Recordings That You Are Considering

[DavidRoss]

Fischer's M1 is in my cart and is almost a certain purchase:



Considering adding some or all of these to the order -- whaddya think?











Boring to some here, I know, but life's too short and I'm too old to devote my attention to concertos for helicopters and caterwauling street urchins when there's so much beautiful music available.

[Leon]

I would suggest this one instead:

[asin]B002FEUOA0[/asin]

[Opus106]

Considering adding some or all of these to the order -- whaddya think?

And if you have the time, there's also this. (From the UK store.)

[asin]B007XJ2306[/asin]

[Scarpia]

Boring to some here, I know, but life's too short and I'm too old to devote my attention to concertos for helicopters and caterwauling street urchins when there's so much beautiful music available.

In the Schubert, I would pick Brendel over Schiff (despite generally being a big fan of Schiff).  The music is inherently introspective, and I thought Schiff overdramatized it (exaggerated dynamics, highlighting obscure lines from the texture).  For Brendel, you might also consider this one

[asin]http://B001BNQJDC[/asin]

Where Brendel recorded something more than once, this set contains the analog recording from the 70's rather than the digital recording from the 80's.

[Opus106]

Three alternative suggestions in a row: I think David's going to be busy (or not) today.

Oh, and while we're talking about Brendel and Schubert, I've heard some people comment that his live recordings with Philips (no boxes here) are very good. (He's supposed to have been better heard live or something like that. Right?)

[Scarpia]

I've been making my way through Kempff's Schubert set (recorded '65-69) and I'd say it is my favorite set of performances.  I hesitate to recommend it because the audio quality can be astonishingly bad.   Some sessions sound fine, in others the piano tone is shockingly thin and lacking in low frequencies. 

[Brian]

A totally outstanding release. The Seventh is closest in nature to Bernstein's: slow-boil intensity, gorgeous lyricism, a little longer than some. The BFO's unique sound is a major, major asset. And it comes with my favorite recording of the "American" suite by a looooong distance.

The Fischer Dv 7/8 are a reissue of a Philips disc. If you're interested in his Schubert 9, I just heard that a couple nights ago and found it very enjoyable.

[The new erato]

A new Pettersson 6!

[Drasko]

Should I get these from the ArkivMusic clearance sale? Most are $7-8.

Big yes from me for this. One of the truly great live recitals caught on tape. Makes me wish I had been there.

[jlaurson]

I would suggest this one instead:



Bach
Partitas
Schiff
ECM

Seconded! SUCH a difference, so much better! "No comparison", as it were. Schiff's Decca Partitas are among those on piano I find least interesting in my collection, his ECM is perhaps the most interesting I have.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Schiff. Brendel. Kempff.

Ahhh....







Although in fairness, Schiff's ECM Wanderer Fantasy is blessed with a much more sympathetic recording than Decca of his trademark (for Schubert) Bösendorfer piano which may or may not have played a part in making this a superb rendition:

[kishnevi]

Add my yes vote to the ECM Schiff, the Brendel red box Schubert, and the Lupu Schubert (have not heard the Schiff Schubert or the Brendel white box Schubert).  And I recently received, but have not yet played anything from, the version of the Decca Schiff complete Bach that is in the same series as the Brendel white box.  I got it as a bargain from Amazon Spain, so you might want to check there if you're seriously interested in it.  In fact,  I think Gordon ordered the Brendel white box from Amazon Spain as well....

Three alternative suggestions in a row: I think David's going to be busy (or not) today.

Oh, and while we're talking about Brendel and Schubert, I've heard some people comment that his live recordings with Philips (no boxes here) are very good. (He's supposed to have been better heard live or something like that. Right?)

There's a series called Artist's Choice which included issues devoted to Beethoven, Liszt and Schubert, and I think others, most if not all of them live performances.  Well worth while getting IMO in addition to any other recordings you may have.

[DavidRoss]

That Lupu set is probably my favorite Schubie piano recording, Don. Not surprising that our tastes should coincide. Don't really know why I'm considering another alternative...bad habit, I guess. 

Re. Schiff's Bach Partitas, The listening I've done via Mog inclines me toward the Decca issue, but strong preferences expressed by members I respect suggest listening more closely to the ECM set before deciding. What I've heard from it so far sounds a bit punchier and crisper than I prefer, but that's only #5 & #1.

That Schiff/Bach set looks like a fine one, Jeff, and a great value -- but I already own most of the recordings included as single issues.

And thanks for the rec, Brian -- Fischer's D7 is in the cart along with his M1.   

[Dancing Divertimentian]

....(have not heard the Schiff Schubert....).

In general I find Schiff a wonderful performer but I'd have liked Decca to have tamed his Bösendorfer piano before embarking on his Schubert cycle. A Bösendorfer isn't as overtly sonorous as other pianos which in-and-of-itself isn't a handicap but Decca's engineering seems to have come out more grainy than I'd prefer. Hence my apprehension to Schiff's Decca Schubert. I much prefer ECM's engineering in the Wanderer Fantasy. Here Schiff's Bösendorfer is presented in a much more sympathetic acoustic.

[Scarpia]

Then you miss out on the miraculous second movement of D537.

[Scarpia]

Re. Schiff's Bach Partitas, The listening I've done via Mog inclines me toward the Decca issue, but strong preferences expressed by members I respect suggest listening more closely to the ECM set before deciding. What I've heard from it so far sounds a bit punchier and crisper than I prefer, but that's only #5 & #1.

I haven't heard the ECM partitas (I have his ECM Goldbergs) but I have the Decca set of partitas (the original release, not he "original") and it remains my reference recording.  I wouldn't be without it.

[kishnevi]

Re. Schiff's Bach Partitas, The listening I've done via Mog inclines me toward the Decca issue, but strong preferences expressed by members I respect suggest listening more closely to the ECM set before deciding. What I've heard from it so far sounds a bit punchier and crisper than I prefer, but that's only #5 & #1.

That Schiff/Bach set looks like a fine one, Jeff, and a great value -- but I already own most of the recordings included as single issues.

Well, the obvious answer is to get both the ECM and Decca Partitas, if only because you need to complete the Decca set in true GMG fashion, right?.   Although to tell the truth, I prefer my Bach sort of crisp and punchy.  It will be a bit before the Decca Schiff box gets to the on deck position in my Listening Pile, however.

If you want a performance of the Partitas that's unpunchy and not at all crisp,  then you might want to get Ashkenazy's,   which is so extremely unlike my general preferences in Bach that I love it!

[Dancing Divertimentian]

That Lupu set is probably my favorite Schubie piano recording, Don. Not surprising that our tastes should coincide. Don't really know why I'm considering another alternative...bad habit, I guess. 

Probably the GMG bug. 0:) I can understand as I have all sorts of Schubert from various pianists. Fantastic music.

To me a worthwhile alternative - in fact, a complete 180º! - to Lupu is Andsnes. Unfortunately there's little on record. Only four sonatas. Whereas Lupu is poetic and sinewy, Andsnes is more up front and aggressive. He projects a bigger sound than Lupu with greater focus on the broader picture. Lupu's coloristic magic in fleshing out the minutia is still my preferred way of performing this music. But for contrast Andsnes is good stuff.



[asin]B0011UY6HG[/asin]

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Then you miss out on the miraculous second movement of D537.

I'm sorry, Scarps, I don't follow.

[Scarpia]

I'm sorry, Scarps, I don't follow.

Lupu only recorded a selection of Schubert's piano music, and the Sonata D537 isn't included.  The second movement from that piece is one of my favorite bits of Schubert piano music.