Romantic Solo Piano

San Antone · July 03, 2015, 08:14:18 AM

There are threads on GMG devoted to aspects of this larger topic, some focusing on a single composer like Schumann or Chopin, or a narrower slice. But I thought it might be good to have one thread for the solo piano music say from 1840 onward, including those 20th century composers like Sorabji, Rzewski and others who continued the virtuosic tradition that arguably peaked in the 19th century.

Post about recordings of the solo piano music especially by composers possibly under represented.

San Antone · July 03, 2015, 09:17:40 AM

No love for Romantic Solo Piano recordings?

Godowsky; Medtner; Alkan; not to mention Schumann, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Liszt?

Anyone?

Godowsky's Studies on Chopin's Etudes has been recorded by Marc-Andre Hamelin and it is an amazing recording.

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North Star · July 03, 2015, 09:35:00 AM

My favourite Alkan recordings

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San Antone · July 03, 2015, 10:20:46 AM

I have heard that Hamelin Alkan disc but not the other one.

Florestan · July 03, 2015, 10:35:38 AM

This is very good.

Liner notes: http://www.feltsman.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=101826262e7e31309da70c28230104cc&page=notes&liner=notes-chopin-nocturns

And this is very good, too, and quite fits in the Romantic bill --- in fact, I have never heard a more Romanticized Bach (there are moments when one is unable to tell if it is really Bach or Beethoven or Schumann). I just love it.

San Antone · July 03, 2015, 10:42:28 AM

Quote from: Florestan on July 03, 2015, 10:35:38 AM
This is very good.

Liner notes: http://www.feltsman.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=101826262e7e31309da70c28230104cc&page=notes&liner=notes-chopin-nocturns

And this is very good, too, and quite fits in the Romantic bill --- in fact, I have never heard a more Romanticized Bach (there are moments when one is unable to tell if it is really Bach or Beethoven or Schumann). I just love it.

Very interesting! I will listen to both if I can find them for streaming. Feltsman's later recordings are something I need to listen more of, and Tipo's Bach will be a new treat.

Todd · July 03, 2015, 10:52:22 AM

Sticking with some B-list piano composers for now:

Superb discs all.

This is a large subject, with many thousands of available recordings, of course. Where to stop?

Florestan · July 03, 2015, 10:56:47 AM

Quote from: sanantonio on July 03, 2015, 10:42:28 AM
Very interesting! I will listen to both if I can find them for streaming. Feltsman's later recordings are something I need to listen more of, and Tipo's Bach will be a new treat.

Both of them are on Youtube.

Speaking of under representation, this 3-cd box features some Brahms that one doesn´t hear very often --- unfortunately, because the music is as good as it gets and then some.

San Antone · July 03, 2015, 10:57:18 AM

Quote from: Todd on July 03, 2015, 10:52:22 AM
Sticking with some B-list piano composers for now:

Superb discs all.

This is a large subject, with many thousands of available recordings, of course. Where to stop?

Three recordings, and most of that music, I've not heard. You're right; a huge subject, but since the main names have been covered in other threads devoted to specific compoers, maybe your idea of focusing on "B-List" composers is how to begin.

Great suggestions.

mc ukrneal · July 03, 2015, 10:58:59 AM

Quote from: sanantonio on July 03, 2015, 09:17:40 AM
No love for Romantic Solo Piano recordings?

Godowsky; Medtner; Alkan; not to mention Schumann, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Liszt?

Anyone?

Godowsky's Studies on Chopin's Etudes has been recorded by Marc-Andre Hamelin and it is an amazing recording.

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I think two hours is the limit!

I love that Godowsky disc - one of the favorites among all my discs.

I would add:
Bortkiewicz: Series by Jouni Somero on FC records - I have about half the series and enjoy both music and performance
Dvorak for two hand on Naxos - In particular the disc with Legends/From the Bohemian Forest
Balakirev: On ASV, Nicholas Walker did two very good discs of piano music (not sure if available now)
Gottschalk: 8 disc series on Hyperion by Philip Martin. Outstanding.

Florestan · July 03, 2015, 10:59:40 AM

Quote from: Todd on July 03, 2015, 10:52:22 AM
This is a large subject, with many thousands of available recordings, of course. Where to stop?

I think the idea is not to stop.

San Antone · July 03, 2015, 11:03:22 AM

Quote from: mc ukrneal on July 03, 2015, 10:58:59 AM
I think two hours is the limit!

I love that Godowsky disc - one of the favorites among all my discs.

I would add:
Bortkiewicz: Series by Jouni Somero on FC records - I have about half the series and enjoy both music and performance
Dvorak for two hand on Naxos - In particular the disc with Legends/From the Bohemian Forest
Balakirev: On ASV, Nicholas Walker did two very good discs of piano music (not sure if available now)
Gottschalk: 8 disc series on Hyperion by Philip Martin. Outstanding.

Nice. I had forgotten about Gottschalk and am not familiar with Bortkiewicz.

Florestan · July 03, 2015, 11:18:48 AM

On a lighter note, but most enjoyable.

and the complete piano music of Rossini (8 vols) played by Stefan Irmer

(too many images to post, general review here: http://www.allmusic.com/album/rossini-piano-works-vol-8-p%C3%A9ch%C3%A9s-de-vieillesse-mw0001398520 )

and the complete piano music of Donizetti

Review here: http://www.allmusic.com/album/donizetti-complete-piano-music-box-set-mw0001560045

Granted, these are not going to make you think about life and death, but they will certainly make a cloudy day look sunny and, in the case of Rossini, will put at least a smile, if not a laughter, on your face.

San Antone · July 03, 2015, 11:22:08 AM

Fantastic! Piano music by opera composers. Love it.

Florestan · July 03, 2015, 11:49:55 AM

And of course this:

Review here: http://www.allmusic.com/album/dvor%C3%A1k-complete-piano-works-mw0001984127.

And this

And this

San Antone · July 03, 2015, 11:58:52 AM

Quote from: Florestan on July 03, 2015, 11:49:55 AM
And of course this:

And this

These Dvorak and Grieg I've heard and agree they are very good. Granados is a composer very under represented in my collection. Time to get some G.

Florestan · July 03, 2015, 12:18:48 PM

Quote from: sanantonio on July 03, 2015, 11:58:52 AM
Granados is a composer very under represented in my collection. Time to get some G.

I have only the 4-CD box I posted and am very pleased with it.

I assume you are familiar with this as well:

My own review (sort of) : http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,9.msg19995.html#msg19995

San Antone · July 03, 2015, 12:32:35 PM

Quote from: Florestan on July 03, 2015, 12:18:48 PM
I have only the 4-CD box I posted and am very pleased with it.

I assume you are familiar with this as well:

My own review (sort of) : http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,9.msg19995.html#msg19995

Yes; but in my mind I put all the French into a separate category from the rest of the Romantic composers.

North Star · July 03, 2015, 12:38:59 PM

Two Sibelius discs I wouldn't mind owning.

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San Antone · July 03, 2015, 12:44:11 PM

Quote from: North Star on July 03, 2015, 12:38:59 PM
Two Sibelius discs I wouldn't mind owning.

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I have listened to Kyoto Tabe's Sibelius on Spotify and have found that for composers for whom the symphonic music does nothign for me, I can enjoy their solo piano works. This is true for Sibelius. Do you know the Glenn Gould recordings? That's where I first heard this music.