Recordings That You Are Considering

[karlhenning]

On closer thought, the Powell disc of Nido di scatole, Djâmi and St Bertrand de Comminges may be the best introduction. It contains a nocturne (the second piece), a characteristically macabre work, one of his "hits" (the third), and a much less known major one which is unusually for the composer a rather accessably presented suite of 17 pieces.

The intriguing thing about Sorabji is that Opus Clav may not be the Holst's Planets of his output - the thing that stands out most in terms of paletability, inspiration and popular quality. Its status rests in some part due to it being written, and rediscovered, in the right place at the right time in the chronology. Other large pieces of his offer potentially equal interest, and his shorter works have much to offer, not simply by their relative accessability, but also for representing other distinct facets of the composer's world. His nocturnes (the term is used loosely to collect a few works) for example contain none of the grinding fugues-from-hell that Opus Clav is known for - but the composer's astonishing and alienating soundworld burns just as strongly.

Also, I see that the forum's spellchecker is on top form as usual. It considers "nido" and "di" to be typos, but not "scatole"

Thank you, I may just nab that one!

[haydnguy]

Well Stuart - you need need to become acquainted - he is an astounding pianist! Just pick one of his recordings according to you preferences for composer & works - 

David - not at all at least for me; Hamelin is just amazingly gifted as a pianist (in person for me he was a jaw-dropping experience) - his skills to play fast w/ a lot of pyrotechnics occasionally affects the reviews of his recordings - he needs to be experienced and then decided upon - for me, he is certainly a 'love' experience but you may not always like his skills overpowering the music - not sure what else to say - maybe others will give their opinions?  Dave 

I agree. No one can questions his skills. But like John Daly teeing off on the golf course, there's more to golf than hitting a long way and there is more to the piano than playing fast. The only disk I have of Hamelin is his first Haydn Piano Sonata disk, and to me it doesn't even sound like Haydn.

[kishnevi]

You did! There is also Grainger, Catoire, Brahms (chamber, but wonderful stuff), Liszt (Paganini), Reger, Schumann (more chamber), and several from the romantic piano concerto series. In short, there is a lot of unusual repetoire that he has recorded (and thank goodness!). If I could pick only one, it would be the Godowsky double disc set of Chopin Studies. This one:
[asin]B00004S3BF[/asin]

Heh.  I mean that I was sure I was forgetting at least one other Hamelin disc in my own collection. 
And I was--the  Schumann Piano Quintet.  Is the Liszt you refer to the one he released this year (which is on my wishlist with a few others of his), or an earlier CD?

[Antoine Marchand]

He is one of the most technically brilliant pianists playing today. I honestly don't think there is a piece of music written that he can't knock the poop out of.

Did you listen to his Haydn piano sonatas, Gurn? Personally, few times I have hated so intensely some disc in the last time.

[karlhenning]

(* . . . must . . bite . . my . . tongue . . . . *)

[Antoine Marchand]

Is it worse than Gould's Mozart?

It's even worse than his Beethoven's piano sonatas.  (I like the piano concertos  ).

[mc ukrneal]

Heh.  I mean that I was sure I was forgetting at least one other Hamelin disc in my own collection. 
And I was--the  Schumann Piano Quintet.  Is the Liszt you refer to the one he released this year (which is on my wishlist with a few others of his), or an earlier CD?

An earlier one. This one:
[asin]B00006B1LB[/asin]
There is also (which I don't own):
[asin]B000002ZXV[/asin]
And here is another that I did not inlcude either (quite good):
[asin]B000002ZVE[/asin]

[Opus106]

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/a.asp?a=A49

Just playing along. 0:)

[Gurn Blanston]

Did you listen to his Haydn piano sonatas, Gurn? Personally, few times I have hated so intensely some disc in the last time.

I listened to part of 1 sonata. Despite that there are actually people out there who rave about his Haydn, you could pour gasoline on me and I would light it myself before I listened to any more.

That said, I like the hell out of the Godowski/Chopin etudes set. And I suspect that anything that age or newer would be fine, revelatory even. But he is no classicist.

[DavidW]

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/a.asp?a=A49

Just playing along. 0:)

Just in case anything was missed.

[SonicMan46]

I listened to part of 1 sonata. Despite that there are actually people out there who rave about his Haydn, you could pour gasoline on me and I would light it myself before I listened to any more.

That said, I like the hell out of the Godowski/Chopin etudes set. And I suspect that anything that age or newer would be fine, revelatory even. But he is no classicist.

Gurn - yep, after buying some of the discs I owned previously in my posts, I purchased a Haydn disc - discarded immediately! 

Agree that for Hamelin, start w/ his 19th century or beyond recordings and the ones of lesser known composers - don't plan to ever buy the stuff from him that we discuss in the classical thread - Dave 

[Mirror Image]

I've got a few recordings/DVDs in my Amazon wishlist right now. Some of which haven't been released yet or out-of-print:

[haydnguy]

I've got a few recordings/DVDs in my Amazon wishlist right now. Some of which haven't been released yet or out-of-print:

I want that Ruth Crawford Seeger disk too. I have the one on Naxos. She was an amazing woman. 

[karlhenning]

Has anyone else seen news of André Rieu preparing a new performing edition (for an imminent recording) of Koechlin's Les Eaux vives?

[Florestan]

Has anyone else seen news of André Rieu preparing a new performing edition (for an imminent recording) of Koechlin's Les Eaux vives?

Rumor has it that he's preparing some disc to accompany drinking eaux-de-vie.

[Mirror Image]

I want that Ruth Crawford Seeger disk too. I have the one on Naxos. She was an amazing woman. 

Yes, from what I've read she was one of the top female composers of her generation. Each time I look at that recording on DG, it's very expensive, but I'm waiting on a seller (w/ a like new copy who has excellent feedback) to offer one.

[wilhelm]

I would appreciate some opinion on these CD

[Lethevich]

I would too! The symphony is intriguing, if (as so often with this composer) a bit thin on material. I didn't find the Naxos recording satisfactory, and this MDG recording could only be an improvement.

[mc ukrneal]

I would appreciate some opinion on these CD

It's the only orchestral disc of his that I have and I have enjoyed it. I'll try to give it another spin this weekend. I think I may have posted about it in the past (and will post link if I find it).

[kishnevi]

I would too! The symphony is intriguing, if (as so often with this composer) a bit thin on material. I didn't find the Naxos recording satisfactory, and this MDG recording could only be an improvement.

It might be pertinent to note that ArkivMusic had MDG on sale through Tuesday, although I don't know if that would be as good a deal for people outside the US.