Pogorelich- Gaspard de la nuit

[Sean]

Pogorelich's recording of this great work is surely the finest ever made. Here's an example of his immense skill in Scarbo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pFsMqVr3B8

All three movements here-

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pogorelich+gaspard

[BorisG]

My favorite also, but I would not want to be without Argerich or Crossley.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Pogorelich's recording of this great work is surely the finest ever made. Here's an example of his immense skill in Scarbo

Surely....you jest....

Y'know, posting an endless barrage of "Surely XYZ's recording is the best EVER" might be a great way to get one's post count up...

Beyond that....

[Don]

Surely....you jest....

Hasn't the Pogorelich account often been cited as one of the best on record for many years now?  Just asking, as I don't recall having it in my library.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Hasn't the Pogorelich account often been cited as one of the best on record for many years now?  Just asking, as I don't recall having it in my library.

Penguin loves it!

However, I own it and have serious reservations. Not least Pogo's infatuation with his own ten fingers at the expense of the music.

I'll grant you Pogo has some of the 'prettiest' playing on disc (I have several of his discs) but I can't seem to forgive his habit of losing the "meaning" of a piece behind his ten fingered exhibitionism.

In Gaspard I'm much more taken by the likes of Bavouzet or Argerich.

Anyway, Don, if there's something like a consensus (beyond Penguin) concerning this recording I'm not privy to it.

[bwv 1080]

Go for the Aimard recording, if only for the rest of the disc.

[BorisG]

Penguin loves it!

However, I own it and have serious reservations. Not least Pogo's infatuation with his own ten fingers at the expense of the music.

I'll grant you Pogo has some of the 'prettiest' playing on disc (I have several of his discs) but I can't seem to forgive his habit of losing the "meaning" of a piece behind his ten fingered exhibitionism.

In Gaspard I'm much more taken by the likes of Bavouzet or Argerich.

Anyway, Don, if there's something like a consensus (beyond Penguin) concerning this recording I'm not privy to it.

So, you want to play the dickhead game, which means any statement or question is okay, as long as it agrees with your likes. "Penguin" and "prettiest" does not begin to cover up your jerkiness.

You are not privy to lots of things. Such as a thinking cap.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

So, you want to play the dickhead game, which means any statement or question is okay, as long as it agrees with your likes. "Penguin" and "prettiest" does not begin to cover up your jerkiness.

You are not privy to lots of things. Such as a thinking cap.

Who's being a jerk, here??

Not I!!!!

I merely answered Don's query with an honest appraisal of Pogorelich's Gaspard.

Seem's YOU are the one who can't stand disagreeing!!!!

As evidence of my deference to others' opinions of this recording I opened my reply with Penguin's favorable recommendation!!!!!!!!!

That's how much I respect other posters!!! You, on the other hand, have no respect at all.

So your accusations regarding my character are groundless.

BTW, I'm still waiting for an answer to this little ditty on the Shostakovich symphony thread where you make some equally groundless accusations...

[Todd]

Pogo's Gaspard is stunning to be sure, and the liberties he takes pay off handsomely, not least in Le Gibet.  It certainly is not the finest version ever made though.  Such notions are silly at their core, and when one considers pianists like Casadesus or Simon or Michelangeli in this work, the notion that Pogo is somehow "better" than them surely must cause one to giggle.

Pogo generally is a self-indulgent pianist, there's no doubt, but I generally like what he does.  His Pictures at an Exhibition is as good as his Gaspard, and his Chopin Scherzi even better.  But the Scherzi aside, I always turn to Pogo for "alternative" takes.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

It certainly is not the finest version ever made though.  Such notions are silly at their core, and when one considers pianists like Casadesus or Simon or Michelangeli in this work, the notion that Pogo is somehow "better" than them surely must cause one to giggle.

Yes, this is more along the lines of what I was driving at with my reply to the OP though perhaps I was a bit too vague...

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Just picked up another 10 CD boxset of Michelangeli today--this one with Gaspard--pretty much the main reason I bought it. (about 60% of this set is also on Vol. 1). If it is anywhere nearly as good as his Debussy, then Pogorelich will have some very tough competition. Have you heard Michelangeli's version, Sean??

[Sean]

Pogorelich is a very accomplished pianist, and an unmannered one: he seems to hold onto the notes no matter how fast they are to the last moment before the next one, quite magesterial. And the scene painting and deep blood red colours in the Gaspard recording coupled with Prok 6 is perhaps like no other playing I've ever heard: definitely in the Penguin Rosette category.

There are a few of his Scarlatti sonata videos on YT but I haven't been persuaded by them.

XB- No I haven't heard the Michelangeli, but I have heard other stuff by him and it's usually very impressive how his technique goes beyond the medium, almost making the piano disappear.

[SimonGodders]

I'll throw in another - Naida Cole



She plays as well as she looks 

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

So when is she going to appear on the cover of Maxim?              

[SimonGodders]

So when is she going to appear on the cover of Maxim?              

You could always e-mail:
http://www.naidacole.com/index.php

Sadly, she's actually 'retired' and gone to medical school. It's a shame because her debut recital disc is great and promised much, but she became disillusioned with the industry apparently, our loss....

[Todd]

Pogorelich is a very accomplished pianist, and an unmannered one

Can you please more fully define "unmannered"?  I only ask because you are literally the only person I've encountered who makes the claim you do.  In fact, most people who like Pogo seem to like his very heavily mannered playing.  Most people who dislike him dislike him for those same reasons.

[Sean]

Todd

Can you please more fully define "unmannered"?  I only ask because you are literally the only person I've encountered who makes the claim you do.  In fact, most people who like Pogo seem to like his very heavily mannered playing.  Most people who dislike him dislike him for those same reasons.

He's unmannered in the same way Karajan for instance is: in both cases, at their best, the indulgence in their own interpretation and skills, beautification, polish and so on is transfigured and effectively disappears because everything at the same time matches up to the music's requirements. His Gaspard recording is a perfect example- Scarbo has that fullness of tone that might suggest an interest in technique for the sake of it but all self-consciousness is avoided because what he achieves is exactly in the spirit of the music. It's really amazing tone-painting and some of the most memorable pianism I've ever heard, heat-soaked, heady impressionism, quite in the zone, and virtuosity absolutely at the service of the music- in fact I didn't know it was as difficult to play as that. His Prokofiev 6th also finds much more than anyone else.

[Todd]

He's unmannered in the same way Karajan for instance is

Got it.  You don't know what the word means.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Just last night (this morning at 4am) I listened to the Michelangeli's astounding, jaw-dropping rendition of Gaspard on my new 10 CD set (Aura label). And, I have to say, I'm not sure I like it; I'm not sure I dislike it either, but it will take much more listening to better comprehend his approach.

First, either the recording, the piano, or both are very bright and metallic in the upper registers. As the recordings in this set span many years and a variety of venues, they are of highly variable quality and it is impossible for me to determine to what degree the sonics of this highly unusual sounding recording correspond to Michelangeli's wishes. As usual, Michelangeli's playing is very highly detailed and transparent, and he exposes melodic motifs and harmonies not heard in any other pianist's readings. However, I don't know whether this super-detailed approach serves this music all that well. Gieseking's approach is very much the opposite; he paints his Gaspard with very broad brush strokes, subordinating detail to the overall feeling and flow of the pieces. His Ondine is flowing and mysterious, while Michelangeli's sounds dissected and analytical by comparison. Much the same is true for Gibet and Scarbo. Anyway, these are my first impressions.

The Debussy preludes from 1977 are complete in this set (three are missing in Vol. 1) and these are so good I nearly cried.

[Poetdante]

I love his 'Scarbo', especially.
Nearly perfect!

There are some good "Gaspard" recordings, such as
Michelangeli(BBC), Lortie(Chados), Perlemuter(Nimbus), Berezovsky(Teldec), ...
But my favorite is Alexandre Tharaud(Harmonia Mundi).
His Ravel playing is really marvelous, pretty elaborate, dramatic, and beatiful.