The right way to go for Chopin's Piano Concerti?

[George]

Yes, but I also love Martha Argerich, so tastes will differ.  The Zimerman floats my boat.

Which Argerich Bunny?

[sidoze]

The Zimerman floats my boat.

Have you heard his other recordings of the works?

[Drasko]

Berezovsky seems to be playing both concertos a lot lately. If he plans to record them that would be interesting.

[Drasko]

I can say that my mind wandered off when the orchestra played and each time Argerich appeared it was like a double shot of expresso. I say it's worth it just to hear her beautiful tone and the infectious excitement in her playing. The orchestral part is always a bore anyway, so to me, it's all about the pianist. 

That is exactly why you should avoid that one. She got absolutely stellar accompaniment from Abbado in her first recording (DG). 

[orbital]

That is exactly why you should avoid that one. She got absolutely stellar accompaniment from Abbado in her first recording (DG). 

Agreed. Though my copy is a little flawed. The Maestoso starts from 3-4 seconds in, stops then reenters from the beginning, and there are a few spots where the bpm almost drops for a second or two in the first five minutes.

[Bunny]

Which Argerich Bunny?

Just Argerich in general.  Ít was a feeble attempt at a joke as there are a number of people around who can't stand her in any repertory. 

Just to modify -- I do have the recording with Dutoit, but although I like Martha a great deal, the recording does nothing for me.  I much prefer the Zimerman, it just agrees with me more.  I will say that generally, I don't find either of the Chopin piano concertos among my high favorites, and would rather listen to the solo piano music most of the time. 

[Bunny]

Have you heard his other recordings of the works?

To clarify:  I have a number of recordings of Zimerman doing Chopin, and have heard him in concert as well, but I only have the one (later) recording of the pano concertos by him.  I have heard the earlier recording with Giulini but it's not in my collection so I haven't heard it in years.  It wasn't something I went out to buy at the time so I must not have cared for it that much.

[Mark]

Just Argerich in general.

Would that include this disc with Slava?

[Steve]

Would that include this disc with Slava?

Yes, that disc is also quite memorable. While both concerti are well-played, the Second is good enough for a reference.

[Mark]

I have heard the earlier recording with Giulini but it's not in my collection so I haven't heard it in years.  It wasn't something I went out to buy at the time so I must not have cared for it that much.

You might not have cared for it, Bunny, but I certainly do.

Yes, people: I bought the Zimerman. The first Zimerman, that is, with the LAPO/Giulini from 1986. Was going to get it from Amazon ... then saw that the only copy available was from a seller asking £30 for it. Not likely.

So I went against my creed, and downloaded it from Universal's site, which is where I heard enough of it to know it was for me. Of course, this meant parting with good money for DRM-infected WMA files (). But hey, I'll just burn the tracks to CD-R and that's that little problem taken care of.

I sampled the other Zimerman recording, but quite frankly, it sounded awful. Like he'd "done a Vengerov*" on it. No, thanks. His earlier performance is much more my style. And at least this way, he redeems himself a little after that appalling mess he and Rattle made of the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1.

Thanks to all for the suggestions here. George, I'll probably give that Dutoit/Argerich disc a shot, too. Unless anyone can point me in the direction of her earlier recording with Abbado, whom I greatly prefer to Dutoit. Thanks in advance.


*A phrase of my own devising. I've heard three Vengerov CDs - hated them all. The man doesn't just play the music; he's got to mess with tempi, or add unnecessary 'artistic' flourishes (or so it sounds to these ears). I get wound up listening to him murder whatever he's interpreting - pulling it all out of f***ing shape - that I've made a promise to myself to NEVER buy another Vengerov disc.

[Mark]

Oh yeah ... almost forgot.

Decided to download something from Classics Online (just to see how the ordering/downloading process works), and I chose this recording of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2.

Truth to tell, not a threat to any of the recordings so far mentioned. But you know what? I like it - despite the ludicrously bright sonics, far-too-far-forward piano placement and the dodgy sound editing.

Hey, gimme a break. Only cost me £5.

[Drasko]

Thanks to all for the suggestions here. George, I'll probably give that Dutoit/Argerich disc a shot, too. Unless anyone can point me in the direction of her earlier recording with Abbado, whom I greatly prefer to Dutoit. Thanks in advance.

Argerich's recording of the Chopin's 1st concerto with Abbado is in this direction.

[Mark]

Argerich's recording of the Chopin's 1st concerto with Abbado is in this direction.

Thanks, Drasko. I'd found that one already but discarded it because it's not a pairing of both of Chopin's concerti, which is what I'm after.

[sidoze]

Pollini playing Chopin's PC 2: http://download.yousendit.com/32E78D794E18254B

[sidoze]

I sampled the other Zimerman recording, but quite frankly, it sounded awful. Like he'd "done a Vengerov*" on it.

Nice way of putting it. Can I license that from you?

The Blumental is a good recording but rather forgettable when heard before or after the Pollini I just linked. That label released a huge amount of CDs devoted to her. My impression is that they're trying to pass her off as an unjustly forgotten Polish master-pianist. She's very good of course, but not quite that really.

[George]

Pollini playing Chopin's PC 2: http://download.yousendit.com/32E78D794E18254B

Thanks Tony! 

[Bunny]

Would that include this disc with Slava?

I haven't heard that one.  This is one of those times when I really regret the demise of Tower.  If it were still around I could go down and see if they have a copy available to listen to.  I know the library doesn't have a copy.

Unless that's the earlier recording I heard years and years ago?  I never saw the cover of that so it may be the one I heard.  As I said, I have the Dutoit recording which is great Martha but not great Dutoit and orchestra.

No.  I'm pretty sure that I haven't heard that one.  I'm relatively sure that the early recording I have in mind is the Giulini.  In any event, my memory is such that I could only say that the ones I'm reasonably sure of knowing are the Dutoit recording and the Zimerman recording which is my preferred recording of the work.  Oh and an HIP version of the second concerto.

[Drasko]

I haven't heard that one.  This is one of those times when I really regret the demise of Tower.  If it were still around I could go down and see if they have a copy available to listen to.  I know the library doesn't have a copy.

Unless that's the earlier recording I heard years and years ago?  I never saw the cover of that so it may be the one I heard.  As I said, I have the Dutoit recording which is great Martha but not great Dutoit and orchestra.

That picture is of japanese release, so unlikely to find it in a library.
But it consists of '68 first Concerto with Abbado available on DG Originals and '78 Second Concerto with Rostropovich available (if) on DG Galleria, or both toghether in 4CD Argerich box of various concertos.

[Bunny]

That picture is of japanese release, so unlikely to find it in a library.
But it consists of '68 first Concerto with Abbado available on DG Originals and '78 Second Concerto with Rostropovich available (if) on DG Galleria, or both toghether in 4CD Argerich box of various concertos.

Okay!  I know the concerto box, but don't have it.  I know I heard some early Martha recording of the concertos but as I don't own it, can't really say exactly what it was.  I do remember that after hearing the recording, I didn't go out to buy it for some reason or another.  But isn't there a recording with Giulini?  For some reason I keep thinking I heard her doing one or both of the concertos with Giulini, not Rostropovich nor Abbado.

[orbital]

There is always this one:

-OK, I wasn't very busy today