Chopin Recordings

Started by George, April 06, 2007, 06:00:36 AM

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orbital

Quote from: nut-job on February 28, 2009, 07:42:37 AM
Recently finished listening to Maria Tipo's recordings of the Nocturnes.  Nicely done, an effortless, poetic sound, very satisfying.

Agreed. It is one of my favorite nocturnes sets. None of that sticky, plaintive mood but still sounding very touching.

ezodisy

Tipo's wonderful. I've said it before and want to repeat it: if anyone sees a recording of Tipo playing Schumann's Symphonic Etudes please let me know. I know (believe) it exists because there's an excerpt of it on Youtube.

ezodisy


Mandryka

#483
This guy's so cool in the third sonata - he's become my favourite performer (apart from Bolet maybe)

Quote from: ezodisy on February 28, 2009, 10:46:58 AM
Argerich playing a Chopin mazurka earlier this month: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkzoPYhqRfU&fmt=18

Listened to it a couple of times -- but can't say I enjoyed it.

I've never much enjoyed her playing though -- maybe it's a blind spot.
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

Novi

Quote from: Mandryka on March 02, 2009, 12:52:38 PM
This guy's so cool in the third sonata - he's become my favourite performer (apart from Bolet maybe)


I haven't heard Fiorentino's 3rd, but love his 2nd.
Durch alle Töne tönet
Im bunten Erdentraum
Ein leiser Ton gezogen
Für den der heimlich lauschet.

George

Quote from: ezodisy on January 25, 2009, 12:19:11 PM
Natan Brand – essential listening. Israeli-American pianist. Studied with Nadia Reisenberg (Hofmann pupil) and Dorothy Taubman. He was a truly imaginative virtuoso who followed in the line of Anton Rubinstein--both in artistic beliefs and lineage.

Any opinions on Nadia Reisenberg's Chopin? I see that Bridge has issued a 4 CD set of her Chopin. The set was mastered by Seth Winner.

Holden

Quote from: Mandryka on March 02, 2009, 12:52:38 PM
This guy's so cool in the third sonata - he's become my favourite performer (apart from Bolet maybe)

Listened to it a couple of times -- but can't say I enjoyed it.

I've never much enjoyed her playing though -- maybe it's a blind spot.

Fiorentino is one of my favourite pianists period! Like Novi, I have him in the 2nd but haven't heard his 3rd. I'd be very interested in hearing his performance of it as well as the D960. APR have released 6 CDs in a series Called 'Fiorentino - The Early Years". There is more to come apparently and this includes Chopin's Nocturnes, Ballades and Etudes - I can't wait, especially for the Nocturnes. All of these will be released by APR.

One caveat. There are a number of 'Fiorentino' CDs on the Concert Artists label (remember Hatto?). Many of these are probably not by Fiorentino. This site can give you more precise details - just click on the composer you want to see.
Cheers

Holden

rubio

Quote from: Mandryka on March 02, 2009, 12:52:38 PM
This guy's so cool in the third sonata - he's become my favourite performer (apart from Bolet maybe)

That Fiorentino disc is for sure tempting.
"One good thing about music, when it hits- you feel no pain" Bob Marley

ezodisy

Quote from: Mandryka on March 02, 2009, 12:52:38 PM
Listened to it a couple of times -- but can't say I enjoyed it.

I've never much enjoyed her playing though -- maybe it's a blind spot.

Same here, I just thoguht it was interesting to hear how youthful she still sounds (no sense of greying profundity taking over like with some musicians)

Quote from: George on March 02, 2009, 04:21:02 PM
Any opinions on Nadia Reisenberg's Chopin? I see that Bridge has issued a 4 CD set of her Chopin. The set was mastered by Seth Winner.

can you link that please? Until now I don't think there's been much of a chance to hear her Chopin

George

Quote from: ezodisy on March 02, 2009, 10:56:38 PM
can you link that please? Until now I don't think there's been much of a chance to hear her Chopin

Sure - http://www.bridgerecords.com/pages/catalog/9276.htm

ezodisy

Thanks, not a set I intend to buy but I like the repertoire with 1 big work (sonata 3)

George

Quote from: ezodisy on March 03, 2009, 04:16:41 AM
Thanks, not a set I intend to buy but I like the repertoire with 1 big work (sonata 3)

What did you think of the samples?

ezodisy

I played both but couldn't concentrate to the end. Sorry that tends to happen these days. The set isn't cheap so you'd have to consider how much of a specialist collection you want to have. Brand probably had a very good teacher but Brand was one in a million and had something you can't teach, like some other great pianists.

Renfield

With apologies if it's been brought up before, I'm quite intrigued by this set:




I recall Wanderer purchasing it of late, but since these are apparently older recordings gathered in one box, I thought I'd ask for opinions from the entire resident Chopin collective. ;)

jwinter

Quote from: Renfield on March 03, 2009, 10:02:00 AM
With apologies if it's been brought up before, I'm quite intrigued by this set:




I recall Wanderer purchasing it of late, but since these are apparently older recordings gathered in one box, I thought I'd ask for opinions from the entire resident Chopin collective. ;)

I got a copy of that set last week, actually, and am slowly working my way through it.  I've listened to the Preludes and about half the Nocturnes so far, and was quite impressed by both on first hearing.  Ohlsson takes a slow, rather ruminative approach in places, and while at times the tempo teeters close to collapse it never quite does, and indeed he does a fine job of never losing sight of the rhythm.  It's not all about slowness, though, and at times he can also burst out with ferocious technique and speed.  He's not doing a simpleminded "play the slow movements REALLY slow and the fast movements REALLY fast" kind of thing either; I dare say he has a very personal approach, at least in the few pieces I've heard so far.  I'm really looking forward to hearing the rest of the set.  Beautifully recorded too.

I also have the EMI recordings of the Preludes & Nocturnes that he did in the 1970s, and these are totally different -- you'd never know it's the same pianist, particularly in the Nocturnes.  His EMI Nocturnes are good, but very straight-laced if not to say clinical, with tempi so regular one wonders at points if he's literally using a metronome.  The Nocturnes from the complete set, OTOH, remind me a lot of Arrau or Moravec -- much freer in approach, each phrase carefully molded, the whole thing slower and quieter but even more powerful because of that.

I think next I'll see what he makes of the Etudes...
The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
And his affections dark as Erebus.
Let no such man be trusted.

-- William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

Renfield

Quote from: jwinter on March 03, 2009, 11:01:57 AM
I got a copy of that set last week, actually, and am slowly working my way through it.  I've listened to the Preludes and about half the Nocturnes so far, and was quite impressed by both on first hearing.  Ohlsson takes a slow, rather ruminative approach in places, and while at times the tempo teeters close to collapse it never quite does, and indeed he does a fine job of never losing sight of the rhythm.  It's not all about slowness, though, and at times he can also burst out with ferocious technique and speed.  He's not doing a simpleminded "play the slow movements REALLY slow and the fast movements REALLY fast" kind of thing either; I dare say he has a very personal approach, at least in the few pieces I've heard so far.  I'm really looking forward to hearing the rest of the set.  Beautifully recorded too.

I also have the EMI recordings of the Preludes & Nocturnes that he did in the 1970s, and these are totally different -- you'd never know it's the same pianist, particularly in the Nocturnes.  His EMI Nocturnes are good, but very straight-laced if not to say clinical, with tempi so regular one wonders at points if he's literally using a metronome.  The Nocturnes from the complete set, OTOH, remind me a lot of Arrau or Moravec -- much freer in approach, each phrase carefully molded, the whole thing slower and quieter but even more powerful because of that.

I think next I'll see what he makes of the Etudes...

Very interesting. Thank you! :)

Herman

I have Ohlssohn's Mazurkas, Etudes (and the Cello Sonata with Carter Breyer) and I can't say they're competetive. Ultimately these performances just aren't very musical to my ears.

Wanderer

I haven't received the set yet to be able to share any views (except for the fact that my first impressions, based on several online samples, was overtly positive). I'll be reading any insights here with much interest.  8)

Mandryka

#498
Quote from: Novi on March 02, 2009, 02:32:47 PM
I haven't heard Fiorentino's 3rd, but love his 2nd.

Quote from: Holden on March 02, 2009, 04:56:16 PM
Fiorentino is one of my favourite pianists period! Like Novi, I have him in the 2nd but haven't heard his 3rd. I'd be very interested in hearing his performance of it as well as the D960.

Quote from: rubio on March 02, 2009, 10:37:49 PM
That Fiorentino disc is for sure tempting.

Try this:

http://www.mediafire.com/?zortjwnj4id
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

B_cereus

a couple of years ago i picked up a really cheap CD of Chopin nocturnes/etudes/fantasie-op49 played by an obscure pianist called Dubravka Tomsic and i was quite impressed. it may be bargain bucket, but i think this pianist's Chopin is really good and bears comparison with more famous names.