So I downloaded some Angelich, and like it very much.But there was a real gem in one of the downloads, i.e., Marietta Petkova.She plays the Rachmaninoff Preludes as well as anyone I ever heard.Here is a review from Amazon:
Before I
heard this remarkable recording, I had never even heard of Marietta
Petkova! She has made quite a few recording for the somewhat obscure
Doron and Challenge Classics labels, but not so much as a “whisper” of
her incredibly beautiful and felicitous touch, unforgettable mastery of
both pedaling and rubato and searing interpretive penetration have ever
reached me.
I have heard no other recordings of the C-sharp minor,
B-flat minor, G major and B minor Preludes that have simply moved me to
tears and distraction as quickly and decisively as these have:
phenomenally gorgeous and other-worldly in every respect.
That this
recording is not more widely known and appreciated is simply criminal
and speaks volumes about the true state of present “perks under the
table ” musical criticism and the “money and glamour first” recording
industry in general.
I have now listened to these discs 5 times
through, with the greatest joy and satisfaction, and I cannot for my
life understand how such an incredibly and beautifully talented
Bulgarian pianist - gifted from above with musical intelligence and
insight the equal of (and even surpassing!) Richter, Ashkenazy and
Osborne – could come to be so neglected and even unappreciated?
You
have my absolute assurance that one listen ALONE will suffice to lift
this improbably triumphant tour de force to the level of “first choice”
in your collection of illustrious Rachmaninov Prelude recordings.
Wholeheartedly recommended!
https://www.amazon.com/Rachmaninov-Etudes-Tableaux-Preludes-Sergei-Rachmaninoff/dp/B0000713BH |
Have you heard Alexander Melnikov?His Shostakovich Preludes are a treasure.He has also recorded on period instruments.Richter was his mentor (though not his teacher).
Wiki says:"
Melnikov’s recording of the complete Preludes and Fugues by Shostakovich
was awarded the BBC Music Magazine Award, Choc de classica and the
Jahrespreis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik. In 2011, it was also
named by the BBC Music Magazine as one of the “50 Greatest Recordings of
All Time.” Additionally, Melnikov’s discography features works by
Brahms, Rachmaninoff and Scriabin.
"
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and yes, I am big fan of
Nikolayeva, well aware of her closeness to Shostakovich.I have lots of her prizewinning Bach, also Beethoven, Schumann, Prokofievand of course the Shostakovich preludes and fugues (which you mention).
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I have been listening to
Anna Gourari, Russian pianist So far, two recordings:Visions Fugitive
"Visions fugitives, Gourari’s second ECM release, showcases the
intense beauty of her sound in Prokofiev’s title work, a set of 20
“fleeting visions” whose moods swing from lyrical to sardonic, grotesque
to calm, melancholy to boisterous, nostalgic to insistent, and back
again. The album also features Medtner’s “Fairy Tale in F minor”, from
one of his sets of skazki – tales of musical figments, of melodies and
harmonies, rhythmic profiles and altered chords, shapes and gestures and
atmospheres. Then there is Chopin’s “Sonata No. 3 in B minor”, which
encompasses not only a Beethoven-inspired opening movement but also a
Largo that’s like a funeral song, with a melodic poignancy that
justifies and even necessitates some extraordinary harmonic
progressions."
Desir"
The album “Désir”, released on Decca, presents works by Alexander Skryabin and Sofia Gubaidulina." I like her very much, my preferred sort of music.Description on her website and in wiki:
„She plays Beethoven’s third Piano Concerto with a rapt intensity.
Right at the beginning she achieves a small miracle … a few chords,
woven like a curtain about to go up on a quiet paradise in waiting. She
performs the piece with a restrained voice, as if telling a story. She
is reminiscent of the young Clara Haskil. This is how Anna Gourari won
the Clara Schumann Competition.“ Thus Die Zeit reported the final
concert of a competition in which Anna Gourari was awarded first prize
by a distinguished jury including Martha Argerich, Joachim Kaiser,
Vladimir Ashkenazy, Nelson Freire and Alexis Weissenberg, whom she had
won over by the power of her „almost mystical playing“. http://gourari.com/biography-en/ |
Any Marcelle Meyer fans here?
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During 2012 many Debussy recitals were played all over the world, but do you know who played the first all-Debussy recital ever?
Marcelle Meyer (1897-1958) was a major figure in the creation of new
music from her participation in Erik Satie’s Parade in 1917 until her
early death in 1958. She championed the works of Satie, Ravel, Debussy
and Stravinsky, as well as the French Group of Six composers (Les Six),
all of whom she knew personally. Her fluid phrasing, great dynamic range
and lovely tone are just three of the hallmarks of her rare and
individual playing.
“Marcelle
Meyer was, without a doubt, one of the most important pianists of the
20th century. She was a woman of tremendous influence. The favourite
pianist of Les Six, she is featured as the central figure in a portrait
of that group and Jean Cocteau by Jacques-Emile Blanche. She played the
private premiere of La Valse with Ravel at the other piano, and worked
with Debussy himself on his Préludes and gave the first ever all-Debussy
recital. When Stravinsky met her, he said, “Ah yes, Ravel spoke to me
about you,” and she subsequently performed in the premiere of Les Noces,
and Petroushka, without rehearsal and completely to the composer’s
satisfaction. Milhaud and Poulenc were among the many other composers
who respected her and with whom she performed. Given her involvement in
early 20th century piano music and her much admired playing, it seems
strange that, to date, no biography has been written about this
outstanding woman.”
– Mark Ainley
In her day Marcelle Meyer was the doyenne of French piano. Cortot
admired her and she performed with the likes of Ravel and Couperin. She
had a vast repertoire that extended from the Baroque to contemporary
composers like Stravinsky and she left a considerable recorded legacy.
In 2007 EMI released an absolutely complete edition of Marcelle
Meyer’s studio recordings, remastered from scratch, utilizing the best
possible source material and modern technology.
EMI France’s 17-CD set Marcelle Meyer: Ses Enregistrements 1925-1957 has elicited great recognition in the media and has won major music awards such as Dipasson d´Or in 2008.
Debussy, Ravel and Stravinsky
Marcelle Meyer met Debussy at the premiere performance of Erik
Satie’s Parade, for which she was the pianist. To give you an idea of
the production: the mise-en-scene was by Jean Cocteau, the sets were
painted by Picasso, and the choreography was by Leonide Massine, with
orchestra conducted by Ernest Ansermet – the 20-year-old Marcelle Meyer
was the pianist. Debussy was present at this event, which took place in
1917, just under a year before he died.
Meyer is said to have been coached by the ailing Debussy in how to
play his Preludes, and certainly her playing is unique in its
combination of impressionistic colours and timing. Meyer also studied
with Ricardo Viñes, who had premiered several of the composer’s works,
and she clearly had insight into his art. While she recorded the two
books of Debussy Preludes in 1957 – a recording that was unissued until
1989 – she (had previously) also committed three of them to disc in
1947, among them an incredible “La terrasse des audiences au claire de
lune” in which time seems to stand still. Hear Meyer play this Prelude
below followed by “L’isle Joyeuse”.
https://www.pianostreet.com/blog/articles/the-trusted-magician-of-the-parisian-avantgarde-5723/There is a lot of her on youtube.The EMI collection is available from Amazon. |
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Jim 204I really love "Life", have listened to it almost every morning,and yes, that old Bill Evans tune "Peace piece" is great.
I also downloaded some Sudbin (had never heard of him),and love his Haydn.Thank you very much.J
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schubert You are fortunate to have heard such great pianists.The only great one i have actually heard live was Ashkenazy,at a high school auditorium, back in the 70's when he was stillon a leash held by USSR. Richter said he greatly preferred Haydn to Mozart, so you are in good company.
Angela Hewitt, Arrau, and Brendel are my favorites too. I have a video of Brendel, "Man and Mask" BBC (2000). Post concert in London there is a long line of beautiful bejeweled women patiently waiting for his autograph, hoping for a word from the man. Shades of Mick Jagger.He played his last recital in 2008 (age 77), but his lecture/discussion/demonstrations continued, and are so excellent, in both content and tone.Love that soft refined Viennese accent.
Alfred Brendel 2018 lecture about Beethoven last period, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFgfRZXsYVQhttps://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/08/the-writer-who-makes-perfect-sense-of-clas... |
jim
I sent you some links to free downloads of Osborne
cheers
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Ivan Moravec
His Chopin Nocturnes are recognized as best ever.
Moravec was already well known in Czechoslovakia when he was "discovered" by Alan Silver, who ran Connoisseur Records.Alan recorded him playing Chopin, and helped him get his first engagements in USA. Alan was incredibly skilled at making recordings, although what he actually did was considerably simpler than big time producer/directors.
I knew Alan in Berkeley in 1967, nice man.
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updateLin's "Preludes" album is wonderful.Also love her "Chinoiserie".
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My Favorite String QuartetFifty years ago, the Alban Berg Quartet was founded. A huge box set, comforting yet daring, is an immersive celebration.
The two occasions on which I saw them, however — a Bartok-Mozart
program in London and a gripping Schubert concert at Carnegie Hall — are
highlights of my musical life. Those performances also confirmed that
the Berg sounded just as immaculate live as on record. quoted from NYT behind paywall https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/14/arts/music/alban-berg-string-quartet.html |
jim et al
I am in full agreement with your comments about Liszt, also Rachmaninoff.
I have too many recordings of both to list here.
For Schubert, I love Rada Lupu. The Complete Decca Solo Recordings(2010) is 10 cds, about half is Schubert.
I read a story about Rachmaninoff, as composer and pianist.
His piano teach Nikolai Zverev told Rachmaninoff that he should concentrate on becoming a concert pianist because he had so much talent;
and that he should not waste his time studying composition or composing.
Eventually Rachmaninoff won a gold medal
at his conservatory
for his composition of a one act opera, "Aleko", and Zverev was on the examination committee. Zverev gave Rachmaninoff his gold watch.
Tchaikovsky attended and praised Rachmaninoff.
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I have been listening to Jenny Lin a lot lately.
Her Mompou, and her Silvestrov album "Nostalghia".
My kind of music, serene, peaceful, what they call "devotional" in some other cultures.
Highly recommended if you like that sort of music.
Also like her Stravinsky album, which I have not heretofore appreciated.
And now downloading her "Preludes to a Revolution".
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Jim
I share your views on death of classical composition, about Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich. I download modern composers, and delete them.
I had a teacher who said "if it is not in tune, and it is not in time, then it is not music".
I also agree that Osborne's
Rachmaninov: Études-tableaux
is wonderful.
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my latest "discovery"
Victor Ryachikov plays Mikhail Glinda, Complete Piano Music (3 cd)
Ryachikov writes:
For a long time the works that Glinka wrote for piano have been considered methodical and suitable only for study at music schools. I believe this is a wrong attitude.
To the attentive listener this music is redolent with feeling and delicate nuance. It is music full of love, tenderness, expression and humour; music of elegant simplicity and nobility. When played by pupils it can often seem primitive, even pompous.
This is because it needs a simplicity and naturalness that is very difficult to
achieve. It is as difficult to play as is the music of Mozart. My primary wish is for Giinka's piano music to return to the concert stage. I have been playing this music for many years and in many parts of the world and it never fails to touch people's souls. The pieces also complement excellently the works of other great composers in a programme. A love for this music, once born, never dies. Many of the pieces featured among these recordings are little known and are recorded here for the first time.
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More Nikita Magaloff
Chopin, The Complete Piano Music, 13 cds
Scriabin, Les trois cahiers
Great Pianists 067, 2 cds
awesome, highly recommended
there is also a 21 cd collection that I cannot find
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Mag,
If you love Scriabin, you owe it to yourself to listen to Sofronitsky, whomarried Scriabin's daughter, and carried the flag for many years. Sofronitsky died in 1961.
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Jim, et al There are so many recordings of the Goldbergs, I cannot get my head around a comparison of them. Here are some of them:
Hewitt
Tureck
Watcha
Gavrilov
Gould
Jarrett
Feltsman
Perahia
Rana
Sokolov
Nikolayeva
Angelich
Leonhardt I know there are more somewhere in my hard drives, but that is all that shows up in my search. So Jim, tell us please, which is your favorite?
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All you Bach lovers, have you heard:
John Ogdon
Busoni Transcriptions
Toccata in C Major
Organ Chorale Preludes
Prelude and Fugue in Eflat Major
Toccata and FUgue in d minor
Chaconne
Fantasia contrappuntistica
alturus cd 9070(2)
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Happy New Year all
now listening to Imogen Cooper,
Brahms Theme and Variations from String Sextet, Op. 18
wonderful, and I thought I did not like Brahms!
Chandos 10755
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Yes indeed, love Helene Grimaud.
Her 5 cd collection (Brilliant Classics)
Water (2016)
Her collaborations with Sol Gabetta and with Mojca Erdman.
Thanks for the tip about Memories, will try to find that.
I have been listening to a lot of Lazar Berman, wow.
His Rachmaninoff of course, being Russian, but all else as well.
I never could get into the Schubert vocal pieces, something about voices.
But now listening to Berman playing Liszt transcriptions of Schubert,and they show the beauty of Schubert's melodies.
DICD 920164-5
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Dina Ugorskaja Bach Fugue No 24 in B Minor, BWV 869
exquisite
recently deceased Dina is daughter of Anatol
Anatol is still going strong
one of my favorite recordings is the two of them playing together
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH5lgcw6eD4 |
newbee et al
I share your appreciation for "Les Annees" and Lazar Berman.
I think my favorite recording of "Les Annees" is by Ciccolini.
From 1961 & 1969, on EMI
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Once, when serving as a judge in the International Rubinstein Piano
Competition in Tel Aviv, one of the contestants played a Prokofiev
Toccata faster and louder than anyone else. Fleisher turned to a fellow
judge, and remarked: “Why does he hate his mother?”
In an open letter in the Washington Post, “My White House Dilemma,” he
protested the Bush White House’s policies regarding the Iraq War, the
torture of prisoners, and other decisions that he said amounted to a
“systematic shredding of our nation’s Constitution [that] have left us
weak and shamed at home and in the world.” He ended up attending the
event wearing a peace symbol and a purple ribbon.
https://www.juancole.com/2020/08/fleisher-reinvented-inspired.html
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newbee
Sokolov is perhaps my favorite of all pianists now performing, have never heard him live.
I have downloaded dozens of his recordings including the two you mention.
I never tire of some of his recordings, e.g., Couperin.
Unfortunately, most of his old soviet era recordings are not commercially available, but have found them free online on a russian website.
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Nikita Magaloff - Pianist & Teacher [DVD] [2011]
Magaloff listening and teaching 3 different students, including Philip Cassard.
This video greatly increased my appreciation of the nuances of classical piano.
It's in French, available from Amazon.
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pete
i gave up on lp's, too much trouble to keep clean
and i gave up on cd's because i could not keep track of them
i keep everything on a hard drive
and it easy to locate a composer, a musician, a particular piece of music
I use a program "qBittorrent" to handle the downloads to the hard drive
there are a number of free peer to peer (p2p) sites that are good sources of recordings
these sites remove any recording if/when a copyright holder objects
they specify the quality of the recording, so i don't bother with mp3
unless it is some song i am trying to learn and there is no better source
there are lots of dead and incomplete links, so it takes a bit of fishing
but there is a universe of free high quality music out there
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now listening to
Piano Trios, Gilels, Kogan, Rostropovich, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Schumann, Saint-Saens, Borodin
+ Quartet by Faure and Horn Trio by Brahms
6 cds
it does not get any better
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I was somehow banned for the past several days, and now this has apparently been corrected
thank you Tammy
My comment which was banned is simple.
thanks to mahgister for introducing
Nyiregyhazy
there is a lot of him on youtube and i like some of it a lot
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Yes Jim.With you there re Arrau, the epitome of classical piano.
He really took us there, and he so loved driving the bus.
As for Cortot, I love the "million dollar trio" - with Casals and Thibaud,especially their Beethoven and Schubert. I keep a photo of the threeyoung men, so confident. They were the Beatles of their time.
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So much Bolet!
The Complete RCA and Columbia Album Collection (10 cds)
The Great Pianists Series, 4 cds in all
Rarest: half of a Russian album where he plays Liszt including Hungarian Rhapsody, Libestraum and Consolations.
Richter is the other half of the album, Liszt Concertos.
And they are all so well recorded.
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jim
re Liszt/Schubert Song transcriptions
my favorite rendition is Lazar Berman
i have it on an old Discover International label
along with Schubert Sonata D 960 (discussed earlier)
and his interpretation of Rachmaninoff interpreting Rubinstein's
transcription of Beethoven's Marche Turque
I can send you a link if you like.
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