RIP Nelson Freire

[vers la flamme]

Just heard that Nelson Freire has died at age 77. Can't say I'm terribly familiar with his work, but I understand this is a big loss to the piano world. Rest in peace.

Recommend me some recordings, and I'll listen to them in tribute.

[VonStupp]

Sad! His Brahms piano concertos came first to mind when you posted:

[Jo498]

Chopin Scherzi etc.
Schumann/Grieg concerti with Kempe cond.

[bhodges]

Yes, a great loss to the piano world. Browsing Amazon, I didn't realize he had made so many recordings. I can heartily recommend this one, of Bartók's Concerto for 2 Pianos, Percussion, and Orchestra, with Martha Argerich as his partner.

https://www.amazon.com/Bart%C3%B3k-Concerto-Percussion-Orchestra-Gal%C3%A1nta/dp/B075ZWNRL2/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=nelson+freire+argerich&qid=1635803374&sr=8-13

--Bruce

[VonStupp]

I haven't heard them in a lifetime, and don't own them anymore, but I remember loving Freire's Villa-Lobos and his duets with Argerich.

   

[Daverz]

I'm glad he had a small comeback on recordings toward the end of his life.  His recordings, both old and recent, are high in quality.  A favorite of the old recordings is the Grieg with Kempe.

[JBS]

Just heard that Nelson Freire has died at age 77. Can't say I'm terribly familiar with his work, but I understand this is a big loss to the piano world. Rest in peace.

Recommend me some recordings, and I'll listen to them in tribute.

IMO, every recording he made is worth having. He was the sort of musician who was good at everything he did.

[Brian]

IMO, every recording he made is worth having. He was the sort of musician who was good at everything he did.

Agreed. And he only ever did anything if he was good at it. This is very sad because he was absolutely tremendous and I think his recorded legacy could have been longer and deeper. But maybe he didn't much like the studio. And Decca did recently release two excellent discs of early radio broadcasts that are sizzling.

A great artist.

[Symphonic Addict]

May this exceptional pianist rest in peace.

[Mookalafalas]

Damn

[ritter]

I saw Nelson Freire live once, in Caracas in the late 70s in IIRC an all-Chopin programme. I practically have no recordings by him in my collection, as my interests really don't much coincide with his core repertoire. The only CD I can recall having is a live concert from Salzburg in 2009 with Martha Argerich, which includes superb renditions of the two-piano versions of Brahms' Haydn Variations and of Ravel's La valse.

R.I.P.

[JBS]

I saw Nelson Freire live once, in Caracas in the late 70s in IIRC an all-Chopin programme. I practically have no recordings by him in my collection, as my interests really don't much coincide with his core repertoire. The only CD I can recall having is a live concert from Salzburg in 2009 with Martha Argerich, which includes superb renditions of the two-piano versions of Brahms' Haydn Variations and of Ravel's La valse.

R.I.P.

Perhaps his Villa Lobos will interest you.

There was a budget re-issue which also seems OOP.
And this was one of his last recordings.

[Florestan]

Sas news indeed. I saw him live 2 years ago during the Enescu festival in Bucharest in a superb rendition of Beethoven's Fourth PC, full of fire and passion. His Brahms, Chopin and Brazilian / Latin American music recordings are outstanding but actually everything he recorded is well worth listening to. A great artist. May God rest him in peace.

[Christabel]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr-rYidfgqw

[André Le Nôtre]

I am not too familiar with his recordings, but I recently heard some of his Bach on the radio and thought it was really superb and engaging. I don't remember which pieces I heard. Any recommendations?

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Yes, a great loss to the piano world. Browsing Amazon, I didn't realize he had made so many recordings. I can heartily recommend this one, of Bartók's Concerto for 2 Pianos, Percussion, and Orchestra, with Martha Argerich as his partner.

https://www.amazon.com/Bart%C3%B3k-Concerto-Percussion-Orchestra-Gal%C3%A1nta/dp/B075ZWNRL2/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=nelson+freire+argerich&qid=1635803374&sr=8-13

--Bruce

Like you, I have that one.  Also another (live) CD with Argerich in Salzburg which I enjoy.  If I am recalling correctly, I did hear him playing some Chopin over the radio which I enjoyed and would like to get some.  Found one of his LPs at a tag sale (of Brahms and ??) but I believe that I ended up getting rid of it (too moldy smelling). 

PD

[Daverz]

One thing I hand't thought of is how his death must be effecting Martha.  They were very close, a more than 60-year friendship.

https://www.youtube.com/v/mr-rYidfgqw

[Iota]

.. And this was one of his last recordings.

I'm much obliged to you for mentioning this recording. To be honest I'd not really connected with Freire in the various pieces of Germanic repertoire I'd heard him play, and listening to this cd was sth of a revelation. He feels so at home in this music and a light came on for me, both in terms of his playing and (not unconnected I feel) with various exquisite felicities of the music.

One thing I hand't thought of is how his death must be effecting Martha.  They were very close, a more than 60-year friendship.

https://www.youtube.com/v/mr-rYidfgqw

Yes, someone posted that earlier upthread and I enjoyed it a lot.

Coincidentally I was talking to his niece (who I'd only just met) just a few weeks ago. She was very close to him and is understandably distraught. Our chat had strayed to Argerich almost immediately, and I can't think of any other two major pianists I associate more closely. She must indeed feel very bereft.

RIP

[Pohjolas Daughter]

One thing I hand't thought of is how his death must be effecting Martha.  They were very close, a more than 60-year friendship.

https://www.youtube.com/v/mr-rYidfgqw

Thank you for posting that video.  Sweet and funny to see and hear them talking about how they first met and see them working together.  When was the video from?

PD

[Symphonic Addict]

Here it is more of the Argerich-Freire friends:

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

A duo who understood each other. This is phenomenal music making and music playing.