Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[abidoful]

Few more words on the issue of Sibelius and the pianoforte.

That, and the disc with Glenn Gould playing Sibelius!

Have to disagree; as much as I usually enjoy Gould, his take on Sibelius makes me wonder was he really genuinely sympathetic to Sibelius--it surely doesn't sound if he was.

Besides Gould, not many word-class piano virtuosi have recorded Sibelius, Olli Mustonen is definately one of them; he transforms Sibelius's piano-output from the usual "hausmusik-feel"what you get by so many players to something poetic, and  at times also delightfully virtuosic (just listen to Mustonens Arabesque op.76/9) . Mustonen, in his disc recorded whole opuses (Zehn Klavierstucke op.58, 13 Pieces op.76, Bagatelles op.34, Two Rondinos op.68 ) so you might, if you want to collect the whole piano-output- collect the whole output from different players.

Jens et al - this Sibelius piano music issue has become interesting, esp. after Harry's vocalizations - 

Now, the Mustonen single disc is $10 on Amazon USA, while the Annette Servadei 5-CD set is $20 - kind of a 'no-brainer' if one wants to really hear the entire spectrum of this composer's solo piano pieces; plus, this excellent review on the gal's recordings on MusicWeb HERE is rather convincing for a purchase - NOW, $30 for 6 discs might be the best option?  Not sure - but will enjoy reading further posts - 

Actually, I'm not familiar with Annette Servadei's Sibelius-cycle I might even purchase it someday if I manage to hear some clips of it, just to be sure not to waste my money...
And, just for the record; I don't want to  talk badly about Erik T Tawastjernas BIS "Sibelius's complete piano works". Though not my favorite, it is a major achievement.
Finally, some really good (though probably very hard to get) Sibelius-pianists;
- Cyril Szalkiewicz (at least one piano disc, very good Impromptus op.5)
- Ralf Gothoni
- Marita Viitasalo (good Sonata op.12 and Kyllikki, the two biggest Sibelius piano works)
- Izumi Tateno

[Mirror Image]

Lol...good to know you enjoyed this recording.

[Antoine Marchand]

After a considerable amount of listen through NML, I have purchased this 22-CD set:

[Sergeant Rock]

Few more words on the issue of Sibelius and the pianoforte.Have to disagree; as much as I usually enjoy Gould, his take on Sibelius makes me wonder was he really genuinely sympathetic to Sibelius--it surely doesn't sound if he was.

We know he was very sympathetic towards the composer: the Fifth Symphony being one of his four desert island records. He insisted on making the Sibelius recording--I'm sure Columbia was not as enthusiastic. But he did view those works in a certain way (spare, bleak) and perhaps that is not your preferred way.

Sarge

[Brian]

Yes, based on listening to only one disc so far, though.  But the Stamitz gives the initial impression of being a gentle, lyrical approach and having a contrasting set with more "ooomph" was desirable.

Exactly my thoughts. The Stamitz are relaxed enough you need a set to contrast with it ... but I really did not like the Panocha set. I also have the Panocha Ravel Quartet disc and find it cold-blooded.

[abidoful]

We know he was very sympathetic towards the composer: the Fifth Symphony being one of his four desert island records. He insisted on making the Sibelius recording--I'm sure Columbia was not as enthusiastic. But he did view those works in a certain way (spare, bleak) and perhaps that is not your preferred way.

Sarge

That might be it---although I seem to remember that the sheer tone of his touch was rather uninspiring in that Sibelius disc. Perhaps it isn't Gould at his best...?

[Sergeant Rock]

That might be it---although I seem to remember that the sheer tone of his touch was rather uninspiring in that Sibelius disc. Perhaps it isn't Gould at his best...?

"Tone of his touch" ....well, he did play almost everything the way he played Bach. I've never compared recordings but I'll do that this evening with the Sonatines and Kyllikki: Gould vs Tawaststjerna.


Sarge

[abidoful]

"Tone of his touch" ....well, he did play almost everything the way he played Bach. I've never compared recordings but I'll do that this evening with the Sonatines and Kyllikki: Gould vs Tawaststjerna.


Sarge

Better still, listen first one of the Sonatinas by Gould and then The Rondinos op.68 by Mustonen if you have them.

Eitherway, let me know of your thoughts afterwards.

[Mirror Image]

I've been waiting for a year for this one to come down to a decent price. Bought used, like new for $10 from an Amazon Marketplace seller:

[asin]B0000042DN[/asin]

[jlaurson]

"Tone of his touch" ....well, he did play almost everything the way he played Bach. I've never compared recordings but I'll do that this evening with the Sonatines and Kyllikki: Gould vs Tawaststjerna.

...not quite sure if I'd go that far... he didn't even play all Bach like he 'played Bach'. But listen to him play Hindemith or Strauss (his amazing Enoch Arden, for example)... that's some sultry stuff. And his Sibelius I find oddly engrossing... I'm pretty sure he *very* much cared for it, else he wouldn't have bothered to play it. That seems to the most consistent element in Gould: If it was standard repertoire, he had to mangle it (for better or worse or plain different) with his Gould-shtick... but if the act of choosing the repertoire was already shtick (i.e. such then hugely out-of-favor composers as Strauss, Sibelius, Hindemith, Gibbons...), then he played it straight like an ace.

[Bogey]

The Eagle has landed....

[Coopmv]

The Eagle has landed....

VAI is an excellent label.  I bought most of its recordings by Rosalyn Tureck last year ...

[Bogey]

I will keep an eye out for other recordings on this label, Stuart.  This one was VERY impressive.

[Bulldog]

Jens et al - this Sibelius piano music issue has become interesting, esp. after Harry's vocalizations - 

Now, the Mustonen single disc is $10 on Amazon USA, while the Annette Servadei 5-CD set is $20 - kind of a 'no-brainer' if one wants to really hear the entire spectrum of this composer's solo piano pieces; plus, this excellent review on the gal's recordings on MusicWeb HERE is rather convincing for a purchase - NOW, $30 for 6 discs might be the best option?  Not sure - but will enjoy reading further posts - 

The way I see it, the piano music of Sibelius needs some special treatment to routinely transcend the "wallpaper" category.  Mustonen does just that with a rhythmic flexibility and sharpness of contour that's amazing.  Servadei isn't in Mustonen's class, and neither are any of the other cited pianists.  If you want the entire piano output of Sibelius, I suppose that Servadei would be a good choice.  However, this is not Sibelius at his best.  I'd recommend the acquisition of the Mustonen - then move on to something else.

   

[The new erato]

Ordered yesterday on mdt:

[Harry]

Two large boxes of Abeille came in, yummy!

[Antoine Marchand]

Just received some minutes ago from Amazon France:



EUR 79,51, VAT excl., plus EUR 8,40 (frais de port), total = EUR 87,91

[abidoful]

Just received some minutes ago from Amazon France:



EUR 79,51, VAT excl., plus EUR 8,40 (frais de port), total = EUR 87,91

These complete recordings are  huge bites to swallow---i prefer the " less is more" -principle (if there is a such principle in music...)

[Antoine Marchand]

These complete recordings are  huge bites to swallow---i prefer the " less is more" -principle (if there is a such principle in music...)

Great! I have not problem with that, if it works out for you. 

[Que]

After a considerable amount of listen through NML, I have purchased this 22-CD set:

  So I assume you like it so much that there was still room left for this set? Looking forward to further comments!

Just received some minutes ago from Amazon France:



EUR 79,51, VAT excl., plus EUR 8,40 (frais de port), total = EUR 87,91

So I guess the gamble on Amazon UK didn't work out... Again curious about your experiences with this set!

Q