Medtner recordings

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

After picking up a Gilels recital LP set, which contained the Sonata Reminiscenza, I am ready to listen to more.  I see there is a disk by Yevgeny Sudbin--is that any good? Anything else I should get? Thanks

[kishnevi]

After picking up a Gilels recital LP set, which contained the Sonata Reminiscenza, I am ready to listen to more.  I see there is a disk by Yevgeny Sudbin--is that any good? Anything else I should get? Thanks

I have Hamelin's recording of Forgotten Melodies and Hamish Milne's performance of the Skazki, also on Hyperion.  Both are worthwhile. 

IIRC, there are some recordings of Medtner playing his own music.

[Mandryka]

Just thinking of the solo piano music for a moment, really, you should try to hear Medtner's own recordings of on APR.

For the Russian Tale in B-flat minor Op. 20, No. 1, try Svetlanov.

There are also good Russian fairy tale recordings from Moiseiwitsch, Howowitz and Cherkassky.


http://www.audaud.com/audaud/JAN-FEB05/reissues/MedtnerVol3.jpg

[Verena]

For the Russian Tale in B-flat minor Op. 20, No. 1, try Svetlanov.

Interesting, did not know he was also a pianist

[Lethevich]

For the piano concertos, I enjoyed Sudbin but did not find him to surpass the Hyperion recordings, which are just superbly done. The quintet recording as filler on one of the two discs is also the best in the catalogue - the Naxos version is total crap in comparison.

Medtner's own recordings are also fully recommendable - there is a disc on Testament with him playing the 2nd and 3rd concertos in pretty good sound, although they are over 50 years old by now. Like Rach, he was a superb pianist and great interpreter of his own music. There is a 1st concerto from the same sessions that has seemingly not been reissued

The Hyperion series with Hamelin is excellent, as is the beautiful recent Skazki recording with Milne. And of course, for the price and high quality of playing, the Brilliant Classics box is a really good buy.

Has anyone heard the Demidenko disc?

[71 dB]

the Naxos version is total crap in comparison.

And that is what I have. The 2nd Piano Concerto with Piano Quintet is the only Medtner CD I own. I hate it how this forum spoils the fun for me telling my CDs are crap. Hyperion is for billionaires (millionaires might afford them too). I am an underpaid engineer so Naxos is my choice, crap or not. Often Naxos is good, even excellent.

[Lethevich]

Hehe, chill. I was way overstating it. The quintet is one of my favourite pieces, and I just have a kind of bitter memory of when I went to that Naxos disc and everything sounded so wrong to me. Naxos from my experience is strong in general. Its Bax, Vaughan Williams, etc may not be my favourites, but they are extremely competitive.

[Wanderer]

Very good suggestions so far.

For solo piano recordings, first of all you need to go to the indispensable Hamelin set of the sonatas. Severin von Eckardstein's Medtner CD (including a breathtaking Night Wind sonata) is also highly recommended.

Sudbin's concerto recordings are both very good. His rendition of the First concerto is magisterial. He is also very good in the Second, but he doesn't surpass Demidenko on Hyperion (an essential release).

For chamber music, I'd urge you to investigate this recording of the "Epica" third violin sonata.

For a selection of Medtner's lieder (along with several of the most well known Skazki) this is most highly recommended.

[mc ukrneal]

And that is what I have. The 2nd Piano Concerto with Piano Quintet is the only Medtner CD I own. I hate it how this forum spoils the fun for me telling my CDs are crap. Hyperion is for billionaires (millionaires might afford them too). I am an underpaid engineer so Naxos is my choice, crap or not. Often Naxos is good, even excellent.

You may be happy to know that Gramophone the Penguin Guide rated the Naxos version way ahead of the Hyperion one. In particular, this concerns the piano quintet (which they called two dimensional on Hyperion). So enjoy your CD!!!!

[71 dB]

Hehe, chill. I was way overstating it. The quintet is one of my favourite pieces, and I just have a kind of bitter memory of when I went to that Naxos disc and everything sounded so wrong to me. Naxos from my experience is strong in general. Its Bax, Vaughan Williams, etc may not be my favourites, but they are extremely competitive.

I overreacted. Sorry about the disappointment with the Naxos disc.

You may be happy to know that Gramophone the Penguin Guide rated the Naxos version way ahead of the Hyperion one. In particular, this concerns the piano quintet (which they called two dimensional on Hyperion). So enjoy your CD!!!!

Really? Go figure!

[Wanderer]

You may be happy to know that Gramophone the Penguin Guide rated the Naxos version way ahead of the Hyperion one. In particular, this concerns the piano quintet (which they called two dimensional on Hyperion). So enjoy your CD!!!!

Did they? I think the Naxos version is nice overall (not any glaring faults, just more bland than anything else) but definitely not surpassing the Hyperion version (Alexeev/New Budapest Quartet) or even, in fact, the CRD (now on an inexpensive - and highly recommended -  Naxos boxset) rendition of Milne/Pro Arte Piano Quartet.

[Wanderer]

Has anyone heard the Demidenko disc?

Just noticed this.
I love Demidenko's recital disc, containing, among other things, luxurious renditions of my beloved op.10/2 Dithyramb and op.20/1 Skazka, an appropriately angst-ridden Sonata tragica and a very heartfelt Sonata reminiscenza.

[josephine85]

Hi,

My first post on this forum, so here I go...
I am interested in knowing what recordings of Medtners Skazki you would recommend?
I heard Hamelin playing the Op20 No1 on Youtube and was spellbound. I bought both Hamelin Mednter-albums and they are wonderful. I just wish he had recorded some Skazki too.

[San Antone]

Hi,

My first post on this forum, so here I go...
I am interested in knowing what recordings of Medtners Skazki you would recommend?
I heard Hamelin playing the Op20 No1 on Youtube and was spellbound. I bought both Hamelin Mednter-albums and they are wonderful. I just wish he had recorded some Skazki too.

This recording has the Skazka in E♭, op. 26/2; but you also get a great recording of the Liszt B Minor Sonata and all Chopin Preludes and the Scriabin 2nd piano sonata:

[asin]B00DU86F6M[/asin]

[amw]

Hi,

My first post on this forum, so here I go...
I am interested in knowing what recordings of Medtners Skazki you would recommend?

There's one with Berezovsky and some of the songs, but I haven't heard it. Anyone like it?

[Wanderer]

There's one with Berezovsky and some of the songs, but I haven't heard it. Anyone like it?

Quoting myself from 7 posts above:

For a selection of Medtner's lieder (along with several of the most well known Skazki) this is most highly recommended.

...and from the Medtner thread:

This recital disc combines solo piano music (8 of the most well known Skazki/Tales, among which March of the Paladin and the sinister Campanella) and lieder (mainly settings of Tioutchev, Pushkin, Lermontov and Goethe), performed by Boris Berezovsky, V.Savenko (bass) and Y.Ivanilova (soprano).

Medtner's lieder, which constitute a significant part of his output (he wrote more than one hundred settings of both Russian and German poetry throughout his career), are multi-faceted, profound works in par with the texts that inspired them. His writing for the voice is very imaginative and colourful, it often resembles a violin and sometimes incorporates vocalise elements. The piano parts are demanding and complex, in constant dialogue with the voice, creating palpable tension and often inexorable drive and momentum.
The disc offers performances of obvious dedication and love; Berezovsky is always impressive in Medtner and both singers are in excellent form, offering the authority and conviction to make these works really sparkle. The interspersing of the skazki among the lieder is particularly inspired.
Warmly recommended.


(brief samples here)

[Wanderer]

Hi,

My first post on this forum, so here I go...
I am interested in knowing what recordings of Medtners Skazki you would recommend?
I heard Hamelin playing the Op20 No1 on Youtube and was spellbound. I bought both Hamelin Mednter-albums and they are wonderful. I just wish he had recorded some Skazki too.

Welcome to the forum!

My prime recommendation for Medtner's Skazki would be:

[asin]B000NIWICC[/asin]
(God, has it already been deleted?! Get it/Download it from the Hyperion site, then, instead: http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67491/2)

Also highly recommended:

[asin]B000VOEI6W[/asin][asin]B001BBSEPU[/asin]

If you haven't already, you'll find more info on the composer and recordings in the dedicated Medtner thread. More questions welcome! 

[Wanderer]

This recording has the Skazka in E♭, op. 26/2; but you also get a great recording of the Liszt B Minor Sonata and all Chopin Preludes and the Scriabin 2nd piano sonata:

Yup, that's a great recital, indeed. Very highly recommended. Just the one Skazka, though.

[josephine85]

Thank you all for your suggestions!
I think I will try the Berezovsky. The Hamish Milne album looks interesting too, but seems to be no longer available as new.
I am not familiar with Berezovskys style. But what I have heard so far with his (on youtube only) seems to show that he has fine command of his instrument.