Classical Music for Aficionados

now listening to Perahia's 2018 recording of Hammerklavier and Moonlight Sonatas
so fine, lively

You guys got me to put on a side of my three disc DG set of Pollini's Chopin Etudes. There's a skip in one of the cuts.  Maurizio can't seem to get past one particularly fiendish passage.  Maurizio!  Que spagliato?

Between Perahia and Pollini , no contest I would pick Perahia and day of the week. I have loved Perahia since the day he won the Leeds Piano Competition ( a long time ago ) and I have to admit he is my go to pianist for any Bach keyboard works. I have only heard him live once at Glasgow and it was the Goldberg Variations with some Bach / Busoni thrown in also. It was a wonderful performance with some sparkling pianism and for all Pollini's virtuosity it is Perahia I will always fall back on.

OK, so I know I've already recommended this, but on a second listening I like it even more.  Dudamel's Beethoven 3 with the Venezuela orchestra.  It has everything you'd expect from a first-class international orchestra PLUS an inner enthusiasm and, yes, joy that I find truly infectious.  Really worth a listen.
And while we're on the subject of recommendations, I think it was in this thread a while back that someone pointed to the Sibelius 1 + 7 on Ondine with Segerstram and Helsinki Philharmonic.  Listening now and wow!  Fabulous interpretation AND fabulous sound--that unheard of unicorn!

i second you....

Between Perahia and Pollini, the first has some magical sparkle that the other has not.... 2 great artists tough for sure....

Way back in the day, when the Penguin Classical Record Guide was riding high, Perahia and Pollini seemed to me to be represented on a lot of the same repertoire.  Trying them both, I always preferred Perahia, because Pollini struck me as, yes, too cool in the interpretation.

@mahgister     I think you are absolutely right regarding his CD's , I also find them quite cold to  listen to with the exception of Stravinsky's Three Movements from Petrushka. He plays that piece as if The devil or in Scot's parlance ( Auld Nick - for you Len ) was sitting at the keyboard playing it himself. If poor old Arthur Rubinstein the dedicatee could have played it like that , but sadly that is the type of thing that Pollini excelled at. While on the subject of Pollini has anyone heard Pollini's latest Beethoven's last three piano sonatas, I wish I could say it was great but I found it quite difficult to listen to. That famous accuracy is gone and the pieces lack any cohesion and there are a few finger slips which I am putting down to age. Take Martha Argerich she is now over seventy five now and she plays like a 40 y.o. which I am sure most 40 year olds would love.

He played the whole concert with not a finger out of place and some of the most perfect pianism I have ever seen , but cold as ice. Pity.

It was also my experience of him.....in cd....Not lived tough....Perfection is not enough...

« Imperfection is the peak»  René Char

I have Pollini vinyl from both the EMI and DG eras and I got no quarrel with either, other than DGs' slightly cool tonal quality.  As a matter of fact, it was the DG volume of Chopin Etudes that induced me to drag my childhood piano out of my parents' house and start going at it again.  I may have mentioned this previously but I saw him live once.  Utterly superb.

Amen

@schubert     Len I can't fault you on the pollini treasure , I think it was not long after that disc that he retired from the platform to study for a while longer. That was the worst thing he ever did in my opinion because he went to study with Michaelangeli for a while and when he emerged he was quite a different pianist , gone was that beautiful crystalline tone to be replaced with pure ice. As far as I am concerned He just wasn't the same. I probably said before that I heard him in Glasgow once and he played a Mozart Piano Concerto and I think he was well suited to it. He played the whole concert with not a finger out of place and some of the most perfect pianism I have ever seen , but cold as ice. Pity.

+1 for Pletnev
Great musician and wonderful pianist..

I can only say that over decades I have never  heard  Chopin played as wonderful as the early Pollini on EMI .

@mahgister  Hi I have been listening to Zacharias playing Scarlatti for a lot of the day on and off and have to say that I can see a lot of wonderful musicmaking there. The only thing I have to say is that he does play them quite literally with not a lot of feeling there but yes I can see why you are enamoured of them.
I have to pin my colours to another mast though, Mikhail Pletnev's accounts to me are quite literally poles apart with lots of colour injected and a blistering virtuoso technique.

Tough i love the poetic playing of Zacharias.... I credit your choice  for Pletnev....Poetry+ virtuoso tech. Probably one of the best on piano, if not the best..... Thanks....

jim
love pletnev!
and with Argerich too, eg, Cinderella

If you are listening to extra Beethoven this year, let me leave a plug here for Gustavo Dudamel's Eroica with the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela.  Excellent!  And to my ears he and the orchestra really nail the famous slow movement.

@mahgister   Hi I have been listening to Zacharias playing Scarlatti for a lot of the day on and off and have to say that I can see a lot of wonderful musicmaking there. The only thing I have to say is that he does play them quite literally with not a lot of feeling there but yes I can see why you are enamoured of them. 
I have to pin my colours to another mast though, Mikhail Pletnev's accounts to me are quite literally poles apart with lots of colour injected and a blistering virtuoso technique. We must remember that Scarlatti was a virtuoso of the highest order and tasked with teaching a princess and later Queen of Portugal who was quite a virtuoso herself. In their day velocity was a pre requisite and a great few of his sonatas were written with that in mind. I have heard Pletnev play a lot of times but only heard him play Scarlatti twice and as encores. His first was the D minor one K517 and a blistering account it was and he was giving washes of colour with pedal being used liberally. The next one he played was the B minor K27 which I did not really appreciate from his record but live the accents on loud and soft playing was incredible. I have to say those two sonatas were what I had taken home with me that night.

~~~Allan Pettersson~~~~ syms 5-15

Dont forget Antonio Barbosa in the Mazurkas..... A natural and humility, and rythmical sense outstanding.... My 2 best Chopin with Moravec....

In the roots system of Chopin’s Tree, one of his root is Domenico Scarlatti sonatas.... If you want to know why? Listen to the Zacharias version in 3 cd.... Pure marvel....My best Scarlatti pianist....Zacharias has forgot the virtuoso side and will deepen the pure interiority....Chopin get it immediately for sure....For example so good is Pogorelich Scarlatti and it is for sure, i prefer the poetic playing of Zacharias...

When someone must or may listen the same cd a thousand times his requirement are very different than when someone gives a few listenings only.... I discover gladly something new, but my listening is made of 80% of ancient favorites players or works that i had listen to hundred or thousand times....i owned 8000 cd and files....Most i had listen 1 or 2 times only.... Some thousand times, for example Bach.... I dream each day to discover something i will be pleased and able to listen to without end like Bach clavier works.... The Moravec and Barbosa Chopin are on this level for me....

My criteria is not then, is this interpretation good, but is this interpretation able to please me till my death each day, or each week, or each month, or each year?  Because for sure we cannot listen to some works each day but only in some days and not other days... There exist many good interpretation of a work, but very few if not only one that will make you happy till death.....


:)

Cal91, I probably should have mentioned - re Moravec's Chopin, I started with his Nocturnes on an Electra Nonsuch disc(s) presently available of Amazon.  Outstanding and well worth the price.

I have "The Chopin Collection" by Rubinstein, but it is 11 cds.  Wondering what I am missing?  It is on RCA label.There are so many great recordings of Chopin by so many great pianists that I cannot begin to name a favorite.

Hard to fault your choice, this is excellent Chopin. However don't miss Moravec. IMHO its the best regardless of how you like your Chopin.

FWIW, in a modern recording its hard to beat Louis Lortie's Chopin on Chandos. These are my current  favorites, i.e. 'go to', recordings. Lest I lead you astray, I do prefer a more masculine style over a more romantic style. 

I recently purchased a 20 CD set of Rubinstein playing Chopin. I haven't been able to listen to all of it yet, but while it is obviously from old recordings so the SQ is not always of a top level, the playing is superb. I am always in the market for the best interpreters of my favorite - Chopin. I've seen Moravec mentioned several times.

Pablo Casals
includes footage of Casals conducting in 1967
https://www.marlboromusic.org/archives/blog/pablo-casals/

thanks for the tip re Hagen Quartet, will listen
meanwhile now playing lots of Rudolf Serkin
there is a 75 cd compilation, and it includes RS playing
Beethoven Sonatas for Cello and Piano with Casals
never better, they both are as good as it gets, and they leave room for each other too
Other recordings include Serkin with Rostropovich and of course with the Busch's
+ a host of sonatas and concertos

The Hagen is outstanding and , for me , the LvB Quartets are all I have
time from him these days , which I guess is saying I see them as his best .


One of the best records I ever had is the Yale Qt, doing them.Al least on vinyl they are very rare and have seen them go for 500 $ bucks .I believe there was a CD as well which I have never head , or plan to .

If money is an object the Complete CD’s on Naxos with Kodaly Qt. are very good , The Great Op 130 is better than that .

@twoleftears     I do agree with you regarding Trifonov he is an exceptional pianist but I think he still has a few years needed under his belt to reach what he will hopefully become. Talking about his recording of the Transcendental Etudes my favourite performers are Lazar Berman and Claudio Arrau who incidentally was 75 years old at the time. Of course he doesn't have the explosive nature of Berman but his virtuosity was always used for the expressivity of the piece and not to wow everyone . Where Arrau scores is in the quieter more reflective pieces like Vision, Eroica and my favourite  Harmonies' du Soir which is truly exceptional. I never could understand how he could produce the rich sonorities and liquid sound that left you in rapt attention.
      On a different theme now has anyone been listening to any late Beethoven String Quartets lately. I can recommend a wonderful Op.127 and 132 just now from The Hagen Quartet. The string tone is wonderful and I have to admit it doesn't get any better than this. The two slow movements are rapturous and their intonation is unbeatable and this   from a man who for the last 40 odd years could not see past the Alban Bergs. Try if you can and listen to them it will definitely cleanse the soul.  

God said , Love thy Neighbor .
In 2 days , July 1st . the USA has a neighbor that we have a 5,000 border
with that has always been true and from which we could learn much July 1 is their July 4th .
Here is a lovely Symphonic rendition of the National Anthem .of a Great
Nation .
https://youtu.be/ABGW92k2zU4?t=2


Here is a quick vocal version of a land for a nation which I have great respect .


https://youtu.be/kRPGPAnPNa8?t=4

Since I am 5 miles from the studio it uses I listen to it.Got about 9 out  ten for about a year , lost 2 in a row and my ego
made me stop !

Not sure if this has been mentioned but the Piano puzzler is a podcast that is a lot of fun. Bruce Adolph is a genius.

Check it out 

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wdWJsaWNyYWRpby5vcmcvcHVibGljX2ZlZWRzL3BpYW5vLXB...

2leftears, give these a listen:
RichterBrendelGilels
SolomonBoletArgerichFreireOgdonCziffraRubinsteinHorowitzBiretVolodos

Listening to the second disc of Trifonov’s 2-CD "Transcendental" Liszt set. And it’s just as extraordinarily good as the first!
I’ve listened to a lot of Liszt piano over the last few months, and I have to say that I find Trifonov the most convincing performer of music that did not move me all that often.
On another note, I’ve become mildly obsessed with Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody #5 "Heroide-elegiaque". I have Howard’s version. Anybody have any particular favorite performance?

I learned long ago how intelligent these folks really are.


https://youtu.be/YJnibXpwDuo?t=4

Most people in the UK would be very happy with that Len.

Brahms is the best music for the elderly IMO . I used to wonder why his music is often called " autumnal".Now I know.


He was also a fan of Schubert .I like Rubenstein and love Fournier .

Jim , would a UK pensioner be considered well off with a years income of 50, 000 quid ?

I've been listening to Schubert Trio #2 by Rubenstein and Fournier. Beautiful work, truly a masterpiece. 

I am partial to Brahms # 2 and # 3
I like #1 too but its an early work and first movement is a bit too long. Last 3rd movement is masterful. Trio #3 is tightly woven, a hauntingly beautiful work in a minor key. Trio #2 is one of my favorite of all classical pieces - more joyous in a major key. 

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

Yes Jim , I remember when he brought a great favorite of mine, Janacek ,to Scotland .I thought he would do well in Scotland !
MacKerras was one of the first who knew the language of the composerwas an element not to be forgotten . He could go czech in the blink of an
eye .

@schubert Len, yes I used to love MacKerras with the BBC Scots in fact I have been to many of his outings with the band at City Hall Candelriggs as I used to have subs. for the BBC Scots and the SNO before they became the RSNO. MacKerras did some really great Mozart Symphonies with the Beeb band and they were highly thought of . He also brought Janacek to the Glasgow crowd and i heard wonderful playing of Taras Bulba , Four Preludes and Sinfonietta. Great pity he is gone now as I really enjoyed anything he played and the BBC orchestra were really upset when he passed.

I just reached into my vinyl collection and dragged out a British EMI Eminence reissue of the Beet's Eroica Symphony played by the London Symphony Orchestra under Eugen Jochum.   The performance is uniformly loud and in-your-face.  Good imaging but the sound is a bit gritty.  I'm betting I got the LP from a record store's used bin.

I agree with you , Jim !
MacKerras  with the BBC Scottish was as good as music gets ,
But as you say , hard to find .

Also with jcazador ,  As a fan of Schubert I have all their outings of him .

My Favorite String Quartet

Fifty 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

I have a wonderful Eroica from Sir Charles MacKerras with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra only it is not a recording you can buy. It was a concert in Glasgow recorded by the BBC for later broadcast. I was at the original concert and was at home a number of weeks later when it was aired. I have to say that it magically appeared onto my hard drive and for the life of me I can't understand why, but all I can say it is the very best I have ever heard even counting the Klemperer one and I don't say that lightly. 

Thanks for the recommendations.  Sitting here checking them out while listening to the wonderful Danil Trifonov and the Etudes d'Execution Transcendante.  Splendid pianism.

To add to the above list is a superb “Eroica” with Monteux and the Concertgebouw.
I have a great sounding copy of the original LP but it’s also available on CD.

#3 The best I have heard is Otto Klemperer With the Philharmonia Orchestra .on a EMI Great Recording of The Century /
Its in 1955 mono which is fine for me .
If not for you there is a stunning 3 with the Basle Chamber Orch./ underGiovanni Antonini on Sony Classical ,.
The best sounding and and very well done Beethoven is 2&70n BIS with the Minnesota Orch. /Osmo Vanska
One of THE most beautiful recordings I have ever heard .
P.S. Barbirolli never made a bad record ,

Nothing wrong with VonKarajin  3rds

There is a very good 1,2, 3 on a DVD I have . Michael Gielen/ German SWR Orch . Which is one of the fine German Radio Orchs.





klem

Ah, try"" Nessun dorma"" stupid .

Thank you so much isochronism !

Just for you an encore.


https://youtu.be/oB-G13kbOTc?t=2

Along with my agreeing, before 9/11 there was "trilloin$" missing (stolen). Put some of that towards inner-city public schooling.  HUGHLY positive benefit!!