Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli

[Scarpia]

I make room for all styles of interpretation.

So do I.  That doesn't mean I enjoy them equally.   

[George]

Truth is, I find ABM sometimes a bit too sentimental -- in Chopin Op 45 maybe. Though having said that I think ABM at his best achieves a combines clarity and humanity -- in his studio Pas sur la neige, for example.  And I find his emphasis on colour very appealing -- in the Brown Aura Chopin Mazurkas and in his Chopin Waltzes. For these reasons I have enjoyed AMB more than MP.

Yes, you nailed it there.

[MN Dave]

So do I.  That doesn't mean I enjoy them equally.   

Or one more than the other, depending on mood.

[Scarpia]

Recently I've been on a Pogorelich kick.  Even some of the recordings that I initially found horrid are starting to grow on me, like the Ravel/Mussorgsky disc.

[Papy Oli]

I am considering ordering the Blue Aura and Brown Aura boxes, however, with all the Michelangeli recordings/recitals of similar works around, it gets very confusing 

In terms of versions, are there please any overlaps between the content of these 2 Aura boxes and :

- the DG CDs ( i have 4 of those already)
- the BBC boxset (considering those too if not)
- the Testament CD (I own the 1957 recital)
- and also his various DVDs ?

thanks.

[George]

I am considering ordering the Blue Aura and Brown Aura boxes, however, with all the Michelangeli recordings/recitals of similar works around, it gets very confusing 

In terms of versions, are there please any overlaps between the content of these 2 Aura boxes and :

- the DG CDs ( i have 4 of those already)
- the BBC boxset (considering those too if not)
- the Testament CD (I own the 1957 recital)
- and also his various DVDs ?

thanks.

Not to my (albeit limited) knowledge. Plus the price makes it a no brainer. Are they still under $20 each?

[Drasko]

I am considering ordering the Blue Aura and Brown Aura boxes, however, with all the Michelangeli recordings/recitals of similar works around, it gets very confusing 

In terms of versions, are there please any overlaps between the content of these 2 Aura boxes and :

- the DG CDs ( i have 4 of those already)
- the BBC boxset (considering those too if not)
- the Testament CD (I own the 1957 recital)
- and also his various DVDs ?

thanks.

If by versions you mean exactly the same performances then no, there are no overlaps, except for two Beethoven sonatas and one Schubert sonata which I think are the same recording in Aura boxes and on Euroarts DVD.

But of course there is plenty of repertoire overlap.

[Papy Oli]

Not to my (albeit limited) knowledge. Plus the price makes it a no brainer. Are they still under $20 each?

If by versions you mean exactly the same performances then no, there are no overlaps, except for two Beethoven sonatas and one Schubert sonata which I think are the same recording in Aura boxes and on Euroarts DVD.

But of course there is plenty of repertoire overlap.

Thank you both. Both sets are £14.99 each on Amazon UK so definitely a bargain, but as I was initially considering the BBC series and a couple of the DVDs as well, i just wanted to avoid unnecessary duplications of performances (and therefore expense) if there was any.

Multiple purchases in piano works... whodathunk....

[Papy Oli]

guess it was too late last night... I actually was referring to the 2 Documents sets, not Aura.... 

[George]

guess it was too late last night... I actually was referring to the 2 Documents sets, not Aura.... 

I knew what you meant. Besides, many of them were previously issued on Aura anyway.

[Drasko]

Besides, many of them were previously issued on Aura anyway.

All of them, it was originally 20 CD memorial box set on Aura, not sure but I think all were available as singles as well (or most, don't know about those earliest recordings). Both Documents boxes have Aura logo on the back.

[George]

All of them, it was originally 20 CD memorial box set on Aura, not sure but I think all were available as singles as well (or most, don't know about those earliest recordings). Both Documents boxes have Aura logo on the back.

Oh, I didn't know that there were Aura boxes as well. I thought that they were only sold separately.

[Papy Oli]

confusing eh ? 

anyway, that's ordered 

thanks for the clarifications 

[Drasko]

Oh, I didn't know that there were Aura boxes as well. I thought that they were only sold separately.

Single 20 CD box, memorial, large booklet with extensive notes from Michelangeli's widow. Was short lived and difficult to find.

[George]

Single 20 CD box, memorial, large booklet with extensive notes from Michelangeli's widow. Was short lived and difficult to find.

Thanks.

Unfortunately that booklet didn't reappear in the 2 Documents boxes. 

If anyone has jpegs of it, please PM me? 

[Drasko]

If anyone has jpegs of it, please PM me?

Sorry, can't help you with that. I never had it, was too expensive back then, I think Sidoze did (and sold it ages ago).
But it seems my memory is playing tricks, I was sure it was 20 CD box, but this picture I found online counts 15.

[Papy Oli]

the essay has a name apparently, but no apparent google results on it though...

Aura Music pays homage to the legendary interpreter-creator, to the perfection of his pianism, and to the metaphysical beauty of his sound, with Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Hommage. This 15 CD box contains many previously unpublished performances, including Mozart's Quartet KV 493, Michelangeli's only chamber music recording. The booklet contains an unpublished interview with Jean-Pierre Wallez, the violinist in this performance of the Mozart Quartet; a critical essay by Gian Paolo Minardi, and "Life with Ciro", the loving memoir of his wife Giuliana, full of unpublished recollections, anecdotes and testimonies.

one link that may be of interest otherwise :

http://www.andrewfwilson.co.uk/abm3.htm

[Papy Oli]

in the Books section of that same site :

Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli: Vita con Ciro
Giuliana Benedetti Michelangeli

Bologna: Ermitage-Edimedia, 1997
pp 95

[Moonfish]

*bump*

A Warner/EMI collection of Michelangeli:

[asin] B00WH9SYYG[/asin]

http://www.amazon.de/Complete-Warner-Recordings-Michelangeli-Benedetti/dp/B00WH9SYYG

[MishaK]

Moonfish,

That's basically a combination of all of his official Telefunken and EMI recordings along with a bunch of live stuff from RAI radio broadcasts (e.g. discs 9, 11, 12). I might add that the Chopin Berceuse on disc 10 is the most spellbinding performance of that work I have ever heard anywhere. Just an unbelievable control of voicing and coloring. What's also nice about the early Telefunken stuff is that it includes some repertoire which he never performed publicly, let alone recorded, later in his career, such as the Italian Concerto or all that Spanish repertoire and the Grieg.