Brahms- Paganini Variations (best performances/recordings)

[greg]

I've seen a few on youtube, but still my favorite is Abbey Simon.

However, this is excellent:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qccTee3XIB8&feature=related

Geza Anda performs Book II and it's just right! It's just too bad about the sound quality...

[mc ukrneal]

I've seen a few on youtube, but still my favorite is Abbey Simon.

However, this is excellent:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qccTee3XIB8&feature=related

Geza Anda performs Book II and it's just right! It's just too bad about the sound quality...

I have the Brilliant release with Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy. Overall, this is a good recording and I have been quite happy with it. The rest of the 2 discs are filled with other variations that are quite good as well.

It was interesting to heard Anda compared to Schmitt-Leonardy, as they bring out different aspects of the music is many places. Anda was had a real softness/lightness in places (start of last variation for example) that was very pleasing, but S-L had a but more muscularity in that variation that I liked as well (and I though he was more musical in managing that aspect). I think the biggest advantage Anda had was his ability to make contrasts better.

[greg]

Found the Schmitt-Leonardy on youtube, and it's pretty good. I do see what you mean about the contrasts- on some of the quieter variations, I kind of wish he would've taken it a bit less loud- but still a very good performance.

I also listened to Kissin... very interesting. Very unique, but I have some problems with it, too.


You should try Abbey Simon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w3dTj5NPOs
(especially the variation starting at 6:28- one of my favorites, and it's soooooooo atmospheric the way he plays it).


Alright... time to look for more. 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Yeah, great piece! Though the work needs to be played with a concentrated mixture of furor and heightened poetry to really come off. Nothing timid.

For my money, though he's no household name (emphatically should be!), the Dutch pianist Ivo Janssen tackles the work with all the gusto required.

JPC has some generous samples.

[greg]

Yeah, great piece! Though the work needs to be played with a concentrated mixture of furor and heightened poetry to really come off. Nothing timid.

For my money, though he's no household name (emphatically should be!), the Dutch pianist Ivo Janssen tackles the work with all the gusto required.

JPC has some generous samples.

Thanks for that link- those clips sounded perfect! 
The clip with Var.8-11 on Book 2 also had some crazy crescendo dynamics that I haven't heard in any other recording, and it really sounded nice. That's exactly what I'm looking for, and to top it off with something unexpected is just a bonus.

Well, too bad I can't buy it. I'm not spending $43 dollars for a CD (not including tax, if there is tax), even if the clips sound so good. Maybe when I get lots of money I will, but for now I'll just keep on browsing youtube.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Well, too bad I can't buy it. I'm not spending $43 dollars for a CD (not including tax, if there is tax), even if the clips sound so good. Maybe when I get lots of money I will, but for now I'll just keep on browsing youtube.

Blast! Sorry about that. Didn't realize it was OOP.

You might try the VOID Classics website. VOID Classics is Janssen's own record label, though whether they're still solvent or not I don't know.

However, on that linked page I notice some email addresses, one of which is Rhinebeck Records. Rhinebeck is the seller from whom I ordered my Janssens/Brahms disc off Amazon (for less than $20.00). In an email exchange with them they told me they were the North American distributor for VOID. It might be worthwhile to contact them directly.

[greg]

Blast! Sorry about that. Didn't realize it was OOP.

You might try the VOID Classics website. VOID Classics is Janssen's own record label, though whether they're still solvent or not I don't know.

However, on that linked page I notice some email addresses, one of which is Rhinebeck Records. Rhinebeck is the seller from whom I ordered my Janssens/Brahms disc off Amazon (for less than $20.00). In an email exchange with them they told me they were the North American distributor for VOID. It might be worthwhile to contact them directly.

Thanks for that link, too. I think e-mailing Rhinebeck records seems like the best possibility. If it's an American distributor, I won't have to pay $13 or so for shipping (although, really, the order form on VOID doesn't even have a field for country)  .

So... I just sent in a form using:
http://www.cdtrackdown.com/default.html 

[greg]

I forgot to update, but soon after I sent in the form, the e-mailed me saying that they have every single one of them except for the variations disc.  But, they will notify me whenever it gets in. That's alright, though, because if they get it in a few months from now, it'll be a much better time to spend an extra $25, or however much it might cost.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed, Greg.

[greg]

I should have update nearly a month ago, because that's when it happened, but they have a copy back in stock. I have the e-mail printed out and will get around to ordering it sometime- $23 with shipping. Seems like it'll be a good one.