Recordings That You Are Considering

[stingo]

Just added the 5th disc of Debussy's Piano Music w/ J-E Bavouzet - well, today Fanfare (Jan-Feb 2013) arrives and there is an excellent review of a BIS box (6 CDs) w/ Noriko Ogawa - now on sale @ MDT for $28 - I'm not really familiar w/ her performances of this music and would appreciate any comments - thanks!

I've not heard the entire set yet, but I've loved what I've heard so far. There's a cheap downloadable version but it only has 5 of the CDs, not 6.

[Mirror Image]

I've not heard the entire set yet, but I've loved what I've heard so far. There's a cheap downloadable version but it only has 5 of the CDs, not 6.

Not sure if Dave does the download thing, especially when you can own the recordings for a great price.

[kishnevi]

Hmmm. I like the DG, but I think the Sony is the one to go for (sorry FLorestan - not gonna make this easy for you). I prefer Berlin for sure - they play with pizzaz and fizz. You have already noted the difference in sound, so I'll skip over that. I also disagree about the cast. I don't think there is a weak link at all. But then both casts are excellent and neither is dud in any way. Or put another way, there are advantages on both sets (I've never been a huge fan of Nucci, Ricciarelli or Azaiza in general). So in the end, whichever you get, I think you will be pleased.

One further thought: 
You obviously are not a fan of Barber of Seville, but what about Cenerentola and Italiana in Algeri?  I ask because DG has issued Abbado's recording of those four (including Viaggio) in their budget edition, with CD 9 being devoted to overtures. Each opera is two CDs. No librettos, naturally, only synopses.    I have it, but have yet to actually listen to any of it.  Depending on your tolerance of the other operas, your need for librettos, and the price of Viaggio on its own,  you may want to consider that option.

Just noticed that Viaggio may be in one act, but it is actually only about fifteen minutes shorter than Rheingold

[stingo]

Not sure if Dave does the download thing, especially when you can own the recordings for a great price.

Indeed - and the CD version is more desirable as it is more complete. The download is $7.99 but is missing a disc.

[Mirror Image]

Indeed - and the CD version is more desirable as it is more complete. The download is $7.99 but is missing a disc.

The sixth disc contains the following (taken from the BIS website):

Fugues d'école
  1.   Fugue pour le concours de fugue 1881   5'19
  2.   Fugue pour le concours de fugue 1882   5'02
  3.   Fugue pour le concours de fugue 1883   5'20
  4.   Fugue pour le concours d'essai, Prix de Rome Competition, 1882   5'03
  5.   Fugue [incomplete] pour le concours d'essai, Prix de Rome Competition, 1883   2'17

Fantaisie pour piano et orchestre, L 72
  6.   I. Andante ma non troppo   8'04
  7.   II. Lento e molto espressivo   8'24
  8.   III. Allegro molto

Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Lan Shui, conductor

[Brian]

Just added the 5th disc of Debussy's Piano Music w/ J-E Bavouzet - well, today Fanfare (Jan-Feb 2013) arrives and there is an excellent review of a BIS box (6 CDs) w/ Noriko Ogawa - now on sale @ MDT for $28 - I'm not really familiar w/ her performances of this music and would appreciate any comments - thanks!

Dave, I've heard about half of Bavouzet's CDs now, and a few of my favorite highlights from Ogawa (like La plus que lent...). I very much like what I've heard of Ogawa's performances, although I've seen reviewers who think it's not 100% consistent. (Jed Distler thinks her Children's Corner is over-the-top, which is sad because I love Children's Corner quite a lot.) I'm no expert, but based on what I've heard Bavouzet and Ogawa are the cream of the 21st century crop.

Now, what I would like to hear from somebody who has heard both of these sets extensively is, are they complementary? That is, if we both have Bavouzet, is Ogawa different enough to stimulate our ears in a new way and compare the two? I really don't know.

[kishnevi]

The sixth disc contains the following (taken from the BIS website):

Fugues d'école
  1.   Fugue pour le concours de fugue 1881   5'19
  2.   Fugue pour le concours de fugue 1882   5'02
  3.   Fugue pour le concours de fugue 1883   5'20
  4.   Fugue pour le concours d'essai, Prix de Rome Competition, 1882   5'03
  5.   Fugue [incomplete] pour le concours d'essai, Prix de Rome Competition, 1883   2'17

Fantaisie pour piano et orchestre, L 72
  6.   I. Andante ma non troppo   8'04
  7.   II. Lento e molto espressivo   8'24
  8.   III. Allegro molto

Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Lan Shui, conductor

A quick comparison of the track listings shows that (first of all) I was wrong in thinking that Ogawa included works for piano four hands, and that Bavouzet plays Khamma and Jeux, but Ogawa does not;  whereas Ogawa includes "Six Antique Epigraphs" on her fifth CD which I don't see in the listings for Bavouzet.  So apparently neither one is completely complete.

[Mirror Image]

A quick comparison of the track listings shows that (first of all) I was wrong in thinking that Ogawa included works for piano four hands, and that Bavouzet plays Khamma and Jeux, but Ogawa does not;  whereas Ogawa includes "Six Antique Epigraphs" on her fifth CD which I don't see in the listings for Bavouzet.  So apparently neither one is completely complete.

These differences aren't deal breakers for me thankfully, but it should be noted that Bavouzet has also recorded the Fantasie for Piano and Orchestra with Tortelier/BBC SO. A fine performance coupled with equally fine performances of Ravel's concerti. This said, do you know both the Ogawa and Bavouzet sets of Debussy's solo piano music? Like I said, I like the darker shadings and atmosphere of Ogawa's performances or at least from the short works that I sampled.

Edit: Please note that the Ogawa set doesn't claim that this is a 'complete' set whereas the Bavouzet set does.

[kishnevi]

These differences aren't deal breakers for me thankfully, but it should be noted that Bavouzet has also recorded the Fantasie for Piano and Orchestra with Tortelier/BBC SO. A fine performance coupled with equally fine performances of Ravel's concerti. This said, do you know both the Ogawa and Bavouzet sets of Debussy's solo piano music? Like I said, I like the darker shadings and atmosphere of Ogawa's performances or at least from the short works that I sampled.

Edit: Please note that the Ogawa set doesn't claim that this is a 'complete' set whereas the Bavouzet set does.

I've listened to the Ogawa set once through, and it seemed fine, but I don't think I've heard it enough to give a detailed write-up.  Bavouzet is currently part of Mount To-Be-Listened-To, and will probably remain so for the next couple of months, so I can't actually give a comparison.

The ballets which Bavouzet plays are both on his CD 5; so you could get that as a single issue to supplement Ogawa, without having to get the whole set.

But since you are Mirror Image, you'll probably be like me and get the whole set anyway 

ETA: the fugues on CD 6 of Ogawa are rather forgettable, but even Debussy apparently thought that way about them.

[Mirror Image]

But since you are Mirror Image, you'll probably be like me and get the whole set anyway 

A true statement. I see this set is $65 on Amazon. Is this a good deal? It's only 5 discs, but these recordings individually are quite expensive. Anyway, I can wait. Like I've mentioned numerous times, solo piano music isn't a favorite genre. I just needed to fill in some gaps since I didn't own any of Debussy's solo piano works.

[Mirror Image]

ETA: the fugues on CD 6 of Ogawa are rather forgettable, but even Debussy apparently thought that way about them.

This is okay, because the disc is filled out with a performance of Fantasie for Piano and Orchestra. But I understand that the "big ticket works" are located on the other discs.

[kishnevi]

A true statement. I see this set is $65 on Amazon. Is this a good deal? It's only 5 discs, but these recordings individually are quite expensive. Anyway, I can wait. Like I've mentioned numerous times, solo piano music isn't a favorite genre. I just needed to fill in some gaps since I didn't own any of Debussy's solo piano works.

I got a good deal because I found it instore at Barnes and Noble, and could use a 30% off coupon.  (I have their membership program, so I also got an extra 10% off on top of the coupon.)  Other than something like that,  I'm not sure if you can get a better price, since the set is very newly boxed up.  You certainly won't find it at a price near the Ogawa set's.

BTW, I found out that particular B&N (in Fort Lauderdale) gets some stuff most other stores don't get because the parents of the CEO of B&N live nearby.  Of course, the prices are often not comparable to Amazon MP even with coupons.  They have the Brilliant Complete Bach box sitting there for over a year, priced at $180 or so.  Amazon MP has it for about $110, so even with their coupons (thirty percent seems to be the best they usually give), it would be overpriced.

[Mirror Image]

I got a good deal because I found it instore at Barnes and Noble, and could use a 30% off coupon.  (I have their membership program, so I also got an extra 10% off on top of the coupon.)  Other than something like that,  I'm not sure if you can get a better price, since the set is very newly boxed up.  You certainly won't find it at a price near the Ogawa set's.

BTW, I found out that particular B&N (in Fort Lauderdale) gets some stuff most other stores don't get because the parents of the CEO of B&N live nearby.  Of course, the prices are often not comparable to Amazon MP even with coupons.  They have the Brilliant Complete Bach box sitting there for over a year, priced at $180 or so.  Amazon MP has it for about $110, so even with their coupons (thirty percent seems to be the best they usually give), it would be overpriced.

Yeah, I'm never in a Barnes & Noble to take advantage of any of their in-store offers. I do have a B & N about 30 minutes away and their prices certainly could never be considered "competitive" to online stores. About nine or ten years ago they had a buy one box set get one free deal that I thought was interesting until I saw many of the these box sets were ridiculously priced, so I passed on the deal, especially since I could buy two box sets online for the price of one of theirs. Needless to say, I wasn't very impressed. I said to myself even then that these stores won't be around much longer. I've been using Amazon since 1999.

[Florestan]

@ nico1616, ukrneal

Thank you, gentlemen. I'll do an extensive sampling of both versions.

You obviously are not a fan of Barber of Seville,

IMO the overture and the first act are superb, the second act is a dud. Overall, it is one of the most overrated operas.

but what about Cenerentola and Italiana in Algeri?

Never heard them from start till end but what I've heard so far I certainly liked.

  I ask because DG has issued Abbado's recording of those four (including Viaggio) in their budget edition, with CD 9 being devoted to overtures. Each opera is two CDs. No librettos, naturally, only synopses.    I have it, but have yet to actually listen to any of it.  Depending on your tolerance of the other operas, your need for librettos, and the price of Viaggio on its own,  you may want to consider that option.

Yes, it surely looks like a tempting option.

Just noticed that Viaggio may be in one act, but it is actually only about fifteen minutes shorter than Rheingold

With all that gorgeous music I could stand it even if it were an hour longer.  I particularly enjoyed a scene where different European speech accents are parodized (is that a word?). I literally burst into laughter.

[SonicMan46]

Not sure if Dave does the download thing, especially when you can own the recordings for a great price.

Hi John - well, I do an occasional download but usually single discs which are OOP or too expensive for what is offered; unlikely to DL multiple discs set and $28 @ MDT is a good price for 6 discs - still on my 'consideration' list - Dave

[SonicMan46]

Dave, I've heard about half of Bavouzet's CDs now, and a few of my favorite highlights from Ogawa (like La plus que lent...). I very much like what I've heard of Ogawa's performances, although I've seen reviewers who think it's not 100% consistent. (Jed Distler thinks her Children's Corner is over-the-top, which is sad because I love Children's Corner quite a lot.) I'm no expert, but based on what I've heard Bavouzet and Ogawa are the cream of the 21st century crop.

Now, what I would like to hear from somebody who has heard both of these sets extensively is, are they complementary? That is, if we both have Bavouzet, is Ogawa different enough to stimulate our ears in a new way and compare the two? I really don't know.

Hi Brian - thanks for your comments above; the statement that I put in bold is my major concern - Bavouzet is excellent and that one set is probably enough for me, unless Ogawa offers another sound world that is also excellent - Dave

[Mirror Image]

Hi John - well, I do an occasional download but usually single discs which are OOP or too expensive for what is offered; unlikely to DL multiple discs set and $28 @ MDT is a good price for 6 discs - still on my 'consideration' list - Dave

Yes, I don't download something unless it's for the same reasons as well. I bought the Ogawa set last night and I've heard a few of the performances of some shorter works. I was impressed with her style on the piano and the overall ambience the piano was caught in.

[SonicMan46]

Yes, I don't download something unless it's for the same reasons as well. I bought the Ogawa set last night and I've heard a few of the performances of some shorter works. I was impressed with her style on the piano and the overall ambience the piano was caught in.

Great - looking forward to your comments - I've not listened to any snippets of her performances, but the reviews that I have read are excellent and Brian's thoughts quite helpful - who knows may order the box before yours arrives?     Dave

P.S. Did you find a better deal than the $28 @ MDT?

[Mirror Image]

Great - looking forward to your comments - I've not listened to any snippets of her performances, but the reviews that I have read are excellent and Brian's thoughts quite helpful - who knows may order the box before yours arrives?     Dave

P.S. Did you find a better deal than the $28 @ MDT?

I bought mine for $30. Not a 'better' deal, but I usually only buy from Amazon. I have done some business with Arkivmusic and CD Universe, but I seldom use them.

[Bogey]

Enjoyed Elfman's effort here.  It was nice to see that they could tap his talents after re-recording Psycho (and may I say doing an excellent job of it) back in 1997.  A lot of cool cues here.

and



Anyone have this on the shelf?