I would like to start a thread, similar to Orpheus’ jazz site, for lovers of classical music. I will list some of my favorite recordings, CDs as well as LP’s. While good sound is not a prime requisite, it will be a consideration. Classical music lovers please feel free to add to my lists. Discussion of musical and recording issues will be welcome.
I’ll start with a list of CDs. Records to follow in a later post.
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique. Chesky — Royal Phil. Orch. Freccia, conductor. Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Vanguard Classics — Vienna Festival Orch. Prohaska, conductor. Prokofiev: Scythian Suite et. al. DG — Chicago Symphony Abbado, conductor. Brahms: Symphony #1. Chesky — London Symph. Orch. Horenstein, conductor. Stravinsky: L’Histoire du Soldat. HDTT — Ars Nova. Mandell, conductor. Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances. Analogue Productions. — Dallas Symph Orch. Johanos, cond. Respighi: Roman Festivals et. al. Chesky — Royal Phil. Orch. Freccia, conductor.
All of the above happen to be great sounding recordings, but, as I said, sonics is not a prerequisite.
RV I'm very sorry and I am upset that I have to disagree with you but I did not like Lang Lang's Goldbergs at all. I found that the opening aria was so slow it was like a dirge. That said though I have to agree that some of the variations were very good on the ear but I'm afraid the aria is the acid test for me and if too fast or too slow the rest of the piece suffers to me. The Goldbergs to me are so great that it takes a very brave musician to tackle them and it doesn't matter to me as you go further in that if you blow it at the start the piece remains lost. I do very much like Lang Lang in some pieces by Schumann and his favourite Liszt but I don't think you would like to hear them. He certainly has the fingers for Liszt.
Lang Lang has just released a new recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, available on Idagio. Unexpectedly, it’s not bad. Each variation is repeated imaginatively different the second time around. The ornamentation is original and well integrated into the melodic line. The tone is lovely and the performance does “swing.” Of course, there is stiff competition in this work, but Lang Lang very well holds his own.
I just saw a dynamite performance of Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto on YouTube. Andre Watts piano. Zubin Mehta and the New York Phil. A true treat.
His daughter Viviana is also a pianist. I wonder how much of the genius carried over.
In other news, Lupu in Schumann / Humoreske, Kinderszenen and Kreisleriana is the best I've heard so far; his touch and the sound he gets from the piano seems to match the music perfectly.
watching a video of Verbier Festival so many fine performances especially noteworthy is a Rachmaninoff suite for 2 pianos played by Basayev and Trifonov, maybe it is from Symphonic Dances Trifonov has his jacket sleeves rolled up, Basayev ditched the necktie and they are both entranced!
Here is a beautiful rendering of a true masterpiece seldom heard by the most seldom played great composer of the last century . https://youtu.be/NxN2vrDeFjk?t=4
@rvpiano I'm so sorry I did not wish you luck earlier but I do hope you feel better soon. It's at times like this that we need our music. RV my very best to you and I hope you start getting some relief soon.
@rvpiano Totally agree with you RV , when I was listening to The Chopin concertos the only thing on my mind was how I would love to hear Pletnev himself doing those arrangements. I have heard Pletnev live a number of times and two things he can really play are Chopin and Rachmaninov , in my opinion he is as good as anyone on the circuit these days. I have been listening to him since the early eighties and can say that in the early days he was quite an explosive pianist himself as evidenced from his Edinburgh Festival recitals at the Queen's Hall. I am sure Triifonov will grow into his fingers as they say. Maturity only comes with age.
I’ve listened to most of the Trifonov compilation. Very competent playing. I wish I could be more enthusiastic about the interpretations. He certainly has the chops to play this music. In fact, he chooses slower tempos to bring out the incredible melodic beauty of Chopin’s writing even in runs. I just feel he doesn’t yet capture the magic of Chopin. He is still very young.
Chopin evocations DG No. 4797518 2017 Daniil Trifonov ..................... piano Sergei Babayan ................... piano 2 * Mahler Chamber Orchestra ................. Mikhail Pletnev ................. conductor
Tracklist 01-03. Chopin - Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 2 In F Minor, Op. 21 04-11. Chopin - Variations On "La Ci Darem La Mano", Op. 2 12. Schumann - Carnaval, Op.9: 12. Chopin 13. Grieg - Moods, Op.73-5: Étude "Hommage À Chopin" 14. Barber - Nocturne, Op. 33 15. Tchaikovsky - 18 Pieces, Op. 72: 15. Un Poco Di Chopin 16. Chopin - Rondo In C Major, Op.73 * 17-19. Chopin - Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 1 In E Minor, Op. 11 20-32. Mompou - Variations On A Theme By Chopin 33. Chopin - Fantaisie-impromptu In C Sharp Minor, Op. 66
@twoleftears I certainly agree with you but I would also say that Arrau's piano tone was second to none and you always left a concert saying to yourself that whatever he played in the concert couldn't be replicated by anyone. It is just a pity that his early recordings are marred by the recording pitfalls of the time. His recordings from the forties and fifties are technically unbeatable and every bit as good as Horowitz. A funny story - he was in attendance at the Berlin debut of Horowitz in the twenties . His mother who was with him and had nothing but insults for every other pianist she heard sat watching Horowitz dead silent. At the end of the concert Arrau was expecting a tirade from his mother , she looked round at her son and said you had better go home and practice because at the moment he plays better than you. I think he caught up with Horowitz though.
And dont laugh but i suggest to you against pain, some music designed to calm pain.... Only use the typewriter and the word " pain" calm or pain killer music, or any words about pain on "youtube channels".... Try the music that soothe you and you will see.... You must try some to chose the right one for you...With headphones sometimes it is better....Just try....
This one help me tremendously but with anxieties and panic attack....
When i feel bad i cannot listen to ANY music, except those designed to help.... How to listen to anything when your brain cannot relax? It is necessary to calm the brain.... Some sound and REPETITIVE frequencies can do that.... It is one of my discovery in my last years of music and audio research....
Music and sounds technology is way more powerful than people imagine.... And yes placebo work, but placebo work all time being constitutive of human feeling and perceptions...
I use music to calm physical anxiety and it works better than any heavy side effects medication...
Each music has his own sphere of action in the body tough.... Bach will not soothe a tooth pain, some gong and chimes frequencies will do for example....
Thanks for the tips. For some reason, opiates have never helped me in the least with pain. I take them and nothing happens. So, i don’t take them anymore. you’re right, other knee not likely!
rv opiates are good for pain bad for digestive system! mj is good for pain no problem with digestive system opiates and mj have very different effects opiates obliterate the pain mj allows you to find the range of motion that is painful and helps you learn to exercise it carefully so pain diminishes
you will probably be glad you did knee replacement but you will probably never do your other knee
that's my story anyway good luck
one more thing: do your physical therapy exercises conscientiously
rvpiano, I had knee replacement last December. I did not know what pain was until after my surgery. I had a period of about a week when I didn't get much sleep and there was no relief from the ever present pain. My condolences. It will pass. At this point, I have no regrets about having the surgery.
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