Worst Recordings

[Mandryka]

The interesting one to think about in this context is Daniel Ben Pienaar because he is so incredibly divisive. I know pianists who think he's just awful - ugly touch, ugly ideas. And I know pianists who appreciate his work very much.

[prémont]

The interesting one to think about in this context is Daniel Ben Pienaar because he is so incredibly divisive. I pianists who think he's just awful - ugly touch, ugly ideas. And I know pianists who appreciate his work very much.

Yes indeed. His Beethoven set has been wrapped in its cellophane on my shelf for a couple of years, but recently I decided to get through it. However, after three CDs, I had to stop, as I found it utterly unlistenable.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I doubt that is true.  I am a fan of period instrument recordings, and have enjoyed his that I've heard. But his recordings as a conductor I find even more enjoyable; his recent Mozart Requiem is a refreshing interpretation, one which has become my favorite.

But surely you know that whenever someone uses the word "doubtless," they know they're saying something controversial.

As for moi, I can't stand his LvB concertos or Chopin ballades, and I've provided my reasons ad nauseum for anyone inclined to use the Search feature.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Yes indeed. His Beethoven set has been wrapped in its cellophane on my shelf for a couple of years, but recently I decided to get through it. However, after three CDs, I had to stop, as I found it utterly unlistenable.

Which one was your favorite? I've only acquired the set recently myself.

[Todd]

I considered a few different recordings in my collection, and this broad subject can be split into two main categories: recordings where recorded sound is so bad that an otherwise good or decent performance is ruined or a bad one amplified, and recordings where the playing is so bad that everything is ruined. 

Sticking with the narrow category of LvB sonatas, Dino Ciani's cycle falls into the first category.  Riccardo Schwartz falls into the second category. 

Expanding out just a bit, Marta Deyanova's Mozart falls into the first category; Heidi Lowy's Mozart falls into the second category. 

[Todd]

And to offer another example of an absolutely horrid recording, one that should be deleted from the catalog and expunged from people's minds, there's this obvious choice of non-musical charlatanism:

[(poco) Sforzando]

One of my candidates for worst recording has to be Bernstein's bloated Tchaikovsky Pathetique on DG, with its 17-minute finale. Hurwitz, who always praises Bernstein for his fidelity to scores, gets himself in a knot by arguing that Lenny chooses the impossibly slow tempos to balance the proportions with the first movement. But someone who truly cares about scores would not choose such tempos, since Tchaikovsky's carefully considered metronome markings give a timing of about 9-10 minutes. Whether you like the performance or not, to justify it you have to say that the metronome markings don't matter at all, and it seems to me that if Tchaikovsky had wanted a 17-minute finale he would have written 17 minutes of music.

[Florestan]

My nomination

Tchaikovsky - Violin Concerto - Amoyal / Dutoit / Philharmonia Orchestra

To make this work sound as lifeless as a corpse and as dull as a phone book is an achievement sui generis.

[(poco) Sforzando]

My nomination

Tchaikovsky - Violin Concerto - Amoyal / Dutoit / Philharmonia Orchestra

To make this work sound as lifeless as a corpse and as dull as a phone book is an achievement sui generis.

But I have known many fascinating phone books, and my share of lively corpses.

[DavidW]

The interesting one to think about in this context is Daniel Ben Pienaar because he is so incredibly divisive. I know pianists who think he's just awful - ugly touch, ugly ideas. And I know pianists who appreciate his work very much.

That is funny because I love Pienaar's Byrd. And I've dipped into his Haydn a bit without being revolted. But eh, what do I know? I leave the solo keyboard obsessions to you fine gentlemen!

[DavidW]

One of my candidates for worst recording has to be Bernstein's bloated Tchaikovsky Pathetique on DG, with its 17-minute finale. Hurwitz, who always praises Bernstein for his fidelity to scores, gets himself in a knot by arguing that Lenny chooses the impossibly slow tempos to balance the proportions with the first movement. But someone who truly cares about scores would not choose such tempos, since Tchaikovsky's carefully considered metronome markings give a timing of about 9-10 minutes. Whether you like the performance or not, to justify it you have to say that the metronome markings don't matter at all, and it seems to me that if Tchaikovsky had wanted a 17-minute finale he would have written 17 minutes of music.

I have an unpopular opinion that outside of Schumann and Mahler, I just don't care for late Bernstein. He is too excessive, slow, and indulgent. His more structured Columbia recordings end up sounding more driven and passionate, MOSTLY across the board.

[Todd]

That is funny because I love Pienaar's Byrd. And I've dipped into his Haydn a bit without being revolted. But eh, what do I know? I leave the solo keyboard obsessions to you fine gentlemen!

Pienaar's finest recorded work to date is The Long 17th Century.  It is magnificent, first note to last.



More appropriate to this thread, his Mozart sonata cycle is among the very worst I've heard, almost as bad as Lowy.  I should probably revisit it.

[prémont]

Which one was your favorite? I've only acquired the set recently myself.

If you ask about my favorite among the ten sonatas I've listened to with Pienaar, I have no particular preference. However, when it comes to my favorite Beethoven pianist, the answers are numerous. Generally, I have a slight preference for a poetic interpretation of most sonatas.

[Holden]

There was a complete LvB cycle recorded a few years ago that was easily the worst I've ever heard. It was so bad I've even forgotten her name but I do know she is in the 'worst performances' category in Todd's survey. Maybe he can enlighten me.

[Brian]

There was a complete LvB cycle recorded a few years ago that was easily the worst I've ever heard. It was so bad I've even forgotten her name but I do know she is in the 'worst performances' category in Todd's survey. Maybe he can enlighten me.

If it was really, really fast all the time with no poetry and some wrong notes from rushing, it was HJ Lim.

[Henk]

I like Pienaar's Beethoven. Lim is not that bad to my taste. Quite neutral performances both and I like that. Pienaar is flawless, Lim might have some flaws.

EDIT: I checked Lim and I must admit Brian is right.

[(poco) Sforzando]

If you ask about my favorite among the ten sonatas I've listened to with Pienaar, I have no particular preference. However, when it comes to my favorite Beethoven pianist, the answers are numerous. Generally, I have a slight preference for a poetic interpretation of most sonatas.

I was using the word "favorite" ironically.

[Holden]

If it was really, really fast all the time with no poetry and some wrong notes from rushing, it was HJ Lim.

You nailed it. Thank you

[prémont]

I was using the word "favorite" ironically.

So did I (because you did) and also the word preference in the first sentence, but not in the second.

[prémont]

I like Pienaar's Beethoven. Lim is not that bad to my taste. Quite neutral performances both and I like that. Pienaar is flawless, Lim might have some flaws.

EDIT: I checked Lim and I must admit Brian is right.

Objectively speaking, neither Lim nor Pienaar can be considered neutral.