New recording of the Diabelli variations by Kovacevic

[alkan]

I hear that a new recording by Steven Kovacevic has just been released.  Has anyone heard it?     How does it sound compared to his earlier version (widely considered to be a classic), and other leading performances?

I saw a comment somewhere that it was rather disappointing ....

[DavidRoss]

Gramophone named it among this month's "Editor's Choice" selections.  Here are excerpts from the Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine reviews:

"It's certainly faster than his own earlier recording. But more important is the sense that Kovacevich has now encompassed the extremes of the work more fully. His understanding of Beethoven's juxtapositions of beauty and crudity, reflection and action, and the sheer dynamic range, are fully exposed in this new version, which captures the piano sound beautifully. A disc to treasure." Gramophone Magazine, January 2009

"Kovacevich brings penetrating insight and a thrilling physical involvement. From the outset there is a driving momentum and crispness of articulation, and the bristling energy of so many variations makes the slower ones stand out in compelling relief, without needing especially slow tempos... one of the most impressive things about this new recording is the powerful feeling of live music-making. It is alive and spontaneous, and the overall physical and emotional sweep here is exciting and enormously fulfilling." BBC Music Magazine, February 2009 *****

[Bulldog]

I hear that a new recording by Steven Kovacevic has just been released.  Has anyone heard it?     How does it sound compared to his earlier version (widely considered to be a classic), and other leading performances?

It's available on the Naxos Music Library.  I haven't taken the time yet to give it a listen.

[jwinter]

It's available on the Naxos Music Library.  I haven't taken the time yet to give it a listen.

Kovacevich is recording for Naxos now?  I always tend to associate them with newer (or at least less well-known) pianists.

[Bulldog]

Kovacevich is recording for Naxos now?  I always tend to associate them with newer (or at least less well-known) pianists.

The Naxos Music Library (NML) is much more than just Naxos recordings.  It has all BIS and Chandos recordings as well a many releases from dozens of other labels.  Concerning the Onyx label which Kovacevich is now recording for, many of their releases are also on the NML.

[jwinter]

The Naxos Music Library (NML) is much more than just Naxos recordings.  It has all BIS and Chandos recordings as well a many releases from dozens of other labels.  Concerning the Onyx label which Kovacevich is now recording for, many of their releases are also on the NML.

Ah, good to know, thanks!  I'll have to check that out sometime. 

[Holden]

I'm listening now and this sounds very good indeed. I have the SK original but it looks as if I'm going to have to get this one to add to my already large list of Diabelli recordings.

[Josquin des Prez]

The one he recorded in the 70s was amazing, probably my favored interpretation of this work. Somehow, i doubt he's going to surpass himself though.

[ezodisy]

Somehow, i doubt he's going to surpass himself though.

But we certainly do hope that he circumvents himself

[George]

I think Kovacevich's earlier recordings are better, more musical, less banging and steely tone. So I most likely won't be looking into this release.

[DavidRoss]

And I find Kovacevich's recent LvB sonata cycle among my favorites--very musical, nuanced, passionate, with a tremendous variety of deftly modulated touch and tone appropriately suited for each passage, and with generally well-recorded sound.  I am listening right now to his EMI cycle recording of op. 90 and my only quibble is that it might be a touch fast.  But I doubt that anyone listening to this would hear it as "unmusical, steely banging."  Listen again, George, without prejudice inspired by the judgment of our resident self-appointed LvB sonata recording expert, and you might come to join the many who regard this cycle very highly, indeed.

[Todd]

I plan on trying this recording at some point, and I hope it's better than his earlier effort which I find to be overrated.  It's very good, but there are better versions out there.  I also hope Onyx does a better job of capturing Kovacevich's tone than EMI's engineers did for his most recent LvB and Schubert recordings; he sounds much better in person than on disc.

But I doubt that anyone listening to this would hear it as "unmusical, steely banging." 

I've come across a number of people on various forums, as well as in person, who dislike Kovacevich precisely because of his steely banging; it's actually a relatively common complaint about him.  The biggest problem with Kovacevich's LvB cycle is that it is very clear which sonatas he prefers to play - the later ones.  (And he's said as much himself.)  And in the later ones he is generally superb.  But in some of the early ones he pulverizes the music.  He's as bad there in that regard as in his Bartok recordings. 

[George]

And I find Kovacevich's recent LvB sonata cycle among my favorites--very musical, nuanced, passionate, with a tremendous variety of deftly modulated touch and tone appropriately suited for each passage, and with generally well-recorded sound.  I am listening right now to his EMI cycle recording of op. 90 and my only quibble is that it might be a touch fast.  But I doubt that anyone listening to this would hear it as "unmusical, steely banging."  Listen again, George, without prejudice inspired by the judgment of our resident self-appointed LvB sonata recording expert, and you might come to join the many who regard this cycle very highly, indeed.

Yes, his Op. 90 is excellent! I absolutely agree. I think he's excellent in many of the 32, actually - Op. 2/1, 10, 13, 14, 22, 27/1, 28, 31/1, 90, 106, 109-111

I just put on his Tempest Op 31/2 and refreshed my memory about his tone. Sixty seconds in, he still sounds steely and unmusical to me. Could be the way it was recorded, I don't know. Just reporting what I hear. 

I think that overall, when it comes to Kovacevich, I like others more. There's a big gap in his set, amounting to 13 of the 32 sonatas (Op. 31/2 through 81a) which are only fair/good. When it comes to sets, I value consistency and he isn't among the most consistent I have heard. I will add that I find him as consistent as Kempff (mono), Nat, Schnabel and Barenboim. These I find to be about 60% excellent performances versus 40% good/fair performances. I enjoy much of each of these sets, but find that Annie Fischer, Gulda, Backhaus and Gilels are more consistent, playing about three quarters of these excellently or better. 

[DavidRoss]

Annie Fischer, Gulda, Backhaus and Gilels are more consistent, playing about three quarters of these excellently or better. 

I won't argue with Gilels--what he recorded seems consistently beautiful.  I also have the complete Fischer and Gulda/Brilliant (plus some on London) and, though they are fine pianists, indeed, I prefer the cycles by Kovacevich, Goode, and Wilhelm Kempff.  The uniform quality of their cycles, and the range of their interpretive styles (passionate, straightforward, poetic) satisfies my need for variety (though I do own a few others that get occasional hearings!)  I might well pick up the new SK Diabelli disc, but even though I'm predisposed to like it I will probably wait until I've heard it first.

[Bulldog]

I've come across a number of people on various forums, as well as in person, who dislike Kovacevich precisely because of his steely banging; it's actually a relatively common complaint about him. 

Add me to the list of folks who find his EMI Beethoven cycle damaged by some harsh banging.