I recently re- re-discovered my Grieg piano disc with Pletnev, which includes about a dozen of the lyric pieces. I was reminded how wonderful these truly are and that I would really like to hear more. I am not one to buy multiple recordings of the same thing, so looking for a recording that you would recommend on this and will hold up to repeated listening (and in good sound).
(Incidentally - if someone could point me to a site that talks about why Grieg composed them and more about the pieces in general, I'd be very appreciative - I'm having a bad search day).
The other aspect of course, is whether to get the complete thing or just a disc of excerpts (is the music throughout interesting enough)? If the pieces are all as interesting as these excerpts, that would be an easy yes, but this is where your help would be appreciated. So have been considering:
Gilels
Andsnes
Richter (sound ok?)
Einar Steen-Noekleberg (both complete and excerpts - but this would seem to be the way to go for a complete version)
I'd go for the complete Steen-Noekleberg set (heard some excerpts and they are excellent) --- but then again I'm a sucker for piano music. :)
I went on a mini-binge of Lyric Pieces earlier this year in an effort to augment my recordings by Gilels (still the tops), Gieseking (not far behind), and Andsnes. I picked up a big slug of Grieg, including the complete Lyric Pieces, by Gerhard Oppitz, a nearly complete twofer taken from the complete set of Lyric Pieces by Daniel Adni, and some selections by Mikhail Pletnev and Andrei Gavrilov.
By far the best of the new discs for me was Gavrilov. For whatever reason, the Russian pianists I've sampled seem to thrive in these works. Gavrilov, in particular, plays with an almost inhuman tonal palette and almost infinite dynamic flexibility. It is gorgeous playing, though perhaps ever so slightly superficial. The Pletnev is similar in some ways, but not quite as good. The near-complete Adni set is a bit devoid of color when compared to Gavrilov, but his way with dynamics and tempi are captivating, and he can, well, boogie in the few cases where needed. An energetic set. Oppitz is too serious and heavy and metallic to really make the most of the works, though his technical facility makes the works sound easy.
Not having heard any other complete sets, I can't say that they aren't the way to go, but based on what I've heard, discs with selections picked by the performer seem the way to go.
I'd say that Gilels is a must here. Then maybe consider Gavrilov, Gieseking, Andsnes, and then Adni.
Quote from: ukrneal on August 20, 2010, 02:44:56 AM
I recently re- re-discovered my Grieg piano disc with Pletnev, which includes about a dozen of the lyric pieces. I was reminded how wonderful these truly are and that I would really like to hear more. I am not one to buy multiple recordings of the same thing, so looking for a recording that you would recommend on this and will hold up to repeated listening (and in good sound).
(Incidentally - if someone could point me to a site that talks about why Grieg composed them and more about the pieces in general, I'd be very appreciative - I'm having a bad search day).
The other aspect of course, is whether to get the complete thing or just a disc of excerpts (is the music throughout interesting enough)? If the pieces are all as interesting as these excerpts, that would be an easy yes, but this is where your help would be appreciated. So have been considering:
Gilels
Andsnes
Richter (sound ok?)
Einar Steen-Noekleberg (both complete and excerpts - but this would seem to be the way to go for a complete version)
The Gilels is simply brilliant - one of my desert island discs.
Gilels is great.
Haven't heard the Gavrilov, but I am a fan of his, so I should check his Grieg out at some point.
All the Lyric Pieces should be included in this box set I just ordered ...
(http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/t_200/bisbiscd162628.jpg)
Quote from: Holden on August 20, 2010, 01:24:32 PM
The Gilels is simply brilliant - one of my desert island discs.
Totally agree. Gilels playing on this disc is sublime. Have been meaning to try the Pletnev and Richter for some time, will have to add the Gavrilov to that list...
Quote from: Mandryka on August 22, 2010, 01:00:51 PM
There's a guy who does Grieg for Naxos called Einar Steen-Nokleberg . I only have his CD with the Ballade (The ballade seems to me the real Grieg piano masterpiece.) It's not bad: lively, sharp, fun. His other Grieg CDs may be worth checking out.
Yes, I have all three volumes and they are very nice.
Quote from: George on August 21, 2010, 03:56:01 AM
Gilels is great.
Haven't heard the Gavrilov, but I am a fan of his, so I should check his Grieg out at some point.
Looks like this CD, which I bought years ago, is now OOP. Our friend at Arkiv does sell the CDR ...
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511R8RCXS6L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
I don't have a recording, but they're not particularly difficult as a rule, and I often play through a dozen or so every few months.
Which CD is Pletnev 1 from, Mandryka?
Quote from: George on September 03, 2010, 09:38:10 AM
Which CD is Pletnev 1 from, Mandryka?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mikhail-Pletnev-Plays-Grieg/dp/B00013D4GI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1283536208&sr=8-4
Which may or may not be the same as this -- who knows?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grieg-Piano-Music-Mikhail-Pletnev/dp/B003YCLUAU/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1283536237&sr=1-6
Quote from: Mandryka on August 22, 2010, 01:00:51 PM
As for Richter, there's a CD in the Hungary box. Richter is an interesting contrast to Gilels' DG CD because he doesn't over internalise. He's not delicate like Gilels. The result is quite exciting.
I fully agree. Richter never gives any mellow or sweet reading. For me his approach to the Lyric Pieces is more "nordic", darker and mysterious. With much more impressionist colors than the beautiful but perhaps more "romantic" Gilels version.
Other Richter's recordings of the Lyric Pieces were also issued by Live Classics (Jul 1993, Schliersee), Stradivarius (Oct 1993, Athens & Kozani) and Aura (Jun 1984, Lugano). Like the Hungary-Budapest recital (Nov 1993) all the recordings come from the same 1993/1994 period (the Greek and the Budapest recitals were only 1-2 weeks apart). The recorded sound is globally quite good and there are only minor differences in the program selection (except in the Lugano recital where Richter only plays 3 of the pieces).
For the Richterites, and I believe for anyone who likes to discover how great musicians may explore their own interpretative differences and nuances, these various Richter performances are an interesting listening opportunity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCn2hCfxVrw&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCn2hCfxVrw&feature=related)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61w4dMNSYqL._SL500_AA280_.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51V2ZKA0FBL._SL500_AA300_.jpg) (http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/t_200/metronomebmc171.jpg)
Edvard Grieg's PRECIOUS Lyriske Stykke---Walter Gieseking :)
Quote from: Todd on August 20, 2010, 06:46:08 AM
I went on a mini-binge of Lyric Pieces earlier this year in an effort to augment my recordings by Gilels (still the tops), Gieseking (not far behind), and Andsnes. I picked up a big slug of Grieg, including the complete Lyric Pieces, by Gerhard Oppitz, a nearly complete twofer taken from the complete set of Lyric Pieces by Daniel Adni, and some selections by Mikhail Pletnev and Andrei Gavrilov.
By far the best of the new discs for me was Gavrilov. For whatever reason, the Russian pianists I've sampled seem to thrive in these works. Gavrilov, in particular, plays with an almost inhuman tonal palette and almost infinite dynamic flexibility. It is gorgeous playing, though perhaps ever so slightly superficial. The Pletnev is similar in some ways, but not quite as good. The near-complete Adni set is a bit devoid of color when compared to Gavrilov, but his way with dynamics and tempi are captivating, and he can, well, boogie in the few cases where needed. An energetic set. Oppitz is too serious and heavy and metallic to really make the most of the works, though his technical facility makes the works sound easy.
Not having heard any other complete sets, I can't say that they aren't the way to go, but based on what I've heard, discs with selections picked by the performer seem the way to go.
I'd say that Gilels is a must here. Then maybe consider Gavrilov, Gieseking, Andsnes, and then Adni.
Thanks for mentioning Adni here. I love his Songs Without Words and finally found a cheap copy of this 2CD set recently. I am only a few tracks in, but I am really enjoying this.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51vhvedz-yL.jpg)
I have found the 1989 Naxos selection by Balasz Szokolay very satisfying. And completely agree, judging from an old Soviet lp, that Gilels is astounding.
(https://c.media-amazon.com/images/I/715waM2oelL._AC_SX679_.jpg)
The Lyric Pieces here are interesting - as is the Chopin on the album. Good sound - airy - too. Ciccolini - when he's good he's very very good, when he's bad he's . . . He was good for Cascavelle by the sound of it. This is a set worth exploring - streaming everywhere.
This comment, from a review on amazon, is spot on. The piano is the elixir vitae!
しかも使用ピアノは、高級品ファツィオリで若さを感じる部分があります。
I was recently very taken by the intimacy and poetry of this Gilels recording.
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiODA2MDEwNC4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwid2VicCI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0Ijoid2VicCJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE1NTU5NDA0MTJ9)
Quote from: Iota on August 26, 2024, 02:52:47 AMI was recently very taken by the intimacy and poetry of this Gilels recording.
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiODA2MDEwNC4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwid2VicCI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0Ijoid2VicCJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE1NTU5NDA0MTJ9)
My first and best introduction to these wonderful pieces.
Gilels is sublime, extraordinary. But Andsnes does it for me too - and he's playing Grieg's piano, which is a nice additional feature.
(https://imageprod.eu-central-1.linodeobjects.com/products/9387532/conversions/654453d34cccf-lg.jpg)
I listened to a whole bunch of op 38/8 - a canon. Two caught my attention as a bit special. Richter in Hungary is one - I found that first - it's very serious, but I thought it was fascinating. There's another recording of him playing it in Greece - and it's conception is similar.
Then I found Håkon Austbø. His performance is tense, nuanced and tense, I'd say dramatic in the sense of, full of ups and downs, twists and turns. I love it - it's hard to listen to anyone else now, even Richter.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71IvnAPbCVL._AC_SL1082_.jpg)
Quote from: Mandryka on September 25, 2024, 09:29:19 AMThen I found Håkon Austbø. His performance is tense, nuanced and tense, I'd say dramatic in the sense of, full of ups and downs, twists and turns. I love it - it's hard to listen to anyone else now, even Richter.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71IvnAPbCVL._AC_SL1082_.jpg)
He recorded Grieg's complete piano music.
(https://data.opus3a.com/product_photo/97/97edf4c02cf4cd013b304a67b68cf0cb/LARGE/098972f608dfed6b4703ef8d7641dda1.jpg?product_title=hakon-austbo-grieg-piano-works-cd)
7-CD boxset.
Very good performances.
Quote from: Florestan on September 25, 2024, 09:43:06 AMHe recorded Grieg's complete piano music.
(https://data.opus3a.com/product_photo/97/97edf4c02cf4cd013b304a67b68cf0cb/LARGE/098972f608dfed6b4703ef8d7641dda1.jpg?product_title=hakon-austbo-grieg-piano-works-cd)
7-CD boxset.
Very good performances.
Interesting. I found this 5 CD set and assumed it was merely a reissue of the one you posted, but I guess not:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71dh-mrwgZL._SL450_.jpg)
Quote from: George on September 25, 2024, 09:47:02 AMInteresting. I found this set and thought it was merely a reissue of the one you posted, but I guess not:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71dh-mrwgZL._SL450_.jpg)
If it has 7 CDs then it's the same as the one I posted.
Quote from: Florestan on September 25, 2024, 09:48:25 AMIf it has 7 CDs then it's the same as the one I posted.
No, it only has 5. Strange that they would omit 2. Same label too.
Quote from: George on September 25, 2024, 09:49:10 AMNo, it only has 5. Strange that they would omit 2. Same label too.
Here's the content of the 7-CD set:
https://www.discogs.com/es/release/28251541-Grieg-H%C3%A5kon-Austb%C3%B8-Piano-Works
Not quite complete-complete as it leaves out the Norwegian Melodies EG 108, which are split over 3 discs in the Einar-Steen Nokleberg series on Naxos which has 10 discs.
Quote from: Florestan on September 25, 2024, 09:54:31 AMHere's the content of the 7-CD set:
https://www.discogs.com/es/release/28251541-Grieg-H%C3%A5kon-Austb%C3%B8-Piano-Works
Not quite complete-complete as it leaves out the Norwegian Melodies EG 108, which are split over 3 discs in the Einar-Steen Nokleberg series on Naxos which has 10 discs.
Thanks, the 5 disc simply omits the content on the 6th and 7th discs from the set you linked to.
Quote from: Florestan on September 25, 2024, 09:54:31 AMthe Einar-Steen Nokleberg series on Naxos which has 10 discs.
...but my copy has 14...
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/eBsAAOSwaOpexRp1/s-l960.webp)
Naxos includes works with piano and chorus (like a piano reduction of Peer Gynt) and the unpublished sketches of Piano Concerto No. 2.
Quote from: Brian on September 25, 2024, 10:43:32 AM...but my copy has 14...
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/eBsAAOSwaOpexRp1/s-l960.webp)
Naxos includes works with piano and chorus (like a piano reduction of Peer Gynt) and the unpublished sketches of Piano Concerto No. 2.
I have the 10 individual discs featuring strictly the solo piano music. I thought that was the whole series but obviously I was wrong. Nevertheless, there's no way I can be induced to listen to a piano reduction of
Peer Gynt and those unpublished sketches don't tempt me either, so I'm perfectly happy with only 10 discs. All the more so as I have 3 more complete sets: Gerhard Oppitz, Eva Knardahl and Geir Henning Braaten.
Eva Knardahl's complete set on BIS contains twelve discs and Gerhard Oppitz's complete set on RCA contains seven discs. Which means the complete piano music is somewhere between five and fourteen discs.