Blind Comparison: Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit

[Madiel]

I don't have time for comments on each pianist. The general comment I'll make is that I look for both mystery and excitement in this piece. Some pianists delivered these a lot more than others.  Some pianists kill the mystery in the first 3 notes...

Pianist 1: 7.5/10

Pianist 3: 5.5/10

Pianist 10: 4/10

Pianist 13: 9/10

Pianist 14: 7/10

Pianist 17: 8.5/10

Pianist 19: 4.5/10

[Todd]

1 - Weighty, vibrant, but not malevolent or mischievous enough.  Could have been more intense and virtuosic.  Score: 6

3 - Far better.  Overtly virtuosic.  Mischievous, almost menacing, and energetic, with nice climaxes.  Superb independence of hands, with some great left hand playing.  Score: 9 (Almost a 10)

10 - Opening has strong playing, but some blurred left hand playing, and then much of the playing borders on stiff.  Not enough tension; very deliberate.  Score: 6

13 - Well played overall.  Seems too straight-forward much of the time, though.  Strong climaxes and bass.  Score: 7

14 - Sharp, bright piano sound in the upper registers in places.  Very clean, precise playing.  Tending toward prim and proper playfulness rather than mischievousness.  Energetic.  Score: 7.

17 - Mischievous from the get go, with teasing three notes followed by perfectly judged pauses.  Superb dynamic control, plenty of attention to detail, excellent independence of hands, great forward momentum.  The best of this lot.  Score: 10

19 - Jumps right in.  Pianist is keen on control, which is impressive, though some playing sounds mannered.  A case where better sound would have helped.  I get the feeling something is missing: the compression of what sounds like an older recording mars tone and dynamics.  Still, dynamics are excellent.  Overall, more formal than mischievous.  Score: 9

[Todd]

I received the mailer for next season for the local piano recital series, and who should be slated to appear but Jean Efflam Bavouzet, and yes, he will be playing Gaspard.  Methinks it might be worth attending. 

[Brian]

Is it this?

Beethoven Sonata Op.28
Bartok Sonata
Debussy Préludes Book 1
Ravel Gaspard de la Nuit

I wonder if my family would be irritated if I skipped Thanksgiving with them...

I missed Bavouzet in Dallas (Liszt Concerto No. 2) because friends with poor taste were in town for the weekend.

[Todd]

Is it this?

Beethoven Sonata Op.28
Bartok Sonata
Debussy Préludes Book 1
Ravel Gaspard de la Nuit

Yep, though it's only seven of the Preludes.  A potentially very fine recital. 

[Brian]

Up until tonight, 3 and 17 were the only pianists I had not heard in full in Gaspard. I hadn't heard the full 14 until last week. Tonight I'm listening to the complete performance 17 to hear why it's one of our top scorers. Let's just say I hear why.

Won't give anything away, but wow - I did not expect this from pianist 17, which is surprising, since I've been a moderate fan of him/her in the past.

[mc ukrneal]

The grades are in! (so to speak)
#1: This one is well performed. It is more dramatic than mischievous at the start, but the terror really grows to the end, and boy is he (or she) in total control - very well disciplined. I was riveted. Perfect ending.  Rating: 8

#3: Great technique. Perhaps a bit too pingy. You can really hear all the notes, but is this Ravel? It seems somehow missing that atmospheric coloring that we associate with Ravel, rather it is more modern sounding in its approach. It seems to emphasize the dischordent sound and abruptness rather than focusing on painting the story (harsh sounding). Never connected with it.  Great clarity though. Rating: 1.5.

#10: Wonderful! This one gets the mischief down, and the idea of the goblin flitting about - I can just picture it. This one gets the atmosphere right - full of shadows. Now that I hear this, I realize that #3 has totally obscured the structure of the piece. A great guide. Rating: 9.

Entering uncharted territory - all of these are new to me...

#13: Another pingy one.  The pianist performs some of the intense moments really well, but the transitional and slower moments seem dull to me. Overly dramatic at times, though the lows really come through on this recording - creates real malevolence in sound. A hummer too. Rating: 3.

#14: A much more characterized opening, which I think suits the story. Perhaps a hair too staccato in moments, but what a joy to listen to this one, especially the opening sections. Where it focuses on the bass/lower register at around 5:30/5:45, it lost a bit of momentum. Rating: 7.5.

#17: Abrupt. Pauses too long at the start (and I like the use of silence usually). More strongly stop and go than others. Great control from the player. Climaxes are magnificant, though top can be slightly pingy here and there. Pauses in the middle are too long again - loses momentum and does not add to the tension, just misjudged by a bit. And from there on, it was not as interesing (lost all the magic in the climaxes). I can see why this may have been a popular choice, as the pianist is a marvelous player, but I think he/she makes too many problematic decisions compared to some of the others, which reduces the impact of the piece.  Rating: 3.5.

#19: Harsher approach. Sometimes the synch of the hands seems slightly off. At other times, there is slight slowdown as if the pianist needs that to play the piece. Seems out of control sometimes in the climaxes (or particularly intense moments) - overdoes it. Rating: 2.5.

Pogorolich: Wow. This is fantastic. The start is neither staccato nor legato. Rather he lets the note ring, but then it subdues (allowed to fade). What a great decision. And then he plays it more staccato, but the accents and quickness give it an amazing color and style. The utter control and precision he has is unbelievable!  So it doesn't sound pingy (though it could), but maintains a beautiful line throughout. As a result, everything seems very organic.  That middle bass section is handled adeptly - no sense of stopping here and the 'shadows' he creates with the pedal are outstanding. The detail is unbelievable!! Such shadings in the playing. I really disliked the first two movements he did, but this is great.  Had this remained in the competition, I would have given it a 10! It's worth buying this recording just for this movement. Bravo! Maybe we need a write-in vote!

[Brian]

Well, if you're rating Pogorelich and that cat's out of the bag, I guess I'll leave Herbert Schuch's "Scarbo" here in case anybody were to click on it... 

[Brian]

Friends,

I'll be gone and without a computer until Sunday night. I'd love to tabulate the votes Monday, but if you want to listen to our Scarbos and don't get a chance while I'm away, you can leave a message to that effect here, also.

Happy listening!!

[mc ukrneal]

Well, if you're rating Pogorelich and that cat's out of the bag, I guess I'll leave Herbert Schuch's "Scarbo" here in case anybody were to click on it... 

I didn't like it as much as Pogo. It's very virtuosic, but it sounds like an approach more entrenched on the modern side, which doesn't quite create the Ravelian sound as well as Pogo did it. Still, very intense.

[DavidRoss]

I agree that it's too bad Pogo's out. His Scarbo is deservedly famed, rhythmically reminiscent of a drunken spinning top. And I like his Le gibet, too, describing it in the comparison as "Liquid tones, sounds like Debussy's Cathedral, emptiness, space, nice sense of distance for tolling bell, just a tad much dynamic drama -- 8." I don't like his Ondine as much, however -- the right hand tinkling at times seems rhythmically wayward, not quite synched with the left, and he pushes it too big and melodramatic for my taste ... but when his reading does work, it's lovely.

Thanks to this darned comparison I've already bought two two-disc sets of Ravel's piano music (Bavouzet and Hewitt), and the "winners" haven't even been revealed yet! This is as bad as Daniel's Mahler-go-rounds, each of which cost me forty or fifty bucks, even though I thought I already had far more Mahler than I needed!

[Beale]

Friends,

I'll be gone and without a computer until Sunday night. I'd love to tabulate the votes Monday, but if you want to listen to our Scarbos and don't get a chance while I'm away, you can leave a message to that effect here, also.

Happy listening!!

I will still need a few hours to complete this. Sorry for the delay.

[MishaK]

Friends,

I'll be gone and without a computer until Sunday night. I'd love to tabulate the votes Monday, but if you want to listen to our Scarbos and don't get a chance while I'm away, you can leave a message to that effect here, also.

Happy listening!!

I haven't had a chance to listen yet, as I was moving to a new house. Hopefully tonight.

[Beale]

My scores for Scarbos with minimal notes.

#1 The best of the lot in terms of creating a terrifying and suspenseful sound from the piano. 8/10

#3 Depicting a great manic and frenzy dance, but less successful in creating the mood. 8/10

#10 I couldn't find anything here that stood out from the crowd, but the quiet part was filled with a sense of awe and menace. 6.5/10

#13 Well played with clean notes, but the sound was too bright and splashy to my ears. 6/10

#14 This pianist created a nice sense of character. If it had more contrast and mood, I would have score it higher. 7/10

#17 Wow, a very nicely crafted piece of playing. Very colourful and good phrasing. The pauses create anticipation. The sound is a bit too pretty though, and not scary enough. 9/10

#19 This had some scary sounds, but felt a bit rushed, and couldn't sustain suspense. 6/10

[madaboutmahler]

Enjoyed this very much! What a great piece! Thanks, Brian!

Definitely keen to get hold of 3,13 and 14.

1 - much drama and a sinister atmosphere to this performance. There are some impressive climaxes and a subtlety threatening menace, but perhaps this is just lacking a bit in impressionistic flair. A bit more dynamic/articulation contrast needed. 7

3 - very impressive virtuosity with outstanding balance and dynamic handling. I love the great surges of colour built by the very fast crescendos! Exciting tempo and very flexible playing. 9

10 - very haunting, mysterious opening, but lack of precision in the left hand repeated d#s. Not as structurally compelling, nor with the urgent excitement I expect, but the climaxes are great and the end is very nice. Wish the applause could have held off a bit though. 7

13 - what a despairing opening! Overall, this takes a very dark, aggressive take which I like very much. Very different and full of character. 10

14 - nice surges of colour, precise articulation and a great overall tempo which is pretty consistent throughout, making the slight slower tempo for the later climaxes very effective. Great energy, full of thrill and menace. 9

17 - quite exciting with good fluency and great ravelian grandeur at climaxes. 8

19 - very fast and therefore lacking in atmosphere in many places. Some very impressive technique, but doesn't sound as if at home in ravelian spirit, lack of refinement and colourful passion. The climaxes are almost rushed. 6

[North Star]

Managed to find time and energy for this round, really enjoyed it. Big thanks, Brian!

1 - Energetic beginning, lacking menace, though                                                                            5
3 - Superbly ominous beginning, virtuosic, dramatic, great buildup. All in all, superb!                     9
10 - Good beginning, dull after that                                                                                                 6
13 - Great opening, plenty of menace in this one, even violence.                                                    9
14 - Great tone, touch, dynamics and virtuosity, but not over-the-top.                                          10
17 - Excellent contrasts, virtuosity, and playfulness                                                                        10
19 - Fast, lacks some nuances. Recording quality does some damage to this one                          8

[Brian]

Thanks all for the votes! MishaK, Lisztianwagner, AnthonyAthletic, if you're interested in voting, I will keep the floor open.

Misha, I don't mean to influence your theory that pianists #1 and #10 are the same person, but I just did a running tally and they both stand at exactly 52.5 points. Just downright freaky coincidence...or is it 

Finally, we may not need a runoff. One pianist built him/herself a clear advantage after Round II and is expanding on it in Scarbo, to the point where, currently, if you add up the averages from each round to look at an overall score out of 30, this pianist is more than 2 points ahead of the second-place candidate - or a 0.7 advantage per movement.

[MishaK]

I should be done tonight. 

[mc ukrneal]

Thanks all for the votes! MishaK, Lisztianwagner, AnthonyAthletic, if you're interested in voting, I will keep the floor open.

Misha, I don't mean to influence your theory that pianists #1 and #10 are the same person, but I just did a running tally and they both stand at exactly 52.5 points. Just downright freaky coincidence...or is it 

Finally, we may not need a runoff. One pianist built him/herself a clear advantage after Round II and is expanding on it in Scarbo, to the point where, currently, if you add up the averages from each round to look at an overall score out of 30, this pianist is more than 2 points ahead of the second-place candidate - or a 0.7 advantage per movement.

Am I the only one who didn't like that performance (at least the third movement)?

[Brian]

Am I the only one who didn't like that performance (at least the third movement)?

Its scores for the third movement:

8
10
8.5
10
3.5 - that's you!
9
8
10



Personally, I like the performance a lot but feels it lacks a little bit of wildness and darkness which you can find more prominently in, say, 1 or 13 or Pogo. I'd probably give it an 8 myself.