"Golden Age Pianists":Cortot, Moiseiwitsch,Sofronitsky,Ney,Michelangeli etc

[George]

I am fairly happy with the sound in the French EMI box, Mandryka.

[Mandryka]

Apparently EMI are going to issue a remasterisation of the 1942 etudes, the new transfer done in France. Due this autumn.

[Sergeant Rock]

Thanks, so to be clear, the first pressing of Cortot's GPOTC set (mistakenly) had three Schumann recordings from the 1950s:

1. Symphonic Etudes 1954
2. Carnaval 1953 (recently re-released on Naxos Historical)
3. Kresleriana 1950s (Unauthorized and previously unreleased)

Is all that correct?

I believe so.

Alfred Cortot first recorded Schumann's "Kreisleriana" for His Master's Voice in July of 1935; this is the version most commentary describes. It was on HMV 78s, Angel and EMI LPs, and M&A, Biddulph Labs, Pearl, and Philips CDs (Great Pianists series, especially chosen by Alfred Brendel). By "mistake", an unissued EMI tape of unissued 1953-1954 takes were sent to the CD factory and issued on some, but not all, Philips volumes of Cortot's Schumann. Brendel was appalled and insisted the 1935 version be substituted, which was done on later Philips pressings....The interest to Cortot collectors is the chance to hear the beauty of his phrasing and piano tone in relatively modern sound. He makes the same mistakes that many other pianists do before tape-editing, but admittedly he was not in good shape by 1954.

Thanks for clearing up a mystery, guys. I apparently have one of the first "mistaken" prints of the GPOTC. I've always been astonished how great these 1928 (Carnaval), 1929 (Etudes) and 1935 (Kreisleriana) recordings sound    Now I know why.

Sarge

[George]

Using Youngrok Lee's excellent discography, I think I have found all of the performances that are new to CD (or at least not in his discography) from the above set. Here's what I got:

CD 08 - 1930 – Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody 11
CD 16 – 1937 – Schumann – Des Abends
CD 23 – 1950 – Chopin - Mazurkas 2 and 41
CD 25 – 1952 – Schubert - Litanei
CD 25 – 1953 – Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody 11
CD 26 – 1953 – Debussy – Children's Corner
CD 26 – 1953 – Schumann – Symphonic Variations
CD 27 – 1953 – Schumann – Kreisleriana (accidentally issued on GPOTTC)
CD 27 – 1953 – Chopin - Largo from Piano Sonata 3
CD 28 – 1957 – Chopin – Preludes and Ballades
CD 38 – 40 – 1958-1959 Beethoven Sonatas (Ops. 13, 27/2, 57, 79, 81a, 90) and Commentary

[George]

I am now enjoying the latest release from Marston records, Lamond plays Liszt and Beethoven. I am a subscriber, so I get releases ahead of the general public, which means that Marston doesn't even have an entry on their site for this 2CD set, except in the future releases section:

Frederic Lamond Plays Liszt and Beethoven:
A Selection of Broadcasts and Commercial Recordings
52071-2 (2 CDs)

Frederic Lamond was born in Glasgow in 1868. As a teenager, he studied with Hans von Bülow; had lessons with Liszt at Weimar and Rome; was coached by Brahms; and was greatly influenced by Anton Rubinstein, with whom he was well acquainted. In addition to being an early champion of Brahms, Lamond is considered an authority on Beethoven's piano music and is a member of that small circle of Liszt pupils who had the opportunity to make records. This two CD set includes two concerto broadcasts [LvB PC 3 and Liszt PC 2], never before available, and a selection of his best recorded performances of Beethoven [Op. 10/2, 27/2, 31/3, 53, 57] and Liszt [Gnomenreigen, Transcendental Etude 5, Liebestraume No, 2]. The set will also include a brief but fascinating spoken reminiscence by Lamond about Liszt [14 min, English].

[Holden]

I am now enjoying the latest release from Marston records, Lamond plays Liszt and Beethoven. I am a subscriber, so I get releases ahead of the general public, which means that Marston doesn't even have an entry on their site for this 2CD set, except in the future releases section:

I've got an earlier Biddulph release with 17, 21, 23 and 31. It would be interesting to compare masterings. The Biddulph was remasterd by ....drum roll.....Ward Marston.

In your notes you mention Op 31/3 yet I've Op 31/2 (correct because I've just had a quick listen). Is there a possibly a typo?

[George]

I've got an earlier Biddulph release with 17, 21, 23 and 31. It would be interesting to compare masterings. The Biddulph was remasterd by ....drum roll.....Ward Marston.

In your notes you mention Op 31/3 yet I've Op 31/2 (correct because I've just had a quick listen). Is there a possibly a typo?

No, it's 31/3. I think the Marston performances are all previously unreleased, even the works that appeared before, the performance is different.

[Mandryka]

Long article on Michelangeli here

http://www.forte-piano-pianissimo.com/MichelangeliMonograph.html

[Moonfish]

Long article on Michelangeli here

http://www.forte-piano-pianissimo.com/MichelangeliMonograph.html

Thanks for posting that Mandryka! On my TBR pile! 

[MishaK]

Yes, thanks for posting that.

[George]

Long article on Michelangeli here

http://www.forte-piano-pianissimo.com/MichelangeliMonograph.html

Many thanks for this! I hope all is well with you.

[George]

Posted elsewhere:

Here is the direct link to the podcast of "Jorge Bolet: A Centenary Celebration" over WWFM.

http://64.234.215.170/bolet2014.mp3

[George]

Saw this today for the first time.  The pianist was apparently far past his prime and this is evident. The plot of the film is simple and somewhat charming.

Honestly, I have yet to understand what people see in this pianist. I have a 2CD set of his earliest recordings and they leave me cold. Apparently I am not alone, as David Dubal quotes an anonymous pianist (perhaps Moriz Rosenthal?) in his book The Art Of The Piano as saying "Paderewski did everything well, except play the piano."

[Florestan]

[David Dubal quotes an anonymous pianist (perhaps Moriz Rosenthal?) in his book The Art Of The Piano as saying "Paderewski did everything well, except play the piano."

Tchaikovsky on Brahms, anyone? 

Paderewski should be judged on his own merits, not on what Rosenthal might have said about him.

So George, do you like Paderewski or not? If yes, why? If no, why?

[North Star]

Tchaikovsky on Brahms, anyone? 

Nah, more like Britten on Brahms.

[George]

This is now only $54 on amazon.com.

Best sounding and most complete Cortot set out there!

[terje]

Honestly, I have yet to understand what people see in [Paderewski].

I think it's mostly his historical position which has turned into a legend that you and me and some others find undeserved yet remains intact nonetheless. As with Niedzielski and Koczalski, their pedagogical ties and the times they lived in are enough to perpetuate their recordings.

[Mandryka]

The Haydn is even better than the previously released sonatas - more humour, more energy and tremendous symphonic colour. The Schubert D 664 is as moving a performance of it as I've ever heard. The Beethoven op 109 is full of personal touches, there's a feeling of tragedy. I haven't thought about the Liszt, Franck and Brahms yet.

Sound is often rather good, never a problem.

Levy is a real poet musician, the performances make points about style irrelevant - the music making is so totally convincing it effaced the memory of all others. I can't recommend it more enthusiastically.

[George]

All four volumes of Levy's on Marston are indeed special.

[B_cereus]

Did Horowitz ever actually study with Schnabel, or were they just friends?  I have a book with a picture of them together in 1932...