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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
RV you stated the beauty of the music influenced your reaction and I can totally agree with you there. Lang Lang did really project that in his playing but he made a lot of the movements sound like Chopin Preludes which a lot of people may be happy with but to me way too much pedal on them.
jcazador Jeremy I have perused your list and there are some stellar names there of which most people would be delighted with and I have fitted that category most of the time also. I currently have two favourites which are poles apart so that lets you know that most interpretations have playing in them that are most enjoyable . My current two are not even on your list that shows just how diverse they are. My first is Andras Schiff 1983 version because you can tell how much he loves playing them and therefor he says goodbye on the aria repeat with a smile . I shall never tire of them and by the way I think technically this version beats the known versions by everyone else. My next recording is by Ekaterina Dershavina and she gives us a quite literal interpretation but she has you glued to your seat and you keep saying to yourself "I have never heard this or that detail before" Hers is a voyage of discovery which I love going on regularly. Guys have a lovely weekend. Jim.
Just received this sad note from a piano dealership that is closing:
Dear Client, This is very sad news. The flagship piano store in KC for over 100 years is closing. The store that brought Steinway and other great brands to our region is going out of business. You can still buy online, but where can you go to try out a new Steinway, Boston or Kawai grand? This is another major blow to the cultural life of our city. There were many cultural influences in recent years: the general shift from making our own music to being entertained electronically, the lack of true music education in schools, parents forcing children to choose between sports and music, the general rise of crudity in all art forms, and people who think practicing is too much work. There were also political influences. The political-economic decisions that brought on the recession of 2008-15 robbed many of our citiizens of their discretionary income. As a result, they stopped buying instruments and paying for private music lessons. This forced Schmitt to cut their store space in half. It forced the closing of the Toon Shop and other music stores. The 2020 economic shut-downs and pandemic hysteria have hammered the nails in the coffin. Music and its related businesses were labelled "unessential" for five months. As a result, major orchestras, ballets and opera companies have been irreparably endangered. Chamber music is "virtual." Piano lessons are attempted over the phone. Our beloved violin repair expert has closed her business and taken a government job. Luyben Music, the iconic source of classical music since 1947, has shut its riot-cracked and graffitied store. My business was cut by 80%. Indoor vocal worship singing is forbidden. Our leading presidential candidate promises to shut it all down again if scientists advise. No wonder people are afraid to make a major musical investment. I'm sick of hearing phrases like "in these uncertain times" and "we're all in this together." We're not. The liquor stores, grocery stores, pet-food stores and gun stores are doing well. The music industry is dying. Is a virus really so selective? Now that my rant is over, if you or someone you know is interested in purchasing a better piano, this is a rare opportunity. If you have been getting-by with a worn-out heirloom or donated piano, here is a chance to honor that legacy with a decent instrument, especially one that carries a warranty. Ted Horowitz, RPT
Jim et al Thanks for your response. Yes I love the Schiff recording too. Somehow it did not show up on my index, but there it is under "Bach Solo Keyboard Works". I have not heard the Dershavina recording, now searching.
Indeed a sad letter to receive. It is a sad situation, unfortunately one that started a long time ago. And yet, there are so many young people populating orchestras all over the world.
@jcazador Hi Jeremy I had enough of the Rolling Stones the first time they hit the charts, an awful racket . I get you about Hewitt she has a very large following and I do listen to her sometimes. The Goldbergs are great enough for many many interpretations and I now have so many of them I could open up a record shop and make a tidy profit. Thank goodness my music is on hard drives now instead of discs as I was starting to worry in case my floor would subside.
@Schubert Len right you are about the Shotts boys they had a great pipe band. I used to play in Ayr Pipe band when I was young and Shotts used to win all the trophies in the sixties under the rule of Pipe Major John K McCalister and Drum Major Alex Duthart and they were unbeatable at all the major highland games especially The Cowal Gathering. Then also Duthart's boys regularly used to take the prize for the drum corps home also. Now sadly a lot of those great pipe bands are no longer playing together because they were mostly miners and we know what Thatcher did to mining in the Eighties and we now have no colliery bands and deep coal mines in Scotland now. I know I shouldn't admit to this but I let out a wry smile when in the news they were filming Thatcher's funeral procession going down the Mall in London and there was a deputation of ex miners with a placard that read "ding dong the witch is dead" . Really good that one so don't ever mention Margaret Thatcher in Scotland or you could stand a chance of getting lynched. She is despised up here.
@jcazador Hi Jeremy I can only describe your snippet as laughable in that if you go back in someone’s past that there may be a black gene floating about somewhere but I am glad that I am of the age now that I don’t care any longer. If you say anything nowadays against it you are instantly pegged as a racist.
@rvpiano Yes RV he was not bad in the composing dept.
I am listening at the moment to a series of the Keyboard Partitas by Bach and played on Harpsicord by Trevor Pinnock and most enjoyable they are and he is throwing all kinds of things in like lute stops full double keyboard and single keyboard to add some diversity in the mix. Most recommended.
I saw and heard the witch is dead many times jim .Believe it or not I actually sang it to myself before I heard anything .Looks like an average American need not worry about being anywhere in Europe for years to come .
I had to cancel my last 2 Lufthansa business class Chicago - Berlin this Oct + December , 250,000 miles worthless .
.To be honest coming from an alcoholic family it is hard for me to be in Scotland , at least they vacinated me from it .I hear you on the Keyboard Partitas with Pinnock , I played them a hundred times till I forgot where I put them. Fun galore !
jim you say "
if you go back in someone’s past that there may be a black gene floating about somewhere
" indeed, you might well find some neanderthals too!
I don't think this is particularly well known, it's a youthful Andras Schiff playing Schumann. Gesange der Fruhe; Nachtstucke; Kreisleriana; Variationen in Es-dur [forgive lack of diacritics]. On Teldec. This displaces Lupu as my favorite Schumann recital. The way he handles the dissonances in Gesange no. 1 is extraordinary.
Tracklist Franz Liszt Hexaméron, S392 01. Introduction Extremement lent (3:56) 02. Tema Allegro marziale (1:25) 03. Variation I Ben marcato (0:56) 04. Variation II Moderato (2:49) 05. Variation III di bravura - Ritornello (1:20) 06. Variation IV Legato e grazioso (1:23) 07. Variation V Vivo e brillante - Fuocoso molto energico Lento quasi recitativo (3:26) 08. Variation VI Largo - [coda] (2:31) 09. Finale Molto vivace quasi prestissimo (3:05) Sigismond Thalberg 10. Grande fantaisie sur des motifs de Don Pasquale, Op 67 (14:15) Franz Liszt 11. Ernani '[Deuxième] Paraphrase de Concert', S432 (7:37) Sigismond Thalberg 12. Fantaisie sur des thèmes de Moïse, Op 33 (14:57) Franz Liszt 13. Réminiscences de Norma de Bellini - Grande fantaisie, S394 (17:25)
@jcazador Johnathan I have just downloaded the hi-rez file of Hamelin's new recording , stupendous jaw dropping playing. If Hamelin's playing is anything to go by then Liszt and Thalberg must also have been as great as what has been written about them. Great stuff indeed.
agree with you Jim, powerful performance by Hamelin I am not an opera lover, but I do love those melodies. Interesting note: Hamelin is broke, had to borrow money, caused of course by the cancellation of live performances. I am sure his standard of living is a lot more expensive than mine!
The Ultimate in Music by 3 artists touched by God . I've been to over 2, 000 live classical concerts , only in Opera does the audience break into tears .
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