Prokofiev's Piano Music

[Mandryka]

I think Prokofiev's mature piano music is one of the high points of the genre in the 20th century. I Love the relentless rhythms, the chiseled outlines, the austere harmonies.

I say mature because the earliest piece I have enjoyed is the 2nd sonata -- I can't stand the flabby, backward looking first sonata . And the juvanalia, though sometimes intersting, is IMO, not interesting enough to listen to twice.


SOME GOOD RECORDINGS

High points for me are Prokofiev's own performance of the Visions Fugitives, Pogorelich's  Sonata 6, Richter and Gilels in Sonata 8, Zhukov in Sonata 9, Gavrilov Sonata 7.

I have never liked Horowitz's Sonata 7 --maybe the sound quality has put me off. I own Chiu's box -- the complete works. I think they are never bad, but they never seem to me to be really exciting performances. I have heard and  enjoyed some of Nussbaum's CDs.

[mc ukrneal]

I think Prokofiev's mature piano music is one of the high points of the genre in the 20th century. I Love the relentless rhythms, the chiseled outlines, the austere harmonies.

I say mature because the earliest piece I have enjoyed is the 2nd sonata -- I can't stand the flabby, backward looking first sonata . And the juvanalia, though sometimes intersting, is IMO, not interesting enough to listen to twice.


SOME GOOD RECORDINGS

High points for me are Prokofiev's own performance of the Visions Fugitives, Pogorelich's  Sonata 6, Richter and Gilels in Sonata 8, Zhukov in Sonata 9, Gavrilov Sonata 7.

I have never liked Horowitz's Sonata 7 --maybe the sound quality has put me off. I own Chiu's box -- the complete works. I think they are never bad, but they never seem to me to be really exciting performances. I have heard and  enjoyed some of Nussbaum's CDs.

I've never really warmed up to the sonatas, but I do love the transcriptions of the ballets to piano (a good version with Chiu playing, not sure if these are also in the set you mention). I think any recording with the composer playing his own music is of interest.

[Herman]

Richter playing the Visions fugitives is pretty cool, though, naturally he didn't record the entire set.

[Mandryka]

Richter playing the Visions fugitives is pretty cool, though, naturally he didn't record the entire set.

Yes -- there used to be a good DG studio CD with that and Prokofiev 8

I forgot to mention two other favourites -- Egorov's live sonata 8 (but there are lots of good versios of this sonata) and Richter playing #4 in Alderburgh live

I've never really warmed up to the sonatas, but I do love the transcriptions of the ballets to piano (a good version with Chiu playing, not sure if these are also in the set you mention). I think any recording with the composer playing his own music is of interest.

Prokofiev was a good pianist, and I like his Visions Fugitives more than all the others, including Richter's (but maybe just because it has thae patina of age and authenticity!)

I know the Chiu performance of the transcriptions and I like them -- Pletnev is pretty cool too in Cinderella.

Has anyone tried his CD of Prokofiev sonatas?

[greg]

[George]

What about the concerto's? What are people's picks for each of the 5?

[not edward]

In most cases I have pretty clear favorites. If need be I can elaborate why:

1: Moravec/Ancerl or Richter/Ancerl
2: Baloghova/Ancerl
3: Prokofiev/Coppola
4: not sure
5: Richter/Rowicki

[George]

In most cases I have pretty clear favorites. If need be I can elaborate why:

1: Moravec/Ancerl or Richter/Ancerl
2: Baloghova/Ancerl
3: Prokofiev/Coppola
4: not sure
5: Richter/Rowicki

Thanks edward. The Moravec is OOP, right? 

[Novi]

In most cases I have pretty clear favorites. If need be I can elaborate why:

1: Moravec/Ancerl or Richter/Ancerl
2: Baloghova/Ancerl
3: Prokofiev/Coppola
4: not sure
5: Richter/Rowicki

That Ancerl disc has got to be one of my favourite CDs of any genre.

[not edward]

That Ancerl disc has got to be one of my favourite CDs of any genre.

Totally seconded. It also contains my favourite First Symphony.

[Herman]

Pletnev is pretty cool too in Cinderella.

Has anyone tried his CD of Prokofiev sonatas?

I have had Pletnev's Prokofiev's sonata disc (2 - 7 - since it came out.

I have a hard time it would ever replace Richter's account of 7 and 8, but it is an interesting take.

Pletnev is ultra-cool (in the literal sense of the word) in this music. Sonata nr 7 comes off better than the more profound nr 8.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

What about the concerto's? What are people's picks for each of the 5?

This is one time where an integral set really does it for me: Browning/Leinsdorf on Testament, in what has to be the best things either has done on disc. I guess somehow the two musicians hit it off and the performances really reflect this synergy. Lots of TLC and rehearsal obviously went into every bar of each work.

The 5th concerto is especially noteworthy in that the work's meandering tendencies - especially the final movement - are really pulled together tight to make a convincing whole. That sublime little one minute interlude about two-thirds (or so) way through the finale (Vivo) is one of the great moments in all Prokofiev. Gives shivers...

[George]

Samples on amazon sound good, Don! 

What year were these done? The fifties?

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Samples on amazon sound good, Don! 

Just listened to the second PC tonight. Zounds! Not a dull note in the entire performance.

What year were these done? The fifties?

They're actually from the mid- to late-sixties. The sound has great transparency which - as Daverz noted on the Prokofiev symphony thread - lets us see straight into the heart of the music.

[RJR]

Lazar Berman Prokofiev 8th Piano Sonata, DG.
Maurizio Pollini Prokofiev 7th Piano Sonata, DG.

[admiralackbar]

I have Pollini playing the 7th sonata. I'd like to add (at least) the rest of the piano sonatas, the Visions Fugitives, and the Sarcasms to my collection. The set I'm familiar with is Raekallio, which seems to be OOP now. Any suggestions?

[bhodges]

I have this one with Anne-Marie McDermott playing the complete sonatas, plus Sarcasms. While I've not heard other complete sets, this one is excellent.

[asin]B0025X4PRO[/asin]

--Bruce

[karlhenning]

Brewski saith the sooth, Anne-Marie McDermott plays an excellent set.

[admiralackbar]

Thanks for the McDermott recommendation. I had forgotten about that set.

Any recommendations for the Visions Fugitives (and/or the other smaller works)?

[Scarpia]

I have Boris Berman.  I haven't listened yet.  The consensus seems to be that it is terrible, but I can't see how that can possibly be true.