Found This wonderful tribute to Eric Woolfson of the Alan Parsons project on youtube. |
Alkan - Concerto for Solo Piano (Marc-Andre Hamelin; Hyperion CDA67569). I picked this up some time ago and just listened to it recently. A stunning work; the 3rd movement can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKQO2rRv0VA&feature=related |
Audphile, I only have the Hyperion, I'm afraid, so I cannot say anything about The Russian recording. Thanks for the hint though, I'll go and hunt for it. The Russian is an earlier take I would think, unless Hyperion just bought the rights for it. I doubt this though, because T.N. recorded a lot for them shortly before she died. The 3 CD set I am also not aware of. Cheers, Detlof |
Detlof, thanks. I was actually in the process of ordering Nikolaeva, but there seem to be different editions: 1) Melodia 2) Hyperion 3) separated into 3 CDs, which look like some sort of budget label Which of these is considered the right one to get? I think Melodia was the earlier recording than Hyperion. Hyperion is the most expensive, as usual. |
Just discovered: Piotr Anderszewski playing the Bagatelles op.126 by Beethoven om Virgin Classics. There is also Beethovens Piano Concerto No 1 on the same CD with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie of Bremen, but that is not much to write home about. The Bagatelles are absolutely stunning however and extremely well recorded. A good CD to test the dynamics of your system by the way. It almost goes from pppp to ffff, if your system can render it. We got the best dynamic rendering with the Spoiler/Pacecar Combo via USB Cable from a Toshiba laptop with special music-software. Much better than through the Zanden Combo or the dcs -stack with upsampling. |
I agree with Strateahed, let's get this back on topic. What's MOST important is the recording/production/engineering quality of the solo piano CD. Please mention if it is classical, jazz, etc. Weight, depth, clarity, speed and lack of color here. As my audio system improves, my list of listenable CDs diminishes. Or should I say, my list of "Wow, that recording is incredible, it just sucks me in and takes me away" gets smaller... Rob Thomas (When the Heartache Ends- Piano version), Alison Krauss (Oh, Atlanta) not solo piano though, Sarah McLachlan (Angel). These songs take me away. I would like Classical piano records that do the same. Not the performance as most important, the mastering of the recording should be stellar! |
Not being one to trash the opinions of fellow A-goners, I was a little reluctant place this post. But as many posters like to end their opinions with YMMV ... I have to make a couple of observations. First, I was less enthusiastic about my Michel Camilo SACD recommendation. I now endorse his solo outing wholeheartedly. IMHO, based on the subject of the thread, this title is definitely worth a listen. Secondly, my thinking when encountering the latent stage of this post ... was that we were strictly talking about production value of the recording, as opposed to style or musical taste. On the strength of opinions in this thread, I immediately went to Amazon and ordered three (3) titles - Dick Hyman's Ellington, Art Tatum 20th Century, and the classical piece by Mieczyslaw Horszowski. I picked up the first two at my P.O. box last night. Prior to playing, they were both treated with Extreme Cable's Liquid Resolution (good stuff). For starters, the Hyman CD left much to be desired ... in recording quality. Overall it is a decent CD; but "amazing" recording ... far from it. This work was a bit colored ... somewhat bright, with slightly exaggerated "hall effect". It just didn't sound as natural as I expected. The Art Tatum piece, while very good in terms of recording quality, was really not in a style that I prefer. Not a particular fan of the "stride" tradition. No doubt they have their fans; so I should not have any trouble selling them at a very deep discount. Although not strictly a solo, Herbie Hancock's work on Gershwin's World is a reference for Red Book. Oscar Peterson's solo handling of Sophisticated Lady is another standard by which to measure Red Book production quality. Both these outings are characterized by instrument weight, correct timbre, and natural tonality. I also have a few test CD's from Tube Research Labs (TRL). These were produced from master dubs/pressing plant masters, and they sound very close to SACD. What they all have in common is that the listener is placed closer to the music. IMO that is what makes a recording truly amazing. |
A few from the classical front: Katia & Marielle Labèque, "Maurice Ravel" on KML Recordings Evgeni Koroliov, Bach "The Art of Fugue" on Tacet Markus Schirmer, Mussorgski/Ravel "Pictures & Reflectins" on Tacet And for the piano buffs something special on Tacet. Check out the Welte-Mignon Mystery series. Renditions by the likes of Richard Strauss and Ernst von Dohnanyi (yes, themselves) going back as far as 1905 preserved on Welte-Mignon rolls re-played by the machine's front-end on a modern Steinway for present-day recording. OK, those little mechanical fingers on the machine cannot recreate precisely what the original artist may have done e.g. in terms of pianissimo to fortissimo dynamics, but the recording quality is fine (Tacet wouldn't go for anything less) and it sure is fascinating. http://www.tacet.de/main/seite1e.htm |
The original post calls for "amazing" piano recordings. I'm not prepared to go that far, but compared to some Oscar Pederson, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Dave Brubeck solos ... the SACD entitled "Solo" by Michel Camilo is right at the top. Since getting it a few weeks ago, I continue to listen and haven't grown tired yet. Besides great piano work and technique, this is a real "in the room" experience. Very musical, with great emotional communication. |
Cruising this thread, came across this old post, just bought the CD and love it too. Very well recorded and performed plus music that I have never heard before that is beautiful: 11-22-02: Jkaway Get Stephen Hough's "English Piano Album" on Hyperion! Great playing recording and choice of selections. John K. |
Gammajo, Playing on my system as I type - Rachmaninov's Preludes by Rustem Hayroudinoff on Chandos. Not a Bosendorffer Imperial I think but this is one of the best recorded and well played disc's I have if I'm up for Rach's complete preludes. Rich tonal quality w/ a warm deep bass. Back to the Bosendorfer - something unique - Telarc created 2 CD's using Rachmaninoff's piano rolls played back electronically thru a Bosendorfer. Don't be put off by the process - unless you are an expert you wouldn't know there wasn't an actual pianist at the keyboard. One CD is Rachmaninoff playing his own works "Window in Time", Vol 1, and the next is Rachmaninoff playing works of other composers, Window in Time, Vol 2. Excellent reproductions of the piano's sound. As with the Hayaroudinoff these should be readily available. Enjoy them, I do! |
Gammajo, Two performers come immediately to mind Garrich Ohlsson's complete Chopin series on Arabesque - mind you this is some fairly aggressive Chopin, not the warm laid back variety, but quite satisfying non-the-less, and Carol Rosenberger who put together a series of collections of laidback classical pieces on Delos (there are maybe 5 to 6 recordings). I love them all. Try them if you can find them. Delos when out of business - I assume you might find them used somewhere. |
Two Angela Hewitt recordings have remain unshelved for more than a year; one in the main system and one upstairs. I heartily recommend the 2004 Hyperion recordings of Chopin Nocturnes (CDA67371/2) and Couperin Keyboard Music - 2 (CDA67440). These are both incredibly elegant recordings; atmospheric yet refined. The Nocturnes are a more distant recording with a wonderful acoustic ambience. I had previously been unconcerned with this composer until I heard these pieces. The Couperin is harpsicord music on modern piano and has a stately, accessible feel. A bit more forward in presentation than the Chopin, but it seems appropriate in mimickry of harpsicord. There are two other recordings in the Couperin series as well and all are an excellent example of the classic French sound. |
Larryi Thanks for the additional recomendations, I will check them out Jeffrey I have the Horszowski too. I agree it is a wonderful recording. To me he plays with absolutely no ego which let the music come through as if channeled from the gods. I also very much enjoy Arcadi Volodos Piano Transcriptions on Sony, particularly his interpretation of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody adaption by Horowitz - it is inspired and the whole disc is great. |
My favorite demo-quality piano recording is Horszowski Plays Mozart, Chopin, Debussy, Beethoven; Elektra/Nonesuch CD# 9 79160-2. It's discontinued, but I found 2 copies on Amazon. Mieczyslaw Horszowski was 90-some years old when he recorded this, and his playing is simply wonderful--not showy, not 'technical', just musical. Max Wilcox recorded it digitally in a warm-but-not-too-big-sounding studio, fairly closely so the piano is rather wide. Its presence is breathtaking if played at realistic levels. My favorite cut is #2, the Chopin Nocturne in F#, o. 15 #2. . |
Gammajo, Glad you liked the Schubert disc. Here are several others, slightly older suggestions: "Nojima Plays Liszt" on Reference Recordings. This is terrific recording of a relatively unknown (outside of Japan) pianist who absolutely commands this repertoire. I particularly like his performance of the Sonata in B min. and the La Campanella, the latter piece I often play when I want to show people what complete technical command is all about. Pollini playing any Chopin is also a favorite of mine. I particularly like his set of the Etudes. Again, technical proficiency on display here. I love the incredible clarity of his playing. Krystian Zimerman/Pierre Boulez: Ravel Concerto in G maj. and the Concerto for the Left Hand. Absolutely electric interaction between soloist and orchestra. I am particularly fond of the beautiful adagio movement in the G maj. concerto. To me, even better than Michelangeli playing this piece. |
I recently purchased a double CD of Kissin and James Levine playing Schubert pieces for four hands. They actually used two pianos, so I guess it is not quite solo piano. Also of note is that this is a live recording. The playing is very exciting and accomplished and the recording is quite good. Schubert actually wrote beautiful music for four hands and not just novelty or show pieces. |
Great thread. Another excellent piano recording is Leon Fleisher's Two Hands. He has dystonia and was unable to perform with his right hand for 35 years. With Botox, he has been able to play and this is his recital. Wonderful music of Bach, Scarlatti, Chopin, Debussy, and Schubert. It needs a little volume, but great recording.Vanguard Classics 2004. John Dean |
Bwhite, about a year ago I was introduced to this CD by Roy Johnson of Green Mountain Audio. I had gone to the factory for an audition of his C3s and had taken what I thought was the finest piano recording I'd ever heard. We played mine, and it sounded really good. Then Roy asked me if I wanted to hear the best piano recording ever made? More than a little curious how he was going to top the one just played, I said "Of course." The recording was done by an artist named Horzowski, whom I had never heard of. Horzowski was 94 years old when he made this recording, but don't let that stop you from buying a copy. Without question, the most real, live sounding recording of a piano I've ever heard, and a damned fine performance as well. If you disagree on the sound, your system isn't letting all the information through. This one's a gift, boys and girls. All the particulars are listed below: Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven, Fryderyk Chopin, et al. Performer: Mieczyslaw Horszowski Label: Nonesuch Catalog Number: 79160 Audio CD (May 28, 1992) Number of Discs: 1 ASIN: B000005IYG Happy Listening!! Dean |
