Most Exciting Version of Balakirev's Islamey

[Zhiliang]

What is the better recordings of this work? My personal favourite is Pletnev's live performance at Carnegie Hall. Any other good alternatives?

[carlos]

Simon Barer. No better version IMO

[sidoze]

for buildup and momentum which results in an overwhelming ending, Pogorelich from the early '90s is incomparable. Otherwise Horowitz, Barere, some others (Mustonen has an interesting one -- as always).

[Zhiliang]

Simon Barer. No better version IMO

Would that be the 1947 version at carnegie hall or the mid 1930s studio recording?

[BorisG]

Cziffra (EMI), Gavrilov.

[Holden]

Another vote for Barere and I believe that this is the mid 30s version.

[carlos]

And as far as I know, Horowitz never recorded it.

[BorisG]

And as far as I know, Horowitz never recorded it.

I saw an online reference that Horowitz's wife refused to allow an RCA release of.

A bootleg is available online. Dates attributed are 1949 to 1953.

It may be the January 23, 1950 Carnegie Hall performance.

A Horowitz discography-

http://web.telia.com/~u85420275/chronological.htm

[Zhiliang]

Anyone heard the Boris Berezovsky's version?

[Brian]

I'm not sure how it stacks up against the competition, but Alfred Brendel's recording is maybe the wildest, jumpiest performance Brendel ever committed to posterity. Worth hearing just to say you've heard Brendel play 'Islamey.'

[Kontrapunctus]

I saw an online reference that Horowitz's wife refused to allow an RCA release of.

A bootleg is available online. Dates attributed are 1949 to 1953.

It may be the January 23, 1950 Carnegie Hall performance.

A Horowitz discography-

http://web.telia.com/~u85420275/chronological.htm

It's now available on this RCA CD:



It's his own "version" of it. I prefer the standard one.

[Kontrapunctus]

Anyone heard the Boris Berezovsky's version?

Yes, it's excellent. My current first choice is Gavrilov's on EMI. Had Pogorelich recorded it in the 90s, then that would be my preferred version. I've never heard anything like the way he played in SF as an encore back then...whew!

[val]

Cziffra (HUNGARATON) or Alfred Brendel (VOX)

[Mandryka]

Pogorelich, Athens 2003 (I have better sound than the 2007 one posted above, I think. Better performance too I would say. The audience are so shocked they can't stop themselves from applauding midway.); John Ogdon (1962)

[Mandryka]

I imagine ...

No, I don't think so. In mine the audience spontaneously applaud at 2mins33.


http://www.goear.com/files/external.swf?file=a4a030a

There's a priceless commentary by the uploader on the 2003 one you posted.