Chopin Recordings

[staxomega]

I really liked Beatrice Rana in all of the Scherzi, sounds like old world pianism. Jed Distler has a very good review that paints a good picture of how they sound though reading between the lines it sounds like I liked the Scherzi more than he did. He has Grosvenor as one of his reference sets and I listened to him play the B minor and I found it a bit unrelenting. Maybe this is right and I'm wrong.

Also revisited the Ruth Slenczynska recordings, the other set of Scherzi that were a bit newer to me. Fabulous.

[Hans Holbein]

I've been trying to find Weissenberg's 14 waltzes for download, and it's not going well - can't find them legitimately or otherwise. They were only issued on CD once, in 1990. Any ideas, or must I just track down that CD?

Also, I've been trying, out of curiosity, to figure out where the three Mazurkas he recorded in 1971 first appeared. I have them tacked on to a CD issue of the Nocturnes. Can't find them on any LP. Maybe they were recorded and not issued at the time? Or maybe I'm missing something.

[Mandryka]

I've been trying to find Weissenberg's 14 waltzes for download, and it's not going well - can't find them legitimately or otherwise. They were only issued on CD once, in 1990. Any ideas, or must I just track down that CD?

Also, I've been trying, out of curiosity, to figure out where the three Mazurkas he recorded in 1971 first appeared. I have them tacked on to a CD issue of the Nocturnes. Can't find them on any LP. Maybe they were recorded and not issued at the time? Or maybe I'm missing something.

The Waltzes cd is very hard to find, I've just asked if anyone can share it, I'll let you know if anything comes up, I didn't even know of its existence till you mentioned it! I have five of the waltzes, I think they're rather interesting.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I've been trying to find Weissenberg's 14 waltzes for download, and it's not going well - can't find them legitimately or otherwise. They were only issued on CD once, in 1990. Any ideas, or must I just track down that CD?

Also, I've been trying, out of curiosity, to figure out where the three Mazurkas he recorded in 1971 first appeared. I have them tacked on to a CD issue of the Nocturnes. Can't find them on any LP. Maybe they were recorded and not issued at the time? Or maybe I'm missing something.

Hello Hans,

Not certain where you are located, or if you have a turn table or not but I did find this:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/384179394058?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=384179394058&targetid=4580496732614415&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=418233788&mkgroupid=1230353745471221&rlsatarget=pla-4580496732614415&abcId=9300542&merchantid=51291&msclkid=481b1f52e55610f5e2757ec0b955b3d4

PD

[Hans Holbein]

Thank you. Yes, ordering a used copy of the CD or LP is an option. I have no real interest in owning the CD - would rather just have the files. Owning the LP has more appeal, but then I would still want the digital version too... The only copies of the CD I found for sale would set me back CAD$50, and I don't think my interest justifies that expense right now.

What got me started on this was ripping some of his Chopin to get rid of CDs, and that got me checking whether I was missing anything.

I do wish EMI had given him the complete box treatment instead of that Icon box with the silly subtitle "The Champagne Pianist". Maybe Warner will get a complete box together someday.

[MusicTurner]

I checked a few extra places, various European Amazons, Fnac, Supraphon-on-line etc., but no results ...

[Brian]

I do wish EMI had given him the complete box treatment instead of that Icon box with the silly subtitle "The Champagne Pianist". Maybe Warner will get a complete box together someday.

The whole EMI Icon series was designed on the cheap and it's very nice that Warner is reissuing things with more style, original covers, etc.

[staxomega]

I do wish EMI had given him the complete box treatment instead of that Icon box with the silly subtitle "The Champagne Pianist". Maybe Warner will get a complete box together someday.

Silly indeed, is "the champagne pianist" supposed to be a compliment? So who is the builder's tea pianist 

[Mandryka]

Thank you. Yes, ordering a used copy of the CD or LP is an option. I have no real interest in owning the CD - would rather just have the files. Owning the LP has more appeal, but then I would still want the digital version too... The only copies of the CD I found for sale would set me back CAD$50, and I don't think my interest justifies that expense right now.

What got me started on this was ripping some of his Chopin to get rid of CDs, and that got me checking whether I was missing anything.

I do wish EMI had given him the complete box treatment instead of that Icon box with the silly subtitle "The Champagne Pianist". Maybe Warner will get a complete box together someday.

Weissenberg 14 Chopin waltzes. Hard, agressive, charmless, fast in the earlier waltzes. And then, in the some of the slow later waltzes, I can start to see why this man had a good reputation. In the A flat major for example, the vision is coherent and the playing is intense. But the lack of attention to the inner voices is a deal breaker for me. Listen to the lifeless F minor!

[JBS]

On a different topic:
Does anyone have experience/opinions about this pianist's Chopin?

[Mandryka]

So who is the builder's tea pianist 

Idil Biret

[amw]

It's very hard for me to take seriously a designation like "Champagne Pianist" for Weissenberg. A description like that would make me think: charming, pleasant, elegant, graceful, etc., whereas Weissenberg's actual style can be described as a boxing match between him and the piano, winner unclear.
https://www.youtube.com/v/t5PDGV6gOQI

Compare the relative subtlety (and much greater emotional effect) of Argerich for example:
https://www.youtube.com/v/TMC3yToYuFA

I obviously haven't explored all of Weissenberg's repertoire and there may of course be composers/works for whom the label is more appropriate (his Bach was at one time quite well regarded, I believe).

[Brian]

Is Robert Casadesus the real champagne pianist?

[George]

Is Robert Casadesus the real champagne pianist?

I vote for Michelangeli.

[Jo498]

Is Robert Casadesus the real champagne pianist?

Now, that's easy. It's literally Eric Heidsieck:

[amw]

There are probably other self-consciously French (in terms of style, not national origin) pianists who could fit the moniker more aptly—Marcelle Meyer, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Pavel Kolesnikov, etc—but yes Heidsieck is definitely the natural choice.

[Brian]

I feel so dumb forgetting Heidsieck there. Do I have to hand in my Club Piano card?

[Jo498]

No, but your Club de Champagne card

[George]

No, but your Club de Champagne card

Don't listen to him, Brian. 

[Brian]

The Club de Crémant has cheaper dues anyway