Piano Solo or Concerto Recordings that make you go "wow"

[Joe_Campbell]

Gould - Bach
Gieseking - Debussy
Aimard - Ligeti Etudes or Messiaen Vingt Regards
Pollini - Stravinsky Petrushka 3 movements for piano

You already said that.

[adamdavid80]

All right folks, heading to the shop in 30 minutes....name one performance of one piano concerto that is an absolute MUST-HAVE.

You name, I obey.  go!

[adamdavid80]

LINK >> Bartók: Piano Concertos Nos.1-3

This is one of the most intimidating discs for me to purchase.  Bartok DESTROYS every neophytes vision of what classical music is.  As it turns out, the store didn't have it in stock, so I wound up with a Horowitz's Last Concert and Couperin Pieces de Violes (go figure, they have that, but not the Bartok). 

But this isn't the first time that the Anda Bartok has been recommended to me - and for good reason, from what I've heard of it.  All around, incredible stuff.  It will be found and it will be gotten, one day soon.

Anything else?  What else merits the "Whaddya mean you don't have ____?  It's the most beautiful/incredible/mind-boggling/anatomy defying performance ever!"

[MishaK]

A few that I don't think have been mentioned:

Annie Fischer, Brahms Sonata No.3, BBC - total emotional identification with the Sturm und Drang of the young Brahms.

Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Grieg Concerto, Frühbeck de Burgos, BBC - if this doesn't make you leap out of your seat to scream "Bravo!" at the end, nothing ever will.

ABM, Ravel, Gaspard de la Nuit, 1960 Prague, Music & Arts - I've had pianist friends over who wanted to listen to just the beginning of this over and over. I hate superlatives, but I have yet to hear anyone achieve such total control of sonority without the slightest hint of any technical issues as ABM does here. This is by far the best Gaspard on disc I am aware of.

Daniel Barenboim, Waldstein Sonata, EMI DVD - how the last movement organically evolves out of the second movement here has to be heard to be believed. I heard this live and was left nearly in tears at the sheer beauty of it.

Martha Argerich, Chopin Barcarolle and Ravel Jeux d'Eaux from her DG Debut CD - to me still the best of Martha ever. The Chopin has a spunk and nonchalance no one has matched yet and the Ravel sounds like pearls and beads just trickling off the keyboard. Just stunning pianism.

Ivan Moravec, Chopin Nocturnes, Nonesuch - this disc sealed my love for Moravec's playing. The touch, the atmosphere, the voicing, all pure Moravec.

Emil Gilels, Grieg Lyric Pieces, DG - leave it to Gilels, who to me is the most unpretentious and natural of all pianists, to restore dignity to these musical gems, which are so often butchered by beginners and therefore too often ignored by the pros.

Gilels/Jochum/BPO/DG, Brahms Piano Concertos - Simply a must have.

[ezodisy]

a big "wow" release here:

http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/2800992

Frederic Chopin:
CD1
Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 11
Emil Gilels, piano
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra
Kyrill Kodrashin, conductor
Live Recording, 12/10/1962, Moscow

Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 21
Sviatoslav Richter, piano
USSR State Symphony Orchestra
Evgeny Svetlanov, conductor
Live Recording, 20/12/1966

CD2
Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante in E flat major Op. 22
Viktoria Postnikova, conductor
USSR Ministry of Culture Symphony Orchestra
Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, conductor
Live Recording: 18/04/1990

24 Preludes, Op. 28
Igor Zhukov, piano
Recording: 1983

CD3
12 Etudes, Op. 10
12 Etudes, Op. 25
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano
Recording: 1959, 1960 (monaural)

[Jay F]

Really?  Am I overlooking it, and is there really no mention of Alfred Brendel anywhere in here?

I love Brendel.

It was hearing this recording of Schubert's D.960 and Wanderer in a record store in DC one day in the '80s that got me listening to classical music. I might not be posting here today if I hadn't heard this CD that day.

[Jay F]

Staier is a recent discovery for me, and the aforementioned Alfred Brendel on No. 21 makes me feel like a 12 year old girl at a 1964 Beatles concert.

I didn't like Staier much, so I sold the CD. I'm not much of a HIPpie, I've decided (though I like Hogwood's Mozart).

I'm listening to Brendel's 21 now, on what must be the original CD release. It's on Philips, but it's got a light blue label rather than the customary red-on-white. It is nice. I'm not sure it's my favorite. I'm not sure which is my favorite. My "imprint" version is either the Anda or the Gulda, so I like those a lot. I probably listened to the Anda most early on. I had it on cassette.

[adamdavid80]

I love Brendel.

It was hearing this recording of Schubert's D.960 and Wanderer in a record store in DC one day in the '80s that got me listening to classical music. I might not be posting here today if I hadn't heard this CD that day.

Well, that disc is certianly a great starting point, and could make the most ardent anti-classical person begin to open up to it!

I didn't like Staier much, so I sold the CD. I'm not much of a HIPpie, I've decided (though I like Hogwood's Mozart).

I'm listening to Brendel's 21 now, on what must be the original CD release. It's on Philips, but it's got a light blue label rather than the customary red-on-white. It is nice. I'm not sure it's my favorite. I'm not sure which is my favorite. My "imprint" version is either the Anda or the Gulda, so I like those a lot. I probably listened to the Anda most early on. I had it on cassette.

What I like about Staier is he brings a quality no one else does.  Some of his interpretations  - I'm thinking of how he approaches the 2nd movement of the 17th concerto - actually sound really foreboding and almost...fearful.  But definitely not "pretty"which is how every other interpretation boils down.  But, yeah, if I "could only have one" Staier wouldn't be it. 

The Bredndel 467 (the 21st) that I have is from '82 with ASMF, Marriner conducting.  (which is a little weird, bc it's paired with a recording of the 20th from 1974.

[Jay F]

The Brendel 467 (the 21st) that I have is from '82 with ASMF, Marriner conducting.  (which is a little weird, bc it's paired with a recording of the 20th from 1974.

There's no date on mine. It's on a CD that includes #15/K.450, Philips 400-018-2. Also Marriner/ASMF

[adamdavid80]

There's no date on mine. It's on a CD that includes #15/K.450, Philips 400-018-2. Also Marriner/ASMF

I had that one once!  The cover is Brendel standing with a weird orange background, right?  I believe that it's now OOP...a collector's item!

[Jay F]

I had that one once!  The cover is Brendel standing with a weird orange background, right?  I believe that it's now OOP...a collector's item!

Yes, that's the one. It was an early digital LP.

[rappy]

If I had to limit myself to one recording, I would pick this one:

(1982)

supernatural

[71 dB]

If I had to limit myself to one recording, I would pick this one:

(1982)

supernatural

Back in those days analog recorders gave better sound quality than digital. This performance was recorded both digitally (that was believed to be superior) and analogically (just in case). Well, later people realised that it took some time for digital to really surpass analog studio gear. This recording has been re-released analog tapes as source material few years ago. My father just bought that version. I have Gould's 1955 multichannel re-performance SACD and that is a real "wow" recording! 

[Joe_Campbell]

Right now I'm listening to Steven Osborne play Messiaen's Vingt Regards. I far prefer this version to that of Michel Beroff's, which was my only experience previous to this one. Right from the first movement, it's clear his approach is going to be outstanding.

[ezodisy]

Right now I'm listening to Steven Osborne play Messiaen's Vingt Regards. I far prefer this version to that of Michel Beroff's, which was my only experience previous to this one. Right from the first movement, it's clear his approach is going to be outstanding.

Try to hear the Peter Serkin recording on RCA (I think).

[bhodges]

Try to hear the Peter Serkin recording on RCA (I think).

Yes, it's on RCA and it's quite marvelous.  I find the recorded sound a little on the dry side, but the performance is excellent. 

--Bruce

[Joe_Campbell]

Guys, for Vingt Regard don't waste your time on those...go for the the gold, AIMARD! Messiaen himself and even Ligeti were blown away by it, if that's not a ringing endorsement I don't know what is!

I've only heard some samples of it on Amazon. I picked up Osborne's for a budget price on Hyperion. The recording sound is amazing. Osborne's touch is incredible sensitive, especially in the quiet chordal passages. The music is taxing in one listen, though. An intensely person religious experience for Messiaen, no doubt, but at some times it seems impenetrable. I felt I was close to "getting it" in Noel, after taking a break from listening, but some of the music still eludes me. Only some

I might look into the Aimard disc. I have him playing Carter's Night Fantasies coupled with Gaspard de la Nuit. Although the sound is a bit too reverby, his performances are amazing!

[Martin Lind]

Beethoven Waldstein Arthur Schnabel, a very old recording. I have two others, Gulda and Horowitz, but no match for Schnabel, this beginning of the last movement is absolutely magical.

Chopin piano concertoes with Rubinstein, wonderful ( but many other works too)

Beethovens last piano sonatas ( Opus 109 - 111) with Charles Rosen, especially 109 and 110

Liszts h moll Sonata and Schuberts B minor with Sviatoslav Richter ( from the Brilliant set).

Just now I have acquired this set:



Decca piano masterworks. This box is very very cheap although there may be things which are even cheaper. But you get a lot of piano recordings with famous names. In the last weeks I enjoyed it alot.

For example

Brahms 1st piano concerto with Rubinstein. I have another recording which is very brilliant, but leaves me cold but Rubinstein, Israel Philharmonics brings you to the heart of the matter.

I enjoyed also very much: Barenboim with Schuberts Improptus, Sviatoslav Richter with Haydn, Clara Haskil with Mozart, the Prokoviews 1. piano concerto, the Rachmaninov and a lot of other things. Bach with Schiff was also nice, but there is really a lot and I like to have bought this box. I spent 70 Euro for 50 CDs which is really a genuine bargain for so many nice things. I have alternative recordings for most things in this box and I doubt wether this is always the "very best thing", but I think the box is really fine and up to now I enjoy it very much and often it brings new insights.

[ezodisy]

Messiaen himself and even Ligeti were blown away by it, if that's not a ringing endorsement I don't know what is!

As has been mentioned before, Messiaen and his wife were blown away by every recording of that piece. They would fawn over any pianist who performed it, writing very generous notes and lauding the performance to the sky. Don't be fooled. Peter Serkin all the way still.

[lukeottevanger]

As has been mentioned before, Messiaen and his wife were blown away by every recording of that piece. They would fawn over any pianist who performed it, writing very generous notes and lauding the performance to the sky. Don't be fooled. Peter Serkin all the way still.

I was about to say the same thing - but even more so, Messiaen had a (not unpleasant) habit of lauding pretty much every recording that came out of his music, piano, organ, orchestral, whatever, as being wonderful and just what he wanted and so on and so on. Not that I'm dissing Aimard in the slightest - he's an awesome pianist.