The Five Beethoven Piano Concertos and The Choral Fantasy

Started by George, July 03, 2008, 05:00:46 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

George

Quote from: val on July 04, 2008, 01:09:29 AM
Regarding the first two Concertos I prefer Rudolf Serkin with Ormandy. But Backhaus with Isserstedt is intersting.

Yes, I recently got this set. Solid performances, especially the 3rd. It has a powerful first movement from Backhaus. I never heard him so intense. 


George

Quote from: Holden on July 04, 2008, 12:09:45 AM
No, I haven't heard that though I do have a version with Ancerl that still doesn't reach the heights of the Turnovsky. Anyway, Gilels/Ludwig is still tops for me

I'll need to revisit this one, as I got the Testament version at a used shop. I previously only had the EMI.

marvinbrown

Quote from: George on July 03, 2008, 05:00:46 AM
Due to Holden's recent LvB sonata threads, I have been listening to more and more Beethoven. I thought it would be great if we could list our favorite(s) for each of these six concerto works and say a paragraph or two about them. You can list as many as you like and if you've only heard one, but you love it, feel free to list it.

I will post some of mine later.  :)

  George you know where I stand on this issue- check your previous PMs  ;)!

  marvin

Todd

1 - Schnabel / Sargent
2 - Sherman / Neumann
3 - A Fischer / Fricsay (DG)
4 - Kempff / Leitner
5 - Pollini / Bohm

(Though on the 5th, the Serkin / Ormandy isn't far behind.)

The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

PSmith08

Quote from: M forever on July 04, 2008, 02:28:27 AM
The Pollini/Böhm recordings are with the WP, not the BP. That is a difference which should be obvious when one listens to them.

You're correct, and I made a mistake - alphabet soup rarely ends well, but it is better than writing everything out in full.

RebLem

The Choral Fantasy does not move me much at all.  I have several recordings, but no favorite.

As for the Piano Concerti, for me, nothing else equals Fleisher/Szell/Cleveland.  I have about 10 sets, but that's head and shoulders above the rest.
"Don't drink and drive; you might spill it."--J. Eugene Baker, aka my late father.

Bogey

Not only do I enjoy the Choral Fantasy, it probably is my favorite Beethoven composition, period.  This Harnoncourt recording is easily in my top ten (possibly #1?) recording that I have on my shelf out of everything (that means all other composers as well) I own George.  There may be a few that trump it from time to time, but off the top of my head I cannot think of any.



There will never be another era like the Golden Age of Hollywood.  We didn't know how to blow up buildings then so we had no choice but to tell great stories with great characters.-Ben Mankiewicz

George

I shall keep an eye out for that one, Bill.

One of my old Music History teachers told me he like the Aimard Concerto recordings. Perhaps there is a box in my future....did these come in a box as well, with the PCs?

George

Quote from: Todd on July 04, 2008, 07:09:46 AM

(Though on the 5th, the Serkin / Ormandy isn't far behind.)

How does the Serkin/Ormandy compare to his earlier reading with Walter and his slightly later reading with Bernstein?

George

Quote from: Bogey on July 05, 2008, 06:21:30 AM
Not only do I enjoy the Choral Fantasy, it probably is my favorite Beethoven composition, period.  This Harnoncourt recording is easily in my top ten (possibly #1?) recording that I have on my shelf out of everything (that means all other composers as well) I own George.  There may be a few that trump it from time to time, but off the top of my head I cannot think of any.





This can be downloaded for $1.98 at amazon! Sounds wonderful, BTW, Bill! Thanks for the recommendation!  :)

http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Triple-Concerto-Choral-Fantasia/dp/B00122Z6WC/ref=dmusic_cd_album?ie=UTF8&qid=1215268245&sr=1-1

Todd

Quote from: George on July 05, 2008, 06:29:57 AMHow does the Serkin/Ormandy compare to his earlier reading with Walter and his slightly later reading with Bernstein?



I cover all three in my Emperor thread.  Bottom line is that of the four versions I've heard by Serkin (I also have the set with Kubelik that I haven't covered), the Ormandy is easily the best.  Serkin is in top form, and he and Ormandy go for a muscular, almost aggressive take.  If you want an introspective take, this is not the recording to get.  The recording with Bernstein is bigger in conception, and boasts a superb slow movement, and the recording with Walter is a bit lighter and more fluid.  The recording with Kubelik is ultimately too much an old man's take (sans Kempff's magic, to offer an alternative old man's take) and too laid back for me.  It's still good, but it's not up the other three. 
The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

George

Quote from: Todd on July 05, 2008, 08:58:39 AM


I cover all three in my Emperor thread.  Bottom line is that of the four versions I've heard by Serkin (I also have the set with Kubelik that I haven't covered), the Ormandy is easily the best.  Serkin is in top form, and he and Ormandy go for a muscular, almost aggressive take.  If you want an introspective take, this is not the recording to get.  The recording with Bernstein is bigger in conception, and boasts a superb slow movement, and the recording with Walter is a bit lighter and more fluid.  The recording with Kubelik is ultimately too much an old man's take (sans Kempff's magic, to offer an alternative old man's take) and too laid back for me.  It's still good, but it's not up the other three. 

Thanks for your response. That Emperor thread is no longer accessible.  :-\

Todd

The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

George

Quote from: Todd on July 05, 2008, 09:13:30 AM

Sure it is.

Thanks. That was wise of you to transfer that info over to the new forum. I never did the same for my Rach 3 thread and now it's gone. I don't even have a hard copy.  :-[

dirkronk

Quote from: George on July 05, 2008, 06:28:51 AM
I shall keep an eye out for that one, Bill.

One of my old Music History teachers told me he like the Aimard Concerto recordings. Perhaps there is a box in my future....did these come in a box as well, with the PCs?

Sample before you buy, George. The Aimard Beethoven showed up at my local library a scant couple of weeks after it came out, and I was most excited to get to hear these, since I really enjoyed some of that pianist's Ligeti and Messiaen. The LvB, however, was a MAJOR disappointment for me. I listened through all five concerti twice, just to make sure, and by the full second time through, I was actually getting annoyed at the phrasing and pacing. In fact, even though it would have been no sweat whatsoever to don my pirate outfit and burn illicit copies, I was not even tempted. As always, though, YMMV.

Cheers,

Dirk

Todd

Quote from: dirkronk on July 05, 2008, 10:12:17 AMThe LvB, however, was a MAJOR disappointment for me.



I haven't tried Aimard's LvB yet, but his Mozart had a similar effect on me.  Poor quality stuff.  I ain't rushing out to hear his Beethoven.
The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

George

Quote from: dirkronk on July 05, 2008, 10:12:17 AM
Sample before you buy, George. The Aimard Beethoven...

Thanks Dirk. I listened to the Choral Fantasy this morning. Got it for $2. I enjoyed it, but not enough to go out and get the 5 concertos.  

Holden

Quote from: Todd on July 05, 2008, 10:24:22 AM


I haven't tried Aimard's LvB yet, but his Mozart had a similar effect on me.  Poor quality stuff.  I ain't rushing out to hear his Beethoven.

But isn't amazing how the critics rave about peformances that are really sub standard. I also got the Aimard from the Library, took one listen to an execrable 4th and returned it without listening to the rest!
Cheers

Holden

M forever

Don't be so proud of your inability to gain access to and understanding for different styles of interpretation! You don't know what you might be missing.

BTW, what is "the standard"?

scarpia

Quote from: Holden on July 05, 2008, 02:51:02 PM
But isn't amazing how the critics rave about peformances that are really sub standard. I also got the Aimard from the Library, took one listen to an execrable 4th and returned it without listening to the rest!

Nikolaus Harnoncourt, one of the most influential conductors of our generation, found something interesting in Airmard's interpretation but you judge it "sub standard."   What am I to think?  I have the set and recall listening to 1, 3 an 5 so far.  I guess I lack your discernment, since I found them very interesting and enjoyable.