Ivan Moravec

[George]

I've got it!

I've only listened to the Chopin playing (two nocturnes, two mazurkas, Scherzo No 1), but it's as wonderful as you would expect. I believe the recital actually dates back to sometime around 1983, but this is its first (?) appearance on CD.

Thanks for the report, Brian. Any new repertoire on that CD that hasn't appeared before on CD by Moravec?

[Mandryka]

I hope all the Moravec freaks around here know his recording of The Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue. Gentle, lyrical, confidential recording -- the perfect antedote to Weissnberg.

[Brian]

Thanks for the report, Brian. Any new repertoire on that CD that hasn't appeared before on CD by Moravec?

Here's the contents of the new CD:
Beethoven Sonata Op. 28 "Pastoral"
Brahms Pieces Op. 118, Nos. 1 and 2
Brahms Capriccio in B minor from Op. 76
Brahms Rhapsody No. 2 in G minor, Op. 79
Chopin Nocturnes 32/1 and 27/1
Chopin Mazurkas 17/4 and 50/3
Chopin Scherzo No. 1

Looking at IvanMoravec.net, this is the third release of a Moravec Chopin Scherzo No. 1, the second Beethoven "Pastoral" (the first was on Connoisseur Society in the '60s), the second recording of all but one of the Brahms pieces, and the only Moravec recording ever released of the Brahms Op. 118 No. 1.

[George]

Here's the contents of the new CD:
.... the only Moravec recording ever released of the Brahms Op. 118 No. 1.

Thanks, you just saved me some dough. 

[Bogey]

Here is what is on that sealed 4 lp set (Classics Record Library Book-of-the-Month Club SRL 1194, 1969), I just picked up two weekends ago, George and others:

Beethoven: Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 Appassionata
1962 Manhattan Towers, New York session

Beethoven: 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C minor
1963 Rudolfinum, Prague session

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Martin Turnovsky, conductor
1963 Musikverein, Vienna session

Beethoven: Sonata No. 14 in C# minor, Op. 27, No. 2 Moonlight
Beethoven: Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, Pathetique
Beethoven: Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90
Beethoven: Bagatelle in a minor, G. 173 Für Elise
1964 Manhattan Towers Hotel, New York session

Beethoven: Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, Op. 81a Les Adieux, l'Absence et le Retour
Beethoven: Sonata in D major, Op. 28 Pastoral
Beethoven: Bagatelle in A major, Op. 33 No. 4
1969 Columbia University Chapel, NY and Italy sessions

It is not all of his Beethoven, but a very large percentage.  His sound on vinyl, like Richter, is absolutely mesmerizing for me.

[Bogey]

FWIW, and this may already be posted here, here is the site I refer to for his discography:

http://www.ivanmoravec.net/discography/discography.html

My goal is to have all his vinyl in decent shape.  I also need to email these folks and let them know that one of the lp numbers is missing a digit as I am holding it in my hand as I type.

[Bogey]

Ah, here is a pic of my $10 find:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Beethoven-by-Ivan-Moravec-pianist-Concerto-4-in-G-Major_W0QQitemZ140354825216QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMusic_on_Vinyl?hash=item20adccac00

[George]

It is not all of his Beethoven, but a very large percentage.  His sound on vinyl, like Richter, is absolutely mesmerizing for me.

Glad you are enjoying it, Bill. He has a lovely tone for sure. I bet the warmth of the vinyl coupled with his gorgeous tone make for some delicious listening. His Pathetique is the absolutely the best of over two dozen versions that I have heard. 

[Holden]

Here is what is on that sealed 4 lp set (Classics Record Library Book-of-the-Month Club SRL 1194, 1969), I just picked up two weekends ago, George and others:

Beethoven: Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 Appassionata
1962 Manhattan Towers, New York session

Beethoven: 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C minor
1963 Rudolfinum, Prague session

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Martin Turnovsky, conductor
1963 Musikverein, Vienna session

Beethoven: Sonata No. 14 in C# minor, Op. 27, No. 2 Moonlight
Beethoven: Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, Pathetique
Beethoven: Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90
Beethoven: Bagatelle in a minor, G. 173 Für Elise
1964 Manhattan Towers Hotel, New York session

Beethoven: Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, Op. 81a Les Adieux, l'Absence et le Retour
Beethoven: Sonata in D major, Op. 28 Pastoral
Beethoven: Bagatelle in A major, Op. 33 No. 4
1969 Columbia University Chapel, NY and Italy sessions

It is not all of his Beethoven, but a very large percentage.  His sound on vinyl, like Richter, is absolutely mesmerizing for me.

I have a lot of this



Beethoven: 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C minor
1963 Rudolfinum, Prague session

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Martin Turnovsky, conductor
1963 Musikverein, Vienna session

Beethoven: Sonata No. 14 in C# minor, Op. 27, No. 2 Moonlight
Beethoven: Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, Pathetique
Beethoven: Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90


Beethoven: Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, Op. 81a Les Adieux, l'Absence et le Retour.

The Op 13 is excellent and I only prefer Richter's Moscow 1960 version better. Op 90 is peerless IMO and the G major PC is only marginally shaded by the Gilels/Ludwig on Testament.

I've also heard the Appassionata (not sure which one) but have half a dozen recordings that I believe surpass it - three of them by Richter, plus Gilels and Rubinstein.

I'd really like to hear Moravec play the Pastoral Op 28. I have two top notch versions by Gilels and Sokolov which would be very hard to beat but I'm always open to a new recording of one of my favourite piano sonatas (both playing and listening)

[Mandryka]

Agreed =-- if the recording is cheap it may be worth getting for the Pastoral.

[George]

Here's a rare treat, Ivan Moravec playing the Grieg concerto with the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Christopher Keene, in a live broadcast:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?mea5zjyimzt

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?knnu3tdfjwy

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?cz1zmtgznyy

[Mandryka]

FWIW, and this may already be posted here, here is the site I refer to for his discography:

http://www.ivanmoravec.net/discography/discography.html

My goal is to have all his vinyl in decent shape.

Do you have his Janacek -- Overgrown Path?

If so and you're interested in making a fee for a digital transfer -- PM me!

[Brian]

Here's a rare treat, Ivan Moravec playing the Grieg concerto with the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Christopher Keene, in a live broadcast:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?mea5zjyimzt

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?knnu3tdfjwy

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?cz1zmtgznyy

You are a superhero. 

[Coopmv]

You are a superhero. 

Brian,  How are these FLAC downloads?

[George]

You are a superhero. 

0:)

I don't think he ever recorded that work, so I thought I'd post it here.

[George]

Do you have his Janacek -- Overgrown Path?

If so and you're interested in making a fee for a digital transfer -- PM me!

How sweet it would be if Bill learns how to make needledrops of his vinyl.   

[Coopmv]

0:)

I don't think he ever recorded that work, so I thought I'd post it here.

Morning George.  I am enjoying my second day of my staycation.  I believe I need to download some shareware before I can play FLAC on my computer.

[George]

Morning George.  I am enjoying my second day of my staycation.  I believe I need to download some shareware before I can play FLAC on my computer.

FLAC has to be converted to WAV before it can be played on anything. If you Google FLAC, you'll find tons of freeware that does this.

[Brian]

How sweet it would be if Bill learns how to make needledrops of his vinyl. 

Let's travel over to Colorado and teach him. 

[Opus106]

FLAC has to be converted to WAV before it can be played on anything.

No, that's not necessary. Windows has players which can play FLAC without problem. [Link]