Recordings of Chopin's First Ballade?

[Air]

Yet another one of those pieces which seems to have over 10 definitive versions.  Discuss here.

[Dr. Dread]

I love this piece. It will be interesting to see which recordings folks prefer.

[Mandryka]

Cortot 1933

Michelangeli London 1957

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=c5efdaabf63a08b7e62ea590dc5e5dbb7b9bb3d36bd00ac15621d66e282a0ee8

And Gekic

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=c5efdaabf63a08b7e62ea590dc5e5dbb90a72830bfb9c421ce018c8114394287

For me Michelangeli is best.

Sorry I don't have the Cortot uploaded.

[Holden]

Cortot 1933

Michelangeli London 1957

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=c5efdaabf63a08b7e62ea590dc5e5dbb7b9bb3d36bd00ac15621d66e282a0ee8

And Gekic

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=c5efdaabf63a08b7e62ea590dc5e5dbb90a72830bfb9c421ce018c8114394287

For me Michelangeli is best.

Sorry I don't have the Cortot uploaded.

I also like the Michelangeli.

I also rate this version by him very highly. It's a far more considered approach and it works very well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKwN_7LnXHw

[Mandryka]

I think that's from the 1967 DVD on Opus Arte -- It's a very good DVD.

There's also a very very good one from Michelangeli in Prato in 1967, which I think is this: if it's not tell me and I'll hunt:

http://www.mediafire.com/?tymyqz0ymgt

The 1929 Cortot is also good.

I am feeling a bit frustrated because I was sure I had uploaded Cortot 1933 but I just can't find it.

Gekic is just not in this league and I regret mentioning it at all (I just played it to remind myself. )

[Dr. Dread]

Show me the album covers! 

[Joe_Campbell]

I think I've heard maybe 15 different recordings and the most dramatic, exciting, and lyrical of these (and my stand-alone preference) is from Evgeny Kissin on this CD:



(click on image)

[Maciek]

Mandryka, thanks a lot for posting those!

(And I do hope you find the Cortot... )

[Drasko]

Mandryka, thanks a lot for posting those!

There should be few more somewhere in the Gilels thread.

Michelangeli video is 1962 Torino.

[Mandryka]

Here's one I love -- Samson Francois:

http://www.mediafire.com/?44xqnm2ngm5

And here's Fiorentino

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=c5efdaabf63a08b7e62ea590dc5e5dbb63b28d83536edf58b8eada0a1ae8665a

In fact I have never heard the Fiorentino -- I forgot I had it until I started to hunt for Cortot (still unfound) . But I thought I would post it because people are interested in Fiorentino in this Forum.

The Francois, Cortot and Michelangeli have a shape and a sense of phrasing which Gekic lacks IMO.

I haven't heard Kissin.

[ChamberNut]

Rubinstein (1959) RCA

[Joe_Campbell]

Here's the Kissin recording.

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=d14f6a1ddb8f8668e7ba8e3c6e11ce20e04e75f6e8ebb871

From what I've heard of the above favourites, I'm guessing those who like Michelangeli's recording will like this one.

[ccar]

Youri Egorov - a brilliant and expressive 1983 version of the Ballade in G minor, now in a bargain EMI box (B00151HZ42) . Good pretext to remember a major artist.

Carlos    

[Drasko]

That's a good one.

[George]

Yet another one of those pieces which seems to have over 10 definitive versions.  Discuss here.

I usually only listen to the four Ballades together, since most CDs I have with the First Ballade have all four. Here's one of my favorites: Maria Tipo (live) - http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=45732805cf458166444b02a37216bb8b2e44ccf4c9642212

Her studio Nocturnes are in there, too.