Chopin's mazurkas

[staxomega]

Block is responsible for the worst Chopin performance I've ever heard - the barcarolle. About 15 minutes of it I think.

I have not, I believe that is on the Chopin OM Recordings CD, I bought it years ago and there were some pinholes or flaking and wouldn't rip so the seller told me to bin it. I can't even imagine 15 minutes for the Barcarolle. Block is also responsible for not just the worst Tempest Sonata I've heard but the worst Beethoven Piano Sonata performance I've heard. I have no idea why he would make decisions like these extreme tempi, he was still capable of playing at a very high level late in life as evidenced by the Liszt Harmonies poetiques et religieuses, Granados, Albeniz, Scriabin (most beautiful/poetic second sonata, unmatched in those qualities), etc. It's a bit maddening because when he was "on" he was easily one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.

[Mandryka]

Back to this for the first time in 7 years and what I said before is what I'd say now. Not for me in my current state of mind, but it may well be for someone else. It's a bit buttoned up - maybe a bit overthunk. The sound is state of the art studio processed piano.

Back to Fialkowska today, the second time this year, that makes three times in 8 years. And I think my two posts about it are accurate - it is deeply felt and nuanced and yet, at the same time, buttoned up. Deeply felt like Henry James and Jane Austen. I like it very much, it needs to be experienced.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Back to Fialkowska today, the second time this year, that makes three times in 8 years. And I think my two posts about it are accurate - it is deeply felt and nuanced and yet, at the same time, buttoned up. Deeply felt like Henry James and Jane Austen. I like it very much, it needs to be experienced.

For some reason, its not for me AS OF NOW. Maybe her touch. Overall very straightforward performance. I may change my mind soon.

[Mandryka]

Ania Dorfmann's Chopin Waltzes sound OK actually -- tender

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mhWulDdje6igMahV-CUFgMbn0ip2Nn_h4

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Ania Dorfmann's Chopin Waltzes sound OK actually -- tender

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mhWulDdje6igMahV-CUFgMbn0ip2Nn_h4

The fast-tempo works sound cool and elegant. I would personally like more sensitivity, and a slight twist, in mid/slow tempo pieces (ie. No.10 B min waltz). They may have them and I maybe missing them though.

Checked Shebanova's Mazurkas recently. Fairly good, if not amazing, performance. Again I wanted more nuances and darkness. I thought that the Italian professor in my previous post sounded pretty good.

[AaronSF]

I've enjoyed Nikita Magaloff's mazurkas.  They are very elegantly played...which I'm guessing may not be to everyone's taste.  Worth a listen, though.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

ESL's Valses proffer a nice change. She presents her own unique and lyrical world, and she doesn't give a dxxx about what others think about it. There is something attractive in her performance.

As for Simon, I don't know about his Preludes, but I like his sensitive, and somewhat oblique, Mazurkas. Maybe I'm biased by the novel, cool cover art.

[Mandryka]

I've enjoyed Nikita Magaloff's mazurkas.  They are very elegantly played...which I'm guessing may not be to everyone's taste.  Worth a listen, though.

Yes, very nice fresh vibe. But somehow it doesn't do what the best can do, which is make me listen for some time. It's as if the style is too much the same all the same. He's not the only one!

[Mandryka]

ESL's Valses proffer a nice change. She presents her own unique and lyrical world, and she doesn't give a dxxx about what others think about it. There is something attractive in her performance.

As for Simon, I don't know about his Preludes, but I like his sensitive, and somewhat oblique, Mazurkas. Maybe I'm biased by the novel, cool cover art.

ESL is a bit of a challenge for me. It's as if there's not enough relief, not enough fizz and sparkle,  the same approach all the time. But I've made a mental note and will come back to it. It made me think of Arrau's Waltzes,  I have a positive memory of them.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

ESL is a bit of a challenge for me. It's as if there's not enough relief, not enough fizz and sparkle,  the same approach all the time. But I've made a mental note and will come back to it. It made me think of Arrau's Waltzes,  I have a positive memory of them.

Good insights and you sound right. Ott and Lima present more variations, colors and occasional surprises. Just checked Ewa Pobłocka's mazurkas yesterday. It won't be my favorite, but her performance is very good and likable. Maybe just the tone of piano is not my thing. I'm sure some/many people will like the recording.

[Que]

Maybe just the tone of piano is not my thing.

Out of curiosity, I checked: it is a Steinway.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Out of curiosity, I checked: it is a Steinway.

My respect to Steinway and the Allied Power industry. Sayonara.

[Verena]

So far I really like Sergey Dorensky's recording of the mazurkas. Was intrigued by an earlier recommendation by Howard. Just the right does of vibrato in my view. Might become favorites.

[Mandryka]

What's distinctive about this one from Sergei Dorensky is that he has a symphonic style - lots of different timbres and big gestures - which he uses fairly liberally here to transform each mazurka into a something which sounds more like a Rachmaninov tableau than you might have been expecting.

Good enough sound, modern piano with a good steely timbre, I wonder if it was a soviet instrument.

Dorensky was, I believe, a well regarded teacher in the USSR. Does anyone know anything about him, his ideas and his pupils?

I'm glad you're exploring it, Verena. Here's what I said about it more than three years ago. I'd be very interested to hear what the other mazurka connoisseurs make of what he does.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Apropos of Dorensky:
Very good performance while it doesn't appeal to my personal preference. His timing is exquisite imo. Just like Fialkowska and Tsong, his touch is a little strong for my personal taste. The music sounds strong, less dark, and less enigmatic.
This is just about my personal taste, rather than his ability. In objective term, his performance is excellent.
As for connoisseurs, I miss Hvbias and hope he will come back.

[Mandryka]

Totally agree about Dorensky, he's not for me.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

[/quote]

Totally agree about Dorensky, he's not for me.

 

[Verena]

I'm glad you're exploring it, Verena. Here's what I said about it more than three years ago. I'd be very interested to hear what the other mazurka connoisseurs make of what he does.

The big gestures which you mention are sometimes too much of a good thing for me, too. I think I mostly listen for the timing and that's what I love about his interpretation. Having listened to some mazurkas again today, I guess my favorites remain Maryla Jonas, Reisenberg, Rubinstein (on some days) and Boshniakovich. But he comes quite close.

[Mandryka]

The big gestures which you mention are sometimes too much of a good thing for me, too. I think I mostly listen for the timing and that's what I love about his interpretation. Having listened to some mazurkas again today, I guess my favorites remain Maryla Jonas, Reisenberg, Rubinstein (on some days) and Boshniakovich. But he comes quite close.

Big thumbs up for Boshniakovich from me! Such nobility, such elegance, such delicacy! The most Mozartian Chopin I've ever heard.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Anyone know anything about Maria Christina Mohovich?  Some of these mazurkas seem so strong and characterful they make me think of Tipo's nocturnes. There's a good Schumann Cd too - symphonic etudes.

Yes the interpretation is good but the actual pianism, or maybe it's the recording, lacks the refinement and fluidity and colour of the top tier mazurka-wallahs.

Beating the dead horse in December, I think this album deserves some appreciation. It's not a top-tier performance, but the music is unique and lyrical.