Ivo Pogorelich

[Kontrapunctus]

Ivo Pogorelich is back!
https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/ivo-pogorelich-joins-the-sony%C2%A0classical-roster

That should be very interesting...or horrifying...hard to tell!

[Todd]

I will buy his discs without a moment's hesitation.  That written, online videos very clearly demonstrate the pianist is past his prime.

[Mandryka]

The last time I heard him play it was in London four years ago, it was a massive programme -- Dante Sonata, the Schumann Fantasie, Petrushka and the Paganini Variations. I didn't enjoy the concert at all.

If he plays music that interests me I'll listen to the new CD, if it comes out.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

I'm interested. But even during his active recording career I was more impressed with the earlier recordings than the later.

[Kontrapunctus]

I saw him twice in his prime One program featured Ravel's "Gaspard de la nuit," which was even more electrifying than his studio recording, and the other was Rachmaninoff's Sonata No.2, the original version. It was jaw-dropping, and for an encore, Balakirev's "Islamey"! Sadly, I saw him him about 14-15 years ago and neither he nor his playing were recognizable (Glacial tempos, bizarre accents, exaggerated dynamics, wrong notes...you name it). I've read that recent concerts are showing a return to form, so my fingers are crossed! Anyway, if Qobuz carries it and I don't like it, I'm not out much money!

[Iota]

I remember seeing him do Gaspard in the 80's, which made me gasp rather 'ard, as he gave the impression of doing it without the use of sustain pedal at all! I'm sure that's not actually true, but his use of it was so spare as to make it seem so. His does seem an expressive gift that was founded particularly on a prodigious technique, and perhaps was more prone to the ravages of age if he did not find a way to evolve the execution of ideas.

Having said that, I don't mind people experimenting and failing badly, as when it does work it can be revelatory. He sometimes had a tendency to bring down a meat cleaver at the end phrases for example,  amongst other eccentricities, but when a talent like that is slashing around in the dark harvesting fruit, it's always worth a listen, whether or not one ends up with bruised plums. His detached brilliance can be especially effective in Bach and Scarlatti I find.

[Mandryka]

https://www.youtube.com/v/OgtI5kYmg6w

ravel Valses 2018