Recordings That You Are Considering

[prémont]

Top 10 [Schnabel], yes. 

Top 10?  I am surprised.

Which are the 8 others in your top 10?

[prémont]

To ask the thrice-asked question, I'm curious if anyone has done some A/B/C comparisons between the EMI, Musical Concepts (pictured above in Daverz's post), and Membran Beethoven/Schnabel piano sonata boxes.  Just curious how the sound compared among these three cheap sets, in case someone has done the close-comparison work already.

The Membran set is horrible. Too filtered and wool-like sound. I actually ceased listening to the set for that reason and discarded it. Instead I got the rather acceptable Naxos set. Have not heard the Pearl set.
The sound of the original EMI CD release was also too filtered, - almost as bad as the Membran set, but there has been a EMI rerelease, which is said by some to be better, but I do not know, as I stick to the Naxos set.

[Todd]

Which are the 8 others in your top 10?

I use the Top 10 designation somewhat figuratively, but my Hall of Fame would be along the lines of: Fischer, Gulda (Amadeo), Kempff (both cycles), Backhaus (mono), Schnabel, Frank, Gilels, Heidsieck, and Arrau or Silverman or Lucchesini, depending on day and time.  I have a sneaking suspicion I left one or two possibilities out. 

I will say that my Holy Tetrarchy is pretty well set: Fischer, Gulda (Amadeo), Kempff (mono), Backhaus (mono).

[prémont]

I use the Top 10 designation somewhat figuratively, but my Hall of Fame would be along the lines of: Fischer, Gulda (Amadeo), Kempff (both cycles), Backhaus (mono), Schnabel, Frank, Gilels, Heidsieck, and Arrau or Silverman or Lucchesini, depending on day and time.  I have a sneaking suspicion I left one or two possibilities out. 

I will say that my Holy Tetrarchy is pretty well set: Fischer, Gulda (Amadeo), Kempff (mono), Backhaus (mono).

Not that much different from my Top 10 which are (in casual order): Kempff (both cycles), Backhaus (mono), A.Fischer, Arrau, Badura Skoda (both cycles), Lortie, Heidsieck and Lucchesini.

[Coopmv]

Hi Todd - I've been avoiding the Schnabel recordings of the Beethoven piano sonatas for years because of the poor sound quality (usually described) and also comments on his interpretations (some stating that his student, Claude Frank, did a better job?) - currently, I own just a few 'complete' sets of these works (Fischer & Kempff) - I would certainly like several others - SO, would Schnabel (in this set) be in your top 3-4 recordings of these works?  Thanks for any comments - Dave

Dave,  Those Schnabel's Beethoven Piano Sonatas on Naxos Historical are wonderful.  They were all reconstructed/remastered by Mark Obert-Thorn, one of the best in the remastering business.  I bought only Vol. 1-11, I did not buy the Concertos because I generally do not like the thin orchestral sound of mono recordings ...

[Brian]

If I don't have ANY of Medtner's solo piano music, is this a good introduction?

[jlaurson]

If I don't have ANY of Medtner's solo piano music, is this a good introduction?

Yep! Absolutely. Just the right amount and in the kind of quality that has you coming back for more.

[Opus106]

If I don't have ANY of Medtner's solo piano music

I don't too. And only recently I happened to listen to some of the 'Fairy Tales' (Skazi). Really wonderful and enjoyable morsels.

[Wanderer]

If I don't have ANY of Medtner's solo piano music, is this a good introduction?

A resounding yes. A great introduction, in fact; a carefully chosen program and extraordinary pianism to back it up. In that price, it's also a steal.

[jlaurson]

We squeezed in Classical Music at Forbes! Slightly off topic, except that it's the beginning of a series that asks readers to consider a very specific list of recordings among those with which to catch the classical bug.

Bit of economics... to spice it up, though when it comes to the recommended recordings (next iteration), it will probably be too basic for most GMG-members.
(Though still, perhaps or especially, kick off a nifty debate.)



Forbes.com: Two Cents About Classical Music For $100
Pronounced dead, classical music is more alive than ever

The actual List:

Probably too basic for most GMG-lers... but would be interesting to know if you've come to classical music via totally different or similar experiences... or what your choices would be.



Sound Advice:
How To Build A Top Quality Classical Music Library For $100

http://www.forbes.com/sites/laursonpieler/2013/03/05/sound_adivce_how-to-build-a-top-quality-classical-music-library-for-100/

[Mirror Image]

Jens, I came to classical through the music of Bartok and Ives. I never looked back.

[jlaurson]

Jens, I came to classical through the music of Bartok and Ives. I never looked back.

Holy cow. Whence had you come??? And via records (Spotify? CD? Vinyl? Shellac? Edison Rolls?) or live?

[Brian]

I think I know three people who came to classical through Shosty's Fifth CDs.

[Daverz]

I came to classical music through Albinoni (no, not that Adagio thing, which isn't even Albinoni).

[The new erato]

I started with Bartok (quartets), Honegger (cello concerto and orchestral works), Bruckner and Shostakovich (cello concertos, symphonies). After that I looked back to Bach (cantatas), Beethoven (instantly fell in love with the late quartets) and to early music, bought all the Archiv discs I could afford ogf the likes of Ockeghem, desPres, Machaut, as well as the EMI Reflex series. Those were the days.

[Mirror Image]

Holy cow. Whence had you come??? And via records (Spotify? CD? Vinyl? Shellac? Edison Rolls?) or live?

CDs.

[jlaurson]

...would be interesting to know if you've come to classical music via totally different or similar experiences... or what your choices would be.


Sound Advice: How To Build A Top Quality Classical Music Library For $100
http://www.forbes.com/sites/laursonpieler/2013/03/05/sound_adivce_how-to-build-a-top-quality-classical-music-library-for-100/

I started with Bartok (quartets), Honegger (cello concerto and orchestral works), Bruckner and Shostakovich (cello concertos, symphonies). After that I looked back to Bach (cantatas), Beethoven (instantly fell in love with the late quartets) and to early music, bought all the Archiv discs I could afford ogf the likes of Ockeghem, desPres, Machaut, as well as the EMI Reflex series. Those were the days.

I came to classical music through Albinoni (no, not that Adagio thing, which isn't even Albinoni).

I think I know three people who came to classical through Shosty's Fifth CDs.

Jens, I came to classical through the music of Bartok and Ives. I never looked back.

This is neat. My way, but then I had lots of help from my passively interested Dad, was via Haydn (a biography on tape for kids) and other usual suspects... strong on Bach, without realizing it then. My first concert was Bruckner 9th and Mozart K595. (Wolfgang Sawallisch and Emil Gilels, actually... talk about starting at the top. I wore a blue velvet suit and was a youngish seven years old.)

I knew a lass (hmmmmm!) who I got hooked with Bruckner's Eighth. She would turn the light out to better listen to Tannhaeuser... and lapped up Wand's Brahms like there was no tomorrow. I know I wouldn't have made it that way, but that was - frankly - hot.

[Brian]

Tell us more about this Bruckner-lapping lass, Jens

-

Before Presto ends their Helios CDs sale, are there any Helios albums that I Positively Cannot Live Without in a Certain GMG Obsessive Context?

My shopping cart is
Milhaud: Le Carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b, etc.   (New London Orch, Ronald Corp)
Vivaldi: Concerti con molti istromenti (King's Consort)
Virtuoso Strauss Transcriptions (Piers Lane)
Josef Suk: Piano Quintet & Piano Quartet (Nash Ens)   
Demidenko plays Medtner

[Mirror Image]

My shopping cart is
Milhaud: Le Carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b, etc.   (New London Orch, Ronald Corp)

Nice! A great recording. I like Korstick/Francis a lot in Le Carnaval d'Aix as well.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Before Presto ends their Helios CDs sale, are there any Helios albums that I Positively Cannot Live Without in a Certain GMG Obsessive Context?

I recommend two Czech items - the Martinu Cello Sonatas and Zelenka's Lamentations of Jeremiah. (provided you don't have these already of course)