Re observations about Volodos - Unless you have an aversion to Moupou's music don't overlook Volodos rendition of Mompou's music for solo piano (what else?). I've enjoyed it every bit as much as his Schubert and Brahms recordings.
Classical Music for Aficionados
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.
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.
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Speaking of Horowitz, the other day I randomly picked from the shelf a Sony disc of his titled “Late Russian Romantics,” Volume IX of The Complete Masterworks Recordings. On it he plays Scriabin, Medtner and Rachmaninoff, including the latter’s Piano Sonata #2. (Other works include Scriabin Etudes, and Rachmaninoff Preludes and Etudes-Tableaux.) If there ever was any doubt of his being the greatest pianist (at the very least technically) of the 20th century or perhaps of all time, listen to this disc. Blazing intensity! Something unique to him and missing from just about every other pianist, especially today’s. I’m still recovering from the frisson. |
RV i have seen Pletnev live quite a few times the latest being in The Queen's Hall in Edinburgh a couple of years ago. An all Rachmaninov program and it was wonderfull. I think that pianists who graduate from the piano to the podium learn such an awful lot musically, just think of Pletnev, Ashkenazy and Barenboim to name but three and you have the cream of the crop. I'm afraid that some pianists go off because they can't juggle the two careers but the three I've mentioned have really broadened out as musicians especially Barenboim who just gets better year on year. I agree on the comment RV made about Volodos his technical displays are beyond belief and it is so nice to see he really can play non virtuoso fare as only Horowitz in his day could ( Just think of Kinderzenen, just magical). Let's just hope the Trifonovs, Kolestnikovs, Levits and Sudbins are allowed to mature at their own pace and we shall have some glorious players of the future. |
@jim204 I listened to disc 2 last night and liked it even more than 1. I found the playing meditative--perhaps matching my mood. I also think the recorded piano sound is superlative, at least I was really liking what I heard on my system. Also, does this new recording outdo one of my desert-island-discs, the Radu Lupu recording of late Brahms? Hard to imagine that it could. |
I would agree with rvpiano on Trifonov. He is a huge talent, I have worked with him before. It was a few years ago at least that he played with my orchestra. I am not as familiar with his recordings, but the one or two I have heard confirm that impression. I think he will grow up, though. Let us hope so. Too many competition winners don't. |
Volodos is, to my mind, the most impressive technically of pianists today, the modern day Horowitz. Others may be impressive, but he combines absolute mastery of the keyboard with great taste. Lately, he’s eschewed the virtuoso fare and demonstrated he’s also a very probing musician. The Brahms disc is beautifully rendered. Pletnev is also one of my favorite current day keyboard masters. |
I'm so sorry you guy's didn't like the playing on Levit's new disc as I really did like it. You know that it was a tribute to his best friend who had died and maybe that explains some of the hesitant playing. I'm also sure you know that the Brahm's arranged Chaconne was for the left hand alone and that may be producing the stilted effect. I must admit I greatly prefer the Busoni arrangement of the same work this time for two hands as the piano can now portray more of the work without that hellish jumping about everywhere. I have seen that piece played twice live, Pletnev and Kissin and both electrifying performances . |
Has anyone heard the new disc from Arkady Volodos of the late Brahms works. Beautiful playing and recording. My favourite Trifonov discs are Liszt Transcendental Etudes and Paganinni Etudes. Stunning playing and very mature playing also from one so young.He has also just released Rachmaninov Piano Concertos no's 2 and 4.Superb playing and piano tone . |
Yes, Matsuev, the “Siberian Bear” as he’s sometimes called, is a formidable player, especially of Russian music. He’s actually a weight lifter and body builder, as his powerful playing attests to. A female version of him, I believe, is Khatia Buniatishvili. Also a very powerful pianist with a brilliant technique. Listen to her very original rendering of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition or Ravel’s La Valse either on disc or streaming service for a real treat. Highly recommended. |
Has anyone heard Denis Matsuev? I personally think he's the best all around concert pianist currently in the world and has been for at least past 5 years. Just curious what others think. He's recorded most of the Russian piano masterpiece repertoire. I think his recordings are a perfect gateway into all major Russian masterpieces. Everything available on Tidal. Most impressive works: (all available on tidal with superb sound quality as versions of SACD) Prokofiev piano concerto no 2, easily bests everything out there including Michel Beroff, Toradze, Horacio Gutierrez, Vladimir Krainev etc. Listen to that Cadenza in first movement, mesmerizing. Tchaikovsky piano Concerto 1 and 2. His second concerto is less well known and played, Matsuev kills it. Shostakovich piano concerto 1 and 2. Not very profound pieces, yet he squeezes everything he can out of them. Prokofiev PC no 3, right up there with all the best imo. Rach 2 and 3 excellent. Check out youtube versions. First movement cadenza at 10:10 is one of my favorites. Few versions on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRYSuGQfiqE&t=682s thoughts? |
I hate to add a dissenting note regarding Igor Levit, Life. But, unfortunately I find he sleepwalks through disc one. Especially in the vital and exciting Brahms arrangement of Bach’s Chaccone in D minor. Brahms loved to extemporize in the Bach keyboard style on both piano and organ in a rambunctious manner. This Levit performance misses the essential exuberance of the Baroque style. Violinists demonstrate this routinely. I know Levit has a theme for this recording, but this piece does not fit in. In disc two the atmospheric approach works better, but I’m not a big fan of the Liszt-Wagner ethos. |
Is anyone familiar with Daniil Trifonov's work? He's a Russian pianist who's quickly becoming a giant that may one day rival the likes of Gilels and Richter, imo. I stumbled upon him 6 years ago when he played Prokofiev's 3rd concerto in Lincoln center NYC. He's been on my radar since. He's got several world class recordings already, check out tidal and youtube. My favorites: Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto no. 1 Rachmaninov concerto 2 and 4 with Gergiev (most recent recording) Schubert Quintett Forellen, Trout Chopin Evocations He's touring NJ, NC, VA, NY Carnegie hall this winter Carnegie Hall NEW YORK, NY Feb 9, 2019 BEETHOVEN: Andante in F Major, WoO 57 (“Andante favori”) |
IDAGIO is fantastic for classical. Totally dedicated to it. Easy to search and find virtually any performance recorded of a particular piece. Also composers’works are broken down into categories: orchestral, chamber, choral etc. Plus other niceties. You can choose lossless quality sound for no additional charge. It only costs ten dollars a month here in U.S. and is similarly priced in Europe. It is based in Europe, of course. Not here in the good old U.S.A. I would get a trial subscription if I were you. |
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FWIW, the most loved piano LP I have left is the Great Ivan Moravec playing the Mozart 25th Concerto with what has always has been a top Mozartian Orchestra , the Czech Philharmonic.In many places the piano and the orchestra sound like one and that instrument , to my ears, is a great soprano at her peak . My copy is a Vanguard-Supraphone SU-11 , I just bought the last LP on Amazon , not for me but for gifting to someone who loves LP’s . Amazon has many streams of this to include the original Supraphone .There was one CD of it on A-zon but at 2200 $$ , I dinnae check that out . Of course on Amazon there could be another LP tomorrow . |
@schubert I would love to hear Kissin and Perahia get together even now. At one of the Proms this year Barenboim had Argerich on with him and at the end the two of them did a bit of Schubert and it brought the house down. I see there is a recording of the two of them doing a live recording together, I must seek that one out. |
I'm afraid the Radu Lupu and Murray Perahia Schubert disc just eclipse this new one but not by so very much. They seen to have a lightness of touch and fleetness that just pips the new one for me. I don't feel the recording process does any good for Osborne as I have some recordings I made from Radio 3 of Osborne at The Wigmore Hall and he really is a different pianist with an audience in front of him. He just seems to come alive then. I found Arrau to be the same as I have got every record he made with Philips and with a few exceptions I find most of them to be a bit earthbound. Mind you when he was re recording the Beethoven Sonatas in the eighties in digital I started to hear that glorious tone of his that I heard live. I could never come to terms with the analogue recordings of his there really was something missing and there could also be a certain steeliness in the first Phillips set of the Beethoven Sonatas. And say all you like about Arrau but in front of an audience I have never ever heard a more ravishing piano tone. |
Schubert and brayeagle In my youth I was a piper and played for a good few years with Ayr Pipe Band Society but I also played classical guitar and had to make a decision between them. The guitar won because as I also liked listening to music on good equipment and was afraid to dull my ears prematurely. The pipes are an outdoor instrument and at that age a guitar got you more girls than pipes did so no contest. Anyway it is great to see how many overseas people can claim a bit of our heritage. Jim. |
I too have seen some wonderful concerts over here in the UK. just a small selection are, Brendel in Glasgow, 1. - The last Three Schubert Piano Sonatas, 2 - Brahms First Piano Concerto 3 - Mozart - Piano Concertos. Ashkenazy in Glasgow - The Five Beethoven Piano Concertos and Choral Fantasy in one week. Absolutely amazing all from memory. Boris Beresovsky in Edinburgh - playing Mussorgsky Pictures and Liszt - Transcendental Etudes. I have never heard such volume from a piano. Pletnev in Edinburgh playing Bach Book 1 of the Forty Eight Preludes and Fugues. Perahia in Glasgow playing Bach Goldberg Variations. Kissin in Edinburgh playing Bach Busoni Chaconne and Chopin Etudes. and at the end of the concert he played 11 encores. Kissin in Glasgow playing Liszt B minor sonata and loads of Chopin. In Wigmore Hall in London Angela Hewit playing Bach Igor Levit playing Beethoven last three Piano Sonatas. In Royal Festival Hall my all time idol Claudio Arrau playing Beethoven last three piano sonatas. I was on cloud 9 all the way back up to Scotland I have been to many many more but these are the most memorable that spring to mind. All these people absolute masters of the keyboard and you havn't lived unless you have seen and heard a pianist of the highest rank playing a Steinway just yards from you. Also recordings are a poor second to listening to one of the greats live. |
more Brendel The 2011 Beatty Memorial Lecture - Alfred Brendel (over an hour) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmxFrzIxFqA 0:23 / 12:46 Conversations with Alfred Brendel - Oscar Caravaca, Man Minnie Ho (13 minutes)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCdN7JpKAss |
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=XFgfRZXsYVQ https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/08/the-writer-who-makes-perfect-sense-of-clas... |
One of the greatest pianists I have heard in person who is all but forgotten, Is the American John Browning, born in Denver in 1933 . Truth be told , I had all but forgotten him myself till I found a mint recording by him yesterday at Goodwill .Ravel: Concerto in D for the Left Hand and Prokofiev : Concerto No 3 in C .Seraphim/ S- 60224 / Erich Leinsdorf / Philharmonia Orch . FWIW , only others I have heard live that impressed me as much were Claudio Arau , Radu Lupu ., Mitsuko Uchida and Brendel . And strickly for Haydn, Angela Hewitt ,who cemented my feeling that the Haydn piano works are played far less than they should be . |
@jcazadorI am so sorry I meant to type life and my fingers were elsewhere so please accept my apologies . It is an awesome disc of piano playing and how to record a piano. I was more used to him playing Bach and Beethoven and just wasn't prepares for that wondrous new disk of his. I still cannot believe that chaconne by Bach is only for left hand alone. I have a feeling this will be my disc of the year. You should hear it through a pair of Stax phones !!! |