Classical Music for Aficionados

Does anyone know anything about our contributor “Schubert?”

Haven’t heard from in in a long while.

eric

on the contrary, i think classical music is more freely available than ever before in USA

i am old enough to recall when you had to live in a big city and

listen to stupid commercials/talk just to hear some classical music

true, it is supported by a small wealthy percentage in usa

they have their fancy concert halls and expensive programs

but that has no effect on me

there seem to be plenty of first rate musicians being formed today

i have no desire to be among any majority

to each his own

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.

As of late January, 2022, it’s fascinating to see that there have been more than 70 pages’ worth of people’s input on their favorite classical music recordings and/or listening suggestions since rvpiano originally started this thread on 12-09-2017.

HOWEVER, on most of the forums here in which people discuss their audio equipment, I get the impression that better than 90% of them never mention classical music when discussing the genres of music they listen to and how their audio gear impacts their listening experience of it.

The very low esteem in which the vast majority of the listening public appears to hold classical music comes as no surprise, because over the past four or more decades, schools (especially public schools) have eliminated courses devoted to introducing classical music to their students. The lower the income level of the students, the less likely they are ever to be exposed to this kind of music.

Add to that a general public attitude which views classical music as the exclusive preserve of a wealthy privileged few, and that it (in the larger public mind) contains an element of snobbery and elitism, it therefore comes as no surprise to me that classical music is rapidly disappearing from the public musical landscape, especially in the United States, where the "fine arts" are being systematically devalued and pushed aside in favor of "popular" "Top 40" and "easy listening" musical genres. There are very few classical music radio stations left anywhere now.

Finally, I must add that, especially in the U.S., the public DOES have a great love and appreciation for true, enduring CLASSICS in many other genres, ranging from Rock and Roll to Jazz to Country & Western, R & B, punk rock, rap and more. The enduring best of all these musical genres have become classics, too, in their own right.

I am not disparaging these latter forms of music - just observing that European-style Classical Music as most of us have come to define it, appears to be on the ropes and on the verge of disappearing entirely from the wider public musical consciousness. It may very well survive only as a tiny niche interest.

Johann Sebastian Bach, WTC, Prelude and Fugue in E-flat Major, BWV 852, No. 7 Franz Liszt, Douze Études d'exécution transcendante, S. 139 12. Chasse-Neige Frederic Chopin, 12 Études, Op.10 No. 8 in F major Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 2/2 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, 18 Pieces, Op. 72 No. 5: Méditation Sergei Rachmaninov, Etudes-tableaux No. 9 in D Major, Op. 39

Have you heard Sofiane Pamart?

SETLIST

00:00 Sofiane Pamart

33:09 Alexandre Kantorow

01:06:42 Etienne Jaumet & Fabrizio Rat

01:36:19 Macha Gharibian

01:59:44 Marc Melià & Francoiz Breut

I would never doubt Christa Ludwig !

Like usual very interesting comment from frogman confirmed by this reader comment under the video:

«There‘s another intersting interview (in German) with Christa where she says the following: Karl Böhm got it always right Karajan was always either too soft or too loud Bernstein was always either too slow or too fast But of the three, only Bernstein could communicate music with an unparalleled intensity. Christa, who will turn 93 in a week or so put that pretty well! »

It is common to think that the soloist always has the last word. This is not always the case at all. First of all, “Das Lied” is a symphonic poem; the orchestral writing is much more than simply accompaniment for the soloist. Whether the soloist (or listener) likes it or not, the maestro has the last word. Depending on the stature of the soloist, a conductor will be more or less deferential to the soloist’s wishes, whims and limitations. Moreover, this type of disagreement is common in the rehearsal process. In this case, the problem is not only one of differing musical visions. It is not that only she thinks that the music will be better served at a slower tempo. As wonderful as she is, she is clearly having difficulty keeping up with Bernstein’s tempo (her limitation). A smart conductor will recognize this and, when all else fails, will adjust his musical vision for the sake of the music. Otherwise, the end result will be the rhythmic mess that we hear in this example. It would be interesting to hear what the final outcome was. Bernstein was a smart conductor.

It is common to think that the soloist always has the last word. This is not always the case at all. First of all, “Das Lied” is a symphonic poem; the orchestral writing is much more than simply accompaniment for the soloist. Whether the soloist (or listener) likes it or not, the maestro has the last word. Depending on the stature of the soloist, a conductor will be more or less deferential to the soloist’s wishes, whims and limitations. Moreover, this type of disagreement is common in the rehearsal process. In this case, the problem is not only one of differing musical visions. It is not that only she thinks that the music will be better served at a slower tempo. As wonderful as she is, she is clearly having difficulty keeping up with Bernstein’s tempo (her limitation). A smart conductor will recognize this and, when all else fails, will adjust his musical vision for the sake of the music. Otherwise, the end result will be the rhythmic mess that we hear in this example. It would be interesting to hear what the final outcome was. Bernstein was a smart conductor.

@rvpiano   You are right RV about Lewis playing the Brahms late pieces I listened to them last night and totally agree with you. There are a few recordings of late Brahms doing the rounds at the moment, Volodos Kantorow and Lewis and all special in their own way.  

I feel ashame naming my two goddesses and forgetting at the moment the third one ...

Christa Ludwig....

Guess who is right the singer or the maestro? They loved each other but sometimes music is a "war"....

fasten your seatbelt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYmtidbqQaY

The sound quality is not good but listen to it till the end...

This kind of voice is miraculously powerful to stir emotion...

I apologize because it is not classical but i am in love with all great contraltos...

Marian Anderson and Kathleen Ferrier are my 2 goddesses love...

This young russian is amazing like his life story is...

For male save for Fritz Wunderlich and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, who are my gods, in my next life i want to be anyway an "oktavist"...

I guess i will be a Russian soul this time....  

Some gorgeous piano playing on Idagio:

Paul Lewis playing late Brahms.

It doesn’t get any better with these incredible pieces.

Magical pedaling.

@twoleftears      Yes superlative indeed, that young lady has a stellar career in front of her she is astonishing. About more time between tracks I totally agree with you it hardly gives you time to draw a breath. I must say though that the recording quality of most of the piano recordings I listen to nowadays are superbly detailed and tonally awesome. I have been listening to young  Alexandre Kantorow these last two days and they are all on the BIS label and they are I would say the best classical recording label out today. Their sound is so dynamic and detailed that I have trouble remembering I am listening through headphones and not in the Usher hall.

A little tip here on the technical side of things here , I have just bought a new USB cable for between my PC and DAC. Is is a CAD 11 USB cable and it surely is a star . It cost a bloody fortune but it is worth it for what it brings in detail tone and just old fashioned enjoyment . Another thing I got was a filter that goes between my router and PC by way of the Ethernet. Another Eureka moment as it seems to clear up the gunge and digital noise from the signal. It is from Network Acoustics and it is called the ENO. If you want to radically clean your streaming then those two boys are for you.

This is her latest.

(re)creations - YouTube

@jim204 BTW, your "too closely recorded" was exactly what I was trying to get at with my "more forward in the soundstage".  I also wish the producer had left slightly longer breaks between tracks.  Otherwise superlative.

Kracher, that is what I also thought !

A veritable cornucopia of delights today, I see I am going to be busy.

Khatia’s playing reminds me of Uchida’s lyrical interpretation of Schubert. 

Thanks, Jim .

As far as my non-musician ears will take me , the Toccatas with Pinnock are Perfect !

@jim5559      I see you have posted a recording of one of my favourite harpsichordists and organists not forgetting conductors and pioneers of searly music playing. I shall look forward to listening to it tomorrow.

@twoleftears    At the moment I am listening to Chochieva.  Playing The Chopin Etudes the thought comes back to me from the three book anthology by Prof. Alan Walker on the life and times of Franz Liszt. where Liszt is in Chopin's apartments and Chopin is at his writing desk listening to Liszt and trying to write to a friend at the same time. He actually wrote that at that moment in time he did not know what he was writing as Liszt was playing thorough his Op.10 etudes and all he was thinking was how he could steal Liszt's way of playing his Etudes as he was totally astonished by it . He had dedicated his Op.10 to Liszt, no wonder Schumann called him Klaviator Maximus . I digress so back to my point of the recording I think this young woman has an astonishing technique and people listening to her playing these Etudes must exhibit the same astonishment at her keyboard prowess. I think she has a lot to say in the near future so I will keep my ears primed. The only quibble I have it is too closely recorded for me. I like a wee bit more air around the instrument.

Zlata Chochieva, Chopin Etudes: some splendid pianism here.  The one slightly disconcerting thing is the recorded sound, which is very good but rather more forward in the soundstage than I am used to.

@twoleftears      Yes I do prefer Kissin playing that one , his phrasing is better and also Horowitz makes a lovely job of it.

@jim204 I thought you preferred the Kissin version to Khatia. For me it's pretty much a dead heat, though Kissin is really excellent.  Khatia's whole Schubert CD where the Schubert/Liszt appears as a kind of encore is really really good.

(BTW, tonight, Ott's Chopin Waltzes in the CDP, nice but not transcendent.)

Hillary Hahn is the best the USA has .

This small German group does it best in Germany’s most blue- collar city playing

God’s best .

@melm734       I Have just purchased the download of Kantorow  A la Russe and I shall listen later on when I can get some peace, will let you know later.

Yes, Kantorow is a wonderful pianist. And he is beautifully served by the engineers. For a real trip, try his À la Russe album. His rendering of the Stravinsky Firebird Danse Infernale reduction will explode inside your speakers.

And, by the way he plays a Yamaha, at least on that recording.

I have a stunning new recording for you to listen to , it's Brahms Piano Works By, Alexandre Kantorow.

Stunning BIS recording and playing from Kantorow.

The 4 Ballades Op 10.

Sonata No 3 in F Minor

Chaconne from Bach's D Minor arranged for Left hand. This one has been popular lately as none other than Triffonov has laid his hand on it lately ( pun intended )

It really is a special recording probably in reflective mode.

I see three posts have been deleted , wonder what that was about.

@jim5559 

I think as you do he was a truly great conductor.

@jcazador 

Jeremy, that was a really good article on Moravec I really enjoyed it. It shows you the power that some high flying conductors really had, they could destroy a career at the stroke of a pen. I am glad he kept his integrity intact. He really was a superb pianist and yes I do love his Chopin Nocturnes ( Up there with Arrau and Pires for me ). Take care , Jim.

PS I am listening to James Ehnes's take on The Sonatas and Partita's for solo violin By my hero , JS Bach, absolutely divine.

@jim5559 

Have a listen on You tube to Khatia playing the Schubert / Liszt Standchen and before you blast the head of me Liszt only arranged it and what a wonderful job he made of it. Give it a shot she makes a beautiful job of it. Jim.

Jim

I am with you Re Maria Joao Pires, especially love her Chopin Nocturnes.

Also appreciate Yuja Wang's piano, but so not much her clothes (or lack thereof).

The recording of Moravec/Vectomov is on cd #10 of that compilation entitled "Portrait".

more on Moravec (including his refusal to accept Szell's interpretation of Beethoven) here

https://www.naxos.com/person/Ivan_Moravec/8428.htm