Emil Gilels

[Peregrine]

32 Variations in C minor WoO 80 (EMI)

There's a fab live version of this on one of the Melodiya box sets. Gilels roars through the piece, very exciting!

[Mandryka]

Gilels' "Hammerklavier" — do you love it or hate it?

There's a live Gilels Hammerklavier first movement on youtube -- I think a comment says it's from the brilliant box. Does anyone know the whole thing? I think it sounds excellent.

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

I like Gilels studio Hammerklavier -- but I prefer Gould. And I also love Brendel's live performance from Vienna on Phillips.

Does anyone like Schnabel's Hammerklavier?

[Mandryka]

Gilels is in my top 5 of all time. There are recordings of his that I consider indispensible and it's his consistency the at times translates into genius that make him so special for me. Those recordings are:

LvB:
Op 28 (DG),
Op 53 (Live in Aix-enProvence 1966)
Op 57 live in Moscow 1961
Op 81a (DG)
32 Variations in C minor WoO 80 (EMI)

PC #4 (Ludwig/Philharmonia)

Saint-Saens: PC # 2 (Cluytens)
Schubert: Moments Musicaux
Schumann: Nachtstucke Op 23
Grieg: Lyric Pieces
Brahms: PC#1 (Bohm)
Brahms: Fantasiestucke Op 116
Mozart Concerto for 2 pianos K365 (With Elizaveta Gilels)
Tchaikovsky Piano trio in A minor (scratchy MP3 copy)

I agree with you about the Russian Waldstien, but can you give me a link to the Aix Appassionata?. I have never heard of it.

Is that your top PC4? I like it very much, but I want to find the greatest PC4 ever.

Do you prefer Gilels' Grieg to Richter's. I only have the Richter, and I'm wondering whether to get the Gilels too (silly question really!)

[sporkadelic]

Do you prefer Gilels' Grieg to Richter's. I only have the Richter, and I'm wondering whether to get the Gilels too (silly question really!)

I don't have the Richter, but the Gilels disc is wonderful.  The two pianists make different selections anyway, so having both would not be a complete duplication of repertoire.

[Peregrine]

Does anyone like Schnabel's Hammerklavier?

Yes, very much so. Schnabel, Richter, Pollini and Gilels would be my favourites here.

[val]

I saw Gilels in concert. Sometimes he seemed distant, almost absent. But when he was deeply inspired it was un unforgettable experience.
The same with his recordings.

My favorites are:

Beethoven:  Sonata opus 106 / Piano Concerto n. 4 with Leopold Ludwig

Brahms: Fantasies opus 116 (recording of 1983) / Piano Concerto n. 2 with Jochum

Prokofiev:  Sonata n. 8

Schumann:  Nachtstücke

Grieg:  Lyric Pieces (anthology)

Tchaikovsky:  2nd Piano Concerto with Kondrashin

[Peregrine]

Rachmaninoff, Prelude Op.23/5

http://www.youtube.com/v/VXU7I_Yyi2Y

[samuel]

His Brahms 2 with Reiner/CSO from the 1950s is still, in my opinion, one of the greatest concerto recordings ever made. Superior in virtually every aspect compared to his sluggish remake with Jochum.

[Que]

I'm generally speaking not a Gilels fan, but his Tchaikovsky no.1 with Reiner is terrific: a rather "classical" and intelligent reading which is not overdone in terms of sentimentality or virtuosity, as is often the case.



Q

[Renfield]

I "swear by" Gilels' Beethoven 4th with Ludwig; and I love his Brahms with Jochum, especially the 1st concerto, and the Grieg Lyric Pieces.

Otherwise, I also appreciate his Waldstein as an accomplishment, as well as the Hammerklavier to some extent...

But I wouldn't say he's one of my favourite pianists in general.

[George]

Gilels is in my top 5 of all time. There are recordings of his that I consider indispensible and it's his consistency the at times translates into genius that make him so special for me. Those recordings are:

LvB:
Op 28 (DG)...

Inspired by your recommendation, I listened to the Pastoral sonata from this box:



My first listen to this performance last year made me think it was way too slow for Allegro in the first movement, but taken on its own terms, it is a gorgeously played and recorded performance. You are absolutely right. 

I bet Tony and Sarge would love this one.

[Coopmv]

Inspired by your recommendation, I listened to the Pastoral sonata from this box:



My first listen to this performance last year made me think it was way too slow for Allegro in the first movement, but taken on its own terms, it is a gorgeously played and recorded performance. You are absolutely right. 

I bet Tony and Sarge would love this one.

If I find the time, I need to re-listen to this set.  I breezed through this set last year when it arrived and have never played any of its CD's again ...

[George]

If I find the time, I need to re-listen to this set.  I breezed through this set last year when it arrived and have never played any of its CD's again ...

Start with that Pastoral sonata. A unique and gorgeous performance.

[Coopmv]

Start with that Pastoral sonata. A unique and gorgeous performance.

Absolutely.  But the objective for later this month or March is to grab that Annie Fischer's set once Qualiton starts running its annual sales ...

[aquablob]

Absolutely.  But the objective for later this month or March is to grab that Annie Fischer's set once Qualiton starts running its annual sales ...

Yeah, I still need to get her set, too. Expectations will be very high, what with George's, Todd's, and some others' ravings!

[George]

Yeah, I still need to get her set, too. Expectations will be very high, what with George's, Todd's, and some others' ravings!

For me, Annie is #1 in 13 out of the 32

[aquablob]

For me, Annie is #1 in 13 out of the 32

Yeah but what do you know?

[George]

Yeah but what do you know?

That I know nothing.  0:)

[Coopmv]

For me, Annie is #1 in 13 out of the 32

There is a chance I may reach 7-8 sets of Beethoven Piano Sonatas.  I am not sure if there are more than this number of sets worth collecting.  I already have the sets by Kempff and Gilels while the set by Gulda is on its way.  Add in the Annie Fischer's set, I will have 4 sets.  Are there other sets that are worth collecting?

[George]

There is a chance I may reach 7-8 sets of Beethoven Piano Sonatas.  I am not sure if there are more than this number of sets worth collecting.  I already have the sets by Kempff and Gilels while the set by Gulda is on its way.  Add in the Annie Fischer's set, I will have 4 sets.  Are there other sets that are worth collecting?

So we don't go further off-topic, I will respond via PM.