Prokofiev's Paddy Wagon

Started by Danny, April 07, 2007, 09:29:23 AM

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eyeresist

Quote from: Mirror Image on February 15, 2012, 05:50:07 PMWell, the Ashkenazy came highly recommended to me from someone who thought the Maazel was as overrated as I did. :) This said, it's going to be hard to beat Ozawa/BSO in Romeo & Juliet for me, but we'll see how Ashkenazy measures up. I like his Cinderella recording a lot and many of his other Prokofiev recordings.

Good to hear about the Kuchar though and for the price I paid for them, the audio quality isn't that important to me. Did I just say this? ??? But it's true, I knew buying the Kuchar recordings there was going to be something wrong, because there are no recordings that are perfect. I'm not after perfection, but raw performances that, like you said, have that Slavic bite. The way the music, IMHO, is supposed to be heard and played.

A slight contradiction? Maybe not - the music contains both classical elegance and raw power IMO. The balance is tricky.

Mirror Image

Quote from: eyeresist on February 15, 2012, 06:16:44 PM
A slight contradiction? Maybe not - the music contains both classical elegance and raw power IMO. The balance is tricky.

I suppose so. I'm just looking for good performances that don't frustrate me like Gergiev. 8)

eyeresist

I agree that Gergiev is no good, except for the aforementioned Scythian Suite, plus Ivan the Terrible.

Mirror Image

Quote from: eyeresist on February 15, 2012, 06:43:44 PM
I agree that Gergiev is no good, except for the aforementioned Scythian Suite, plus Ivan the Terrible.

Scythian Suite is the only performance of Gergiev's Prokofiev I enjoy.

Karl Henning

 Quote from: Mirror Image on February 15, 2012, 07:25:17 PM
. . . that they weren't after perfection, but rather intensity.
 
Oof, not that false dichotomy again! : )
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Karl Henning

 Quote from: DavidW on February 15, 2012, 08:18:43 PM
Ditto.  My favorite now is Ozawa, but there is great atmosphere in the Kuchar performances. :)
 
Ah, I wasn't sure if you were familiar with the Kuchar, Davey.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Sergeant Rock

Quote from: karlhenning on February 16, 2012, 02:04:03 AM
Oof, not that false dichotomy again! : )

Szell and Cleveland, somehow ;D , manage to be both perfect and intense in their great recording of the Fifth.

Sarge
the phone rings and somebody says,
"hey, they made a movie about
Mahler, you ought to go see it.
he was as f*cked-up as you are."
                               --Charles Bukowski, "Mahler"

Sergeant Rock

Quote from: Mirror Image on February 15, 2012, 01:05:22 PM
Just bought a nice little haul of Kuchar/Wit Prokofiev recordings from Naxos:

I may have to check those out. Kuchar really impresses me. I  think his set of Shostakovich Jazz and Ballet Suites is even better than Chailly's. And his Nielsen cycle I prefer to any of the competition.

Sarge
the phone rings and somebody says,
"hey, they made a movie about
Mahler, you ought to go see it.
he was as f*cked-up as you are."
                               --Charles Bukowski, "Mahler"

Karl Henning

 Quote from: Sergeant Rock on Today at 07:16:27 AM
. . . And [Kuchar's] Nielsen cycle I prefer to any of the competition.
 
Gosh, really, Sarge? (Haven't heard Kuchar at all, myself.)
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

mc ukrneal

Quote from: Mirror Image on February 15, 2012, 05:50:07 PM
Well, the Ashkenazy came highly recommended to me from someone who thought the Maazel was as overrated as I did. :) This said, it's going to be hard to beat Ozawa/BSO in Romeo & Juliet for me, but we'll see how Ashkenazy measures up. I like his Cinderella recording a lot and many of his other Prokofiev recordings.
I like both Maazel and Ashkenazy (as I wrote elsewhere). Romeo and Juliet is very lucky on disc.
Be kind to your fellow posters!!

Karl Henning

What, you don't know the Ozawa/BSO recording? I'm cryin' here! : )
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

madaboutmahler

Quote from: Sergeant Rock on February 16, 2012, 02:16:27 AM
I may have to check those out. Kuchar really impresses me. I  think his set of Shostakovich Jazz and Ballet Suites is even better than Chailly's. And his Nielsen cycle I prefer to any of the competition.

Sarge

Have not forgotten the Kuchar/Nielsen recommendation, Sarge. Shall definitely pick it up soon as I am keen to have another Nielsen set.

Re R+J: I just have the Maazel, but have heard the Gergiev. Might want to pick up the Ashkenazy as well soon. And I should probably get the Ozawa soon as well.
My favourite R+J on disc though, as you know, is the selections disc from Abbado. Truly brilliant.
Was browsing on amazon and came across this....
[asin]B00000E2MT[/asin]

Anyone know of it? Certainly sounds interesting....
"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven

Karl Henning

Daniel, your favorite of a ballet is the ballet incomplete? This cannot be!

I've got a Prokofiev hammer here from Le pas d'acier:
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

TheGSMoeller

Quote from: karlhenning on February 16, 2012, 04:10:59 AM
Daniel, your favorite of a ballet is the ballet incomplete? This cannot be!

I've got a Prokofiev hammer here from Le pas d'acier:


Haha, that woman doesn't look too threatened!

madaboutmahler

Quote from: karlhenning on February 16, 2012, 04:10:59 AM
Daniel, your favorite of a ballet is the ballet incomplete? This cannot be!

I've got a Prokofiev hammer here from Le pas d'acier:

:o

I can assure you that I love the whole ballet! Just haven't found the right performance of it yet! And that Abbado is so so good! ...  0:)

(in hoping you will put the Prokofiev hammer down, so I don't have to fetch my much bigger Mahler hammer) I shall be getting the Ozawa and Ashkenazy soon!
"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven

Karl Henning

 Quote from: TheGSMoeller on Today at 09:12:44 AM

Haha, that woman doesn't look too threatened!
 
They're co-workers. But if Daniel makes trouble, they know how to swing those babies.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

TheGSMoeller

Quote from: karlhenning on February 16, 2012, 04:22:48 AM
They're co-workers. But if Daniel makes trouble, they know how to swing those babies.

;D

Sergeant Rock

Quote from: karlhenning on February 16, 2012, 02:18:43 AM
Gosh, really, Sarge?

Yeah....surprised me too...but then Kuchar tends to do that.

Sarge
the phone rings and somebody says,
"hey, they made a movie about
Mahler, you ought to go see it.
he was as f*cked-up as you are."
                               --Charles Bukowski, "Mahler"

Karl Henning

 Quote from: Sergeant Rock on Today at 09:33:30 AM
Yeah....surprised me too...but then Kuchar tends to do that.

Sarge
 
I am glad to know your thoughts here. Fact is, Kuchar has suffered in my view from paulb's enthusiasm ; )
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Mirror Image

Quote from: karlhenning on February 16, 2012, 04:10:59 AM
Daniel, your favorite of a ballet is the ballet incomplete? This cannot be!

I've got a Prokofiev hammer here from Le pas d'acier:

:P