concerti from the keyboard was an admirable and titanic feat which shall remain unforgettable”.
Occidente “Conducting or playing, he is a genius whose hands produce magic”
El Tiempo “A most brilliant version of Bartok’s Concerto for orchestra and Ravel’s La Valse with all the expressive nuances”.
Excerpts of Recordings reviews:
"Urban Nostalgia" - "Piazzolla Pianistica": "These arangements succeed in conveying Piazzolla's radical synthesis of Latin American dance forms with complex counterpoint, chromaticism and jazz. Imbued with the right aroma of Argentinian cabaret, Rogoff's highly nuanced dynamics and colour, as well as his rubati and ornamentation, illustrate the improvisational freedom and depth of expression possible. Rogoff's edition (www.musikmph.de) offers pianists the chance to emulate and enjoy Piazzolla's unique 'Tango Nuevo' to best effect". Piano Magazine
Schumann Fantasie & Schubert’s Wanderer Fantasie: (Nimbus Records 2126)
“Best record of the month and record of the year candidate! “
Music & Musicians
“Rogoff’s ‘Double’” (Nimbus 2126 & Unicorn RHS367 Schumann Concerto and Schubert/Liszt “Wanderer Fantasie”)
Both recordings confirm him as a pianist of authority and fine sensitivity. A superb performance it is, romantic but unsentimental, clearly accented and beautifully recorded. They belong in any music lover’s collection”. The Jewish Chronicle
“Great sensitivity to sound and texture. A leonine control over the keyboard and a moving calmness. Very few pianists ever played with quite the same assurance”. Records & Recordings
Chopin-Mallorca-Rogoff: (Blau / Discmedi)
“Do not miss this double CD album. It is the first complete sound recording of the works composed by Chopin in Mallorca and is accompanied by an attractive booklet with the artists’ comments and illustrations by Maurice Sand”. The European
“Chopin-Mallorca-Rogoff” – Golden Disc Award! Preludio
Chopin Concerti: Piano & String Quintet: (Blau/ Discmedi)
“Definitely, a notable achievement bringing creativity to discographic routine. It is the ideal version for the refined lyricism of Chopin’s concerti, enjoying extraordinary coherence. Ilan Rogoff has all the qualities of and belongs to an exclusive group of great masters who are dedicated to making music, rather than to their careers”. Catalunya Musica
“Rogoff transmits the the secrets of the score while marking with precision every nuance for the Vienna Chamber orchestra’s soloists, executing and collaborating splendidly”. El Mundo
Schumann “Portraits” ( Blau / Discmedi)
“Ilan Rogoff’s album titled “Schumann-Portraits” contains the Fantasie, Carnaval and Sonata in G minor, interpretations which belong in any music lover’s library”. Maariv
"His great sensitivity with the large-scale approach spells a recipe for success. Magisterial control, poise and distinction”
Records & Recordings
Chopin-Mallorca-Rogoff & Schumann ‘Portraits’
“A pianist of authority and fine sensitivity. A superb performance. Disks, which belong in any music lover’s collection”.
Chronicle Record Review
Schumann Concerto & Schubert / Liszt’s “Wanderer Fantasie”
Ilan Rogoff &Kurt Sanderling (Unicorn Records)
“A potent rendition. Quite superb”.
New York Times Record Review
"In both Schumann and Schubert, a remarkable fusion of timbres, and instrumental mass allowed to chisel phrasing and bring out all the expressivity, tenderness, delicacy and richness of the scores. It also seems that the elaboration of the recording was a team work: the same amplitude, the same enthusiasm, the same youthful brilliance animating the performers… Ilan Rogoff possesses fingers of steel, neat and remarkably assured, with a wholly welcome volubility, without becoming bavard. (Pierrette Mauggey, Diapason)
Rogoff / Sanderling. Schumann Piano Concerto Philharmonia Orchestra - Unicorn [RHS 367 (+ Orchestration Liszt de la Wanderer Fantaisie – LP
« Tant dans Schumann que dans Schubert, une remarquable fusion des timbres, des masses instrumentales permet de ciseler les phrases, d'en faire ressortir toute l'expressivité, la tendresse, la délicatesse, les richesses d'écriture. Il apparaît aussi que l'élaboration de cet enregistrement s'est faite en équipe : la même ampleur, le même enthousisme, la même jeunesse brillante animent tous les exécutants. [...] Les moments importants ont été travaillé avec soin ; fignolés, même. Ilan Rogoff a des doigts de fer, d'une netteté, d'une sûreté remarquable, d'une volubilité tout à fait bien venue, sans devenir bavarde…» (Pierrette Maugey, Diapason n° 266 p. 75)