Idagio is at least as good sonically as Qobuz, and very often better, even without hi-res files.
It is also, by far, the best for classical music. |
Goofyfoot,
Yes, as are the piano quartets, quintets and sextets. |
To Jim, Len and all others,
Here’s to a very happy holiday season, and a rid to to this dreaded plague |
I believe she is a major talent.
Original, probing with a blazing technique.
However, I believe she still has some maturing to do. |
The only thing I’m knocking out these days is myself!😉 |
Jim,
Sorry to say I never played the Goldberg Variations, but I played most of the Well-Tempered Clavier Book One. |
Oistrakh, notwithstanding Milstein or Heifetz, may be the greatest violinist of them all. |
Schubert,
Thanks for citing Rachel Podger. Quite beautiful.
Menuhin, too |
Yes, Milstein was one of nature’s miracles.
After the age of 75 he was still as fluid and immaculate as ever.
And oh so musical. |
Schubert,
Will listen to Schubert sonata and trios soon.
Right now listening to CD of the underrated early Tchaikovsky symphonies performed by Markevich and the London Symphony. (I still have the budget Philips LP’s of them.) Classic renderings in classic warm Philips sound. |
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The Schubert Bb Sonata D 960 to me is one of the most profound pieces of art in existence. It’s greatness lies in it’s simplicity. If one tries to do too much with it, to overly emote as Buniatishvili does, it loses something.
As much as I respect and admire Buniatishvili, I think she needs to mature into this music. No doubt she is a major talent and more creative than most of her contemporaries.
The Impromptus go very beautifully under her fingers. |
I heard Nyiregyházi recordings many decades ago when he was “rediscovered”
at that time. My opinion hasn’t changed. |
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Jim204,
Yes he was!
Ferocious technique and yet the power to reduce you to tears. |
While there is a certain attractiveness to Nyiregyházi, I don’t find him to be in the “god” class either. He seems to be a throwback to the 19th century, with its romantic excesses. |
Some gorgeous piano playing on Idagio:
Paul Lewis playing late Brahms.
It doesn’t get any better with these incredible pieces.
Magical pedaling.
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Erictal4075,
Good post.
One might argue, in view of your description, classical music is already at the level of a tiny niche in the musical landscape.
What’s interesting to me is that the contributors to this site are relatively few, considering I have observed references to classical music by many other A’goners in different threads. I am happy for those who contribute, but I wish there were more.
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And here I thought you were just some young upstart!
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I’ve discovered another great Russian pianist on Idagio: Zlada Chocheva.
She’s recorded the complete piano works of Rachmaninoff and the complete Chopin Etudes plus a deliciously played compilation of piano transcriptions of orchestral works.
Her discography is on Idagio if you’d like to hear her. |
Does anyone know anything about our contributor “Schubert?”
Haven’t heard from in in a long while.
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Jim5559,
‘Very nice selection.
sounds a lot like his countryman, Bartok.
How do you transfer a video to this site?
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I feel I have to restate my admiration and love of Mikhail Pletnev as pianist and conductor. By way of a review, I just discovered his definitive performance of Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Symphony. IMHO, Not since Rachmaninoff himself have we had such genius in performance AND conducting.
(Of course R wasn’t bad as a composer as well.)
Just about everything I hear from Pletnev in both capacities is first rate and inspired. |
One might put Ashkenazy in the same category.
But I think Pletnev has the edge. |
There’s a lovely new recording of the great Liszt B minor Sonata by the 28 year old British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor on Qobuz.
He really does it justice. |
When in my early twenties I literally wore out the grooves of three or four vinyl records of the Mozart Requiem playing it every day.
To me the greatest of all requiems and some of the greatest music ever written.
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Currentzis’ Pathetique is a little (maybe a lot) over the top, but very effective nonetheless. |
For you Mahler fans, I just rediscovered an incredible performance and sound spectacular in SACD form of Mahler’s 6th Symphony on Telarc, conducted by Benjamin Zander with the Philharmonia Orchestra.
To me, it’s an overwhelmingly beautiful rendering in maybe the best recorded orchestral sound I’ve ever heard. It’s a three SACD set on which the conductor also shrewdly analyzes the work.
Truly an extraordinary disc set. |
Schubert,
Celibidache is wonderful in the Schubert Ninth.
Fantastic conductor. |
I’ll mention James Levine.
His professional demise was sudden and shocking.
I’m sure his actual demise was accelerated by the scandal.
I know, among musicians, for years there were stories of his inappropriate behavior with children. I had no idea how extensive it was until the scandal broke.
In my opinion, he was one of the best conductors around. Practically a fixture at the Met, he led the world’s greatest orchestras and made many excellent recordings, especially of Mahler, which I own.
Should you throw away his records?. A Times reviewer spoke to this point years ago. Should his bad behavior color our view of him as an artist? Are his accomplishments all for naught?
I think not. But you may think differently
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I just discovered a wonderful young Turkish pianist whose debut offering is a Rachmaninoff disc: Emre Yamuz. On Idagio.
Some really great Rachmaninoff playing. |
Schubert,
I will mightily try to like it. |
BTW, Brahms couldn’t see anything in Bruckner either.
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It sounds fine on my rig.
YMMV |
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Mahgister,
As a pianist I can tell you you are right.
When you play, it’s a sort of disembodied feeling.
The notes disappear and the music comes out from your insides. |
The miracle is Mozart, not Currentzis.by the way.
‘Really nice recording, though. Beautiful sound as well.
On Idagio and Qobuz (in hi res.) |
Jim,
Thanks for the recommendation.
‘I’ll certainly check it out.
‘I’m glad you liked the “Figaro.”
it really sent me flying. |
I enjoyed the Hadelich Bach very much. You’re right, his approach is low key, very different from the usual. Effective though.
His bringing out of the contrapuntal lines at the beginning of the Chaconne was very impressive.
‘I have a further recommendation for you of another wonderful string player: cellist Pablo Ferrandez. His new recording entitled “Reflections,” is one of the top recordings of the year for me. It contains mostly Rachmaninoff, but also Spanish composers. His tone is to die for. He sounds like Piatigorsky, which is not surprising in that he’s playing on Piatigorsky’s Stradivarius cello. The playing and sound is really extraordinary. It’s also available on Idagio and Qobuz.
‘Enjoy! |
Jim,
Thanks for your observations. I certainly concur Idagio is the far superior search engine.
I just acquired a new streamer that allows me to listen in hi res using Qobuz.
Oddly enough, however, there are times when Idagio sounds better to me, even though it’s not capable of hi res.
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Well, although I downloaded the Roon app and my streamer says it’s Roon ready, no Roon devices were located by the app. |
I don’t use a PC, I use an iPad.
‘I tried to download the app for a trial subscription. Am having technical problems with the App Store. |
Just listening to Ravel’s “Scheherazade” for soprano and orchestra, maybe the most sensuous piece of music ever written.
Found it on Qobuz on an album including other Ravel works played by I’Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg.
A feast for the ears.
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Mspot,
‘’Thanks for the info.
‘I suspected as much. |
frogman,
You are so right. The remaster is screechy and just about unlistenable. The original reveals the wonderful performance and does justice to the piece. |
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Just watching the “Horowitz in Vienna” video and it occurred to me that this man is akin to one of the great treasures in the world of art: the Sistine Chapel ceiling, the Taj Mahal, Donatello’s David, etc. Though a re-creator, the rarity of his genius is no less an accomplishment than that of actual creators. To touch the heart and soul as he did is parallel.
Playing Viennese music in a Vienna concert hall was an elemental force to the listeners there.
Such superability comes to this earthly terrain not often.
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Close all the windows.
Boost the volume full throttle
and listen to the
“Ode to Joy..”
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There is a remarkable set of the nine Beethoven symphonies recorded by Herbert Blomsted in 2017 when he was 90, in just about ideal sound, it really soars in performance as well. It may not be HIP, but it’s modern nonetheless in vision. Highly recommended.
On Qobuz in hi res sound. |
