Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli

knight66 · April 18, 2009, 03:18:12 AM

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Knight

Mandryka · April 19, 2009, 07:30:22 AM

His Chopin Second Sonata on this disc -- live in Prato in 1967. I just don't know who he gets such colours from the piano. If you can find it, this disc is well worth having. I would say it is the greatest Chopin record I own (maybe! -- but you know what I mean)

He does a very interesting thing in that Prato concert -- he playes the Opus 45 Prelude as a prelude to the second sonata. It works really well.

You get a real feel of glimpsing into a special event when you play that CD -- magic.

There's also a beautiful CD on Testament of a concert he gave in 1959 (I think) in London -- the Festival Hall. It has some great Debussy, Schumann, the best Chopin First Ballade I know and a record of him in "rehearsal" -- basically doing a sound check.

Also there are two boxes of 10 Cds each on the documents label -- 20 CDs altogether, but they are very cheap. And there jam packed with some really nice stuff -- a marvelous concert in Helsinki for example in 1969, with some jaw dropping Debussy (for me there is noone who comes near to him in Debussy -- except Gieseking); and a superb recording of the Bach/Busoni Chaconne. Well worth having.

He seems to have had a limited solo piano repetoire -- maybe three Beethoven sonatas, one Schubert Sonata, a very few small Bach pieces, a small handful of Schumann and Brahms (though he did do Carnival), a couple of Mozart sonatas maybe, no Chopin B minor, etudes or preludes except Op45, I think just one piece of Liszt. But lots of Debussy and Chopin and a good handful of Scarlatti sonatas. No serial music at all -- no Schoenberg or Berg or Webern (He would have been just amazing in that stuff!). And no russian stuff either as far as I know.

George · April 19, 2009, 08:07:13 AM

Quote from: Mandryka on April 19, 2009, 07:30:22 AM
His Chopin Second Sonata on this disc -- live in Prato in 1967. I just don't know who he gets such colours from the piano. If you can find it, this disc is well worth having. I would say it is the greatest Chopin record I own (maybe! -- but you know what I mean)

He does a very interesting thing in that Prato concert -- he playes the Opus 45 Prelude as a prelude to the second sonata. It works really well.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for that one! Thanks.

Quote
There's also a beautiful CD on Testament of a concert he gave in 1959 (I think) in London -- the Festival Hall. It has some great Debussy, Schumann, the best Chopin First Ballade I know and a record of him in "rehearsal" -- basically doing a sound check.

Also there are two boxes of 10 Cds each on the documents label -- 20 CDs altogether, but they are very cheap. And there jam packed with some really nice stuff -- a marvelous concert in Helsinki for example in 1969, with some jaw dropping Debussy (for me there is noone who comes near to him in Debussy -- except Gieseking); and a superb recording of the Bach/Busoni Chaconne. Well worth having.

I have all of the above and need to revisit it. Thanks for the reminder.

Quote
He seems to have had a limited solo piano repetoire -- maybe three Beethoven sonatas, one Schubert Sonata, a very few small Bach pieces, a small handful of Schumann and Brahms (though he did do Carnival), a couple of Mozart sonatas maybe, no Chopin B minor, etudes or preludes except Op45, I think just one piece of Liszt. But lots of Debussy and Chopin and a good handful of Scarlatti sonatas. No serial music at all -- no Schoenberg or Berg or Webern (He would have been just amazing in that stuff!). And no russian stuff either as far as I know.

Yes, very limited. I've only heard the early LvB sonata by him and didn't much care for it. The Scarlatti on the "Art of the Piano" DVD is splendid!

springrite · April 19, 2009, 08:10:17 AM

Quote from: George on April 19, 2009, 08:07:13 AM

I've only heard the early LvB sonata by him and didn't much care for it.

You haven't heard his Op.111?

George · April 19, 2009, 08:12:28 AM

Quote from: springrite on April 19, 2009, 08:10:17 AM
You haven't heard his Op.111?

I haven't. You like it? I've read that it falls apart in the finale.

springrite · April 19, 2009, 08:17:20 AM

Quote from: George on April 19, 2009, 08:12:28 AM
I haven't. You like it? I've read that it falls apart in the finale.

Well, that is one way to put it. I just find it too clinical and cold. Of all the Michelangeli I have, I think the Debussy and some Scarlatti are keepers. In fact, I think I like his baroque works best, such as the Galuppi.

dirkronk · April 19, 2009, 08:53:29 AM

The first Michelangeli that was recommended to me, back in the late 1970s, was the BBC mono recording, licensed to DGG, of a live Schumann Carnaval. He had an EMI stereo version which some people apparently prefer, but the mono is one that helped me learn to love that piece of music, and as such is a must for me. YMMV, of course.

I second Mandryka's rec of the two Aura 10-CD sets. So much wonderful stuff on those!

Another LP that I still love: Michelangeli's take on two Haydn keyboard concertos w/ Soutz/Zurich on EMI/Angel. Don't know how it holds up under the scrutiny of today's scholarship and/or expectations of HIP sensibilities (surely not well), but I sure enjoy it.

Some of ABM's Beethoven concertos are worth hearing, too. The much-touted Emperor with Celibidache is fascinating--and recommended--but I'm one of those guys that remembers hearing and watching the collaboration with Giulini on video, played 20 years ago or more on the A&E network. I'd already bought the DGG LPs of 1, 3 & 5 (did he ever do a 4? the only one I have attributed to him is reputed to actually be Tipo). Quirky but worth listening. My wife, however, couldn't STAND watching his facial grimaces on the video versions.

More later after I have a chance to peruse my historical cabinet...

Dirk

Valentino · April 19, 2009, 08:56:48 AM

His K.466 with Garben on DG is magnificent. Makes the Beethoven cadencas sound like Beethoven. Also I like the three odd-numbered LvB concertos with Giulini on DG. The DG Collectors Edition box set is a winner, in other words.

I also like his Ravel/Rach 3 disc on EMI GRotC.

dirkronk · April 19, 2009, 08:59:58 AM

Quote from: Valentino on April 19, 2009, 08:56:48 AM

I also like his Ravel/Rach 3 disc on EMI GRotC.

OMG, how could I forget that one? A classic! Don't miss it.

Dirk

George · April 19, 2009, 09:01:15 AM

Quote from: dirkronk on April 19, 2009, 08:59:58 AM
OMG, how could I forget that one? A classic! Don't miss it.

Dirk

Rach 4 though, right?

Todd · April 19, 2009, 09:02:30 AM

I love Michelangeli. I'll just tick off some highlights below. Regarding his Op 111, there are at least three ABM recordings, and a couple aren't so hot, but one is excellent, though in poor sound. I can't remember the dates of the different recordings.

Grieg - Piano Concerto (BBC)
LvB - Sonatas Op 7 & 26 (BBC)
LvB - Emperor (w/ Smetacek; Praga)
Debussy - Preludes (DG, Aura)
Schumann - Carnaval (EMI - I'm apparently one of the few who prefer the EMI to the DG)
Ravel / Rachmaninoff - Piano Concertos (EMI)
Liszt - Piano Concerto 1 (Aura - horrid sound, smoking performance)
Brahms - Ballades (DG)
Chopin - Mazurkas (DG)
Ravel - Gaspard (BBC)

dirkronk · April 19, 2009, 10:04:44 AM

Quote from: George on April 19, 2009, 09:01:15 AM
Rach 4 though, right?

Correct.

Dirk

Valentino · April 19, 2009, 10:31:22 AM

Rach 4 of course. It's the second time in a couple of days I've made that c***up. Somebody once wrote that if you only want one piano concerto disk that should be the one. I would need two disks. No life without a good recording of K.466 nearby.

George · April 20, 2009, 07:21:18 AM

Great post Mandryka!

Thanks for the reminder, I need to revisit my brown Aura box soon and check out those Preludes.

orbital · April 20, 2009, 09:14:30 AM

Quote from: Mandryka on April 19, 2009, 07:30:22 AM
His Chopin Second Sonata on this disc -- live in Prato in 1967. I just don't know who he gets such colours from the piano. If you can find it, this disc is well worth having. I would say it is the greatest Chopin record I own (maybe! -- but you know what I mean)

Is that still true after hearing this?

George · April 20, 2009, 09:17:26 AM

Quote from: orbital on April 20, 2009, 09:14:30 AM
Is that still true after hearing this?

That one is the blue DG box, right? If so, I have it.

orbital · April 20, 2009, 09:19:50 AM

Quote from: George on April 20, 2009, 09:17:26 AM
That one is the blue DG box, right? If so, I have it.

I bought that as a single CD a few years ago, but it might have been included in the set as well.

George · April 20, 2009, 09:37:05 AM

Quote from: orbital on April 20, 2009, 09:19:50 AM
I bought that as a single CD a few years ago, but it might have been included in the set as well.

I'll check tonight, I got that set recently.

George · April 20, 2009, 09:45:07 AM

Quote from: Mandryka on April 20, 2009, 09:41:00 AM
Dunno -- all I know is that the Prato disc is special. Maybe that one is too.

Does time stand still when you play it? Do you squeal with orgasmic joy? Does it contain the whole of life?

If yes then no need to look further.

I've got some listening to do in the next few days.

Herman · April 20, 2009, 12:48:56 PM

Quote from: Mandryka on April 20, 2009, 07:17:19 AM
You often hear these things said about him:

1. He is sometimes cold.

I guess that depends on your own temperature.

Quote2. His heyday was in the late fifties through the sixties.

His seventies and eighties live recordings are excellent.

Quote3. He was a sports car freak with a penchant for Ferraris

sure

Quote4. He was a Doctor

As in medical doctor? So, when would ABM have conducted his medical studies? After concerts? He did have a lot of health problems, though.

Quote5. He was a aircraft pilot.

That was Karajan.

One thing you might add is he was an extraordinary teacher / mentor, which you wouldn't expect from someone as fastidious and self-centered as ABM.

I like his live Debussy, too, more so than his studio recording. Same for his Carnaval.

QuoteAs far as 3, 4 and 5 are concerned I really hope they are all true -- I'm gonna make this man one of my role models.

So you're going to enter medical school? Excellent idea!