Chopin Recordings

[Mandryka]

I have to say that I think that this sonata (op 58) from Anthony di Bonaventura is one of the most affecting and beautiful I have heard. I like it so much I've ordered the CD it's taken from, at tremendous expense - with a bit of luck it will arrive eventually from USA, and  the sound quality will make me more . . . more something.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8XOQRGg7_4w

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Listening to the 4 Impromptus in these albums this week. Probably I will develop particular preference later.

[Mandryka]

I firt came across Megumi Fujita on a recording of a late Tekemitsu piano trio called Between Tides. She brings some of that sense of expanded perceived time to the Chopin etudes. Once heard this recording cannot be unheard.

[Brian]

This week I have listened to the new double album by François-Frédéric Guy on a 1905 piano. The combination of performer and instrument makes for a surprisingly forthright, assertive, direct style - the piano is very good at sharply declaiming chords most Steinway users would soften. FFG is not especially fast, he just can be pointed. Definitely a connoisseur item (in a good way).

[Mandryka]

This week I have listened to the new double album by François-Frédéric Guy on a 1905 piano. The combination of performer and instrument makes for a surprisingly forthright, assertive, direct style - the piano is very good at sharply declaiming chords most Steinway users would soften. FFG is not especially fast, he just can be pointed. Definitely a connoisseur item (in a good way).

The sonata on that CD really grew on me with repeated listening.

[Atriod]

I've been slow to listen to Pogorelich's comeback albums after the Rachmaninoff/Beethoven, sort of trying to keep from tarnishing my memory of a pianist I admire.

His new Chopin album, straight off I thought it was going to be horrendous as op. 48/1 starts off slow and the only pianist that manages to pull off tempos like this in the Nocturnes is Wasowski (and extremely well). But then things progress and Pogorelich plays it with really thundering dynamics and drama. If I had no prior knowledge of Chopin I would swear this must be something unearthed from the hand of Rachmaninoff and being played by someone like Lugansky (first recording of Etudes-Tableaux not the bland sleepy recordings he made on Harmonia Mundi). Pogorelich also sounds very controlled and not like he is just banging away at it. And since my favorite performance of the op. 25/12 etude from Chopin sounds like Rachmaninoff I did not mind this really perverse interpretation.

Op. 62/2 is not as interesting, slow tempo once again but nothing to really distinguish it other than it sounding a bit more solemn towards the end because of his tempo.

I'd have to hear the F minor Fantasy and Piano Sonata 3 some more to offer a comment. In particular that Piano Sonata was hard to muster the energy to hear more than the first movement as I've had one of the greatest performances of it I've ever heard in my heavy rotation, will post more about that when I've formulated my thoughts.

Everyone that likes Chopin has to hear this op. 48/1 at least once.

[Todd]

Everyone that likes Chopin has to hear this op. 48/1 at least once.

What imbues you with the authority to assert what people who like Chopin should do?

[Atriod]

What imbues you with the authority to assert what people who like Chopin should do?

Which GMG rule was that breaking?

[Todd]

Which GMG rule was that breaking?

Your response has nothing to do with my question.

[Atriod]

Your response has nothing to do with my question.

A roundabout way of saying none of them, got it. I'll continue to post how I wish within the rules of the board.

[Todd]

A roundabout way of saying none of them, got it. I'll continue to post how I wish within the rules of the board.

The question has nothing to do with GMG rules. 

[Atriod]

The question has nothing to do with GMG rules. 

So who are you to question my posting then?

[Todd]

So who are you to question my posting then?

A GMG member.  Anyone can question your posting.

[DavidW]

What imbues you with the authority to assert what people who like Chopin should do?

I took this to mean an enthusiastic endorsement, not Atriod barking orders.  As in "man you gotta hear this!" not "listen to it now, and drop and give me fifty!"

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I took this to mean an enthusiastic endorsement, not Atriod barking orders.  As in "man you gotta hear this!" not "listen to it now, and drop and give me fifty!"

Same here.

[Todd]

I took this to mean an enthusiastic endorsement, not Atriod barking orders.  As in "man you gotta hear this!" not "listen to it now, and drop and give me fifty!"

The post was poorly worded.  It's typically better to write something along the lines of "one might want to consider", etc. 

[Henk]

'Should hear this' (instead of 'has to') would have been a less directive and productive wording, resulting in more Chopin enthousiasts take on the suggestion. The words chosen by him could outselect people, unless this was the intent, it doesn't make much sense to me.

[Brian]

Yes, just like the famous book series says,

[P.S. I had a bad time with Pogo's recent Beethoven recital but will always try an eccentric new Op. 48/1.)
[P.P.S. Welcome back Henk!]

[Atriod]

Yes, just like the famous book series says,

[P.S. I had a bad time with Pogo's recent Beethoven recital but will always try an eccentric new Op. 48/1.)
[P.P.S. Welcome back Henk!]

This Chopin album might just fall into the same terribleness of that Beethoven/Rachmaninoff album, it's hard to muster the energy to relisten to the Fantasy or make it through Piano Sonata 3.

[Spotted Horses]

Just listened to Nocturne No 1, recorded by Vasary on DG. Nicely done.