What Pogo to purchase?

[dirkronk]

I've seldom listened to recordings by Pogorelich, so I've managed to avoid being lured into the cult which I've been told exists.


Last night, however, I put on a vinyl copy (recently acquired) of his Prokofiev sonata #6 on DGG and was quite impressed, indeed. The Ravel on the flip side sounded quite nice, as well. I realize that I'm a couple of decades late coming to this performance, but still I was curious to know how it was regarded by the writers of various reference tomes at my house. Frankly, I was shocked (SHOCKED, I say!) to discover that the Penguin guys and I actually agree on the worthiness of the recording. I'm frequently amazed when Penguin and I agree on things...yet in this case, they even gave it a rosette.

This experience makes me wonder: are there more out there at this level of artistry? What other specific Pogo recordings I should seek? Do we have fans in the audience who are well versed in the man's discography and can provide a connoisseur's list of must-haves?

Also, I'm aware of some anti-Pogo sentiment in some quarters. What's with that? Am I to infer that there are also some major disappointments in his catalog--and which I should avoid?

Thanks in advance.

Dirk (not quite a convert but willing to listen to the sales pitch)

[bhodges]

Actually you have the recording I would have recommended - it's one of his best. 

I've seen him live several times (including one evening when he was attired in black leather pants and shirt).  I found him technically adroit, and usually quite fascinating to watch.

However, he is controversial because of his somewhat willful playing, i.e., tinkering with tempi and rhythms in a way that sometimes infuriates those who know the works well.  Here is the New York Times review of his concert last year, his first here in a decade.  It will give you an idea. 

But again, I think he's done some very good work: his Scarlatti sonatas recording is also quite good, sparkling in the best way.  IMHO any artist with such a definitive stamp is at least worth hearing.

--Bruce

[Drasko]

His complete discography is something like 14 CDs but don't think you'll get much agreement on what to buy. Relatively safe choices would probably be Chopin Scherzi, Chopin/Ravel/Prokofiev, Scarlatti. Ones I like are bolded, some I haven't heard (Mozart, haydn, Brahms) and some too long ago to go on memory.

Chopin op.35, op.39, op.45, op.55/2, three Etudes
Chopin Preludes
Chopin Scherzi
Chopin 2 / Ravel Gaspard / Prokofiev 6 (DG Originals)
Mussorgsky Pictures / Ravel Valses (Samuel Goldenberg & Schmuyle has to be heard to be believed)
Liszt Sonata / Scriabin 2
Beethoven 32 / Schumann SE, Toccatta
Scarlatti 15 Sonatas
Bach English Suites Nos 2 & 3
Haydn No.46, No.19
Mozart K283, K331, Fantasia K397
Brahms op.76 /1, 2 op.79, 3 op.117, op.118/2
Chopin PC 2, op.44
Tchaikovsky PC

And there is "Genius of Pogorelich" double with quite convenient content - Both concertos, Chopin op.39, op.45, op.55/2, complete Gaspard, Brahms op.118/2, Schumann Toccata and some Scarlatti.

There are also two DVDs (actually one and one soon to be released) containing some pieces otherwise unavailable - Chopin op.58 and Beethoven op.22

I believe Sidoze has full disc worth of Chopin from Chopin competition on some obscure label which is probably completely oop. 

[Drasko]

http://www.youtube.com/v/sIVrC5unt1Y

op.28/24 from 1980 Chopin Competition

[BorisG]

Chopin/Ravel/Prokofiev
Scarlatti
Haydn

[George]

I am guessing that there's a cutoff in terms of his recordings and I am also guessing that sidoze will be along soon to let us know what that date is. 

In the meantime Dirk, I say get the Live Recital by Gekic (the one with Chopin Sonata 2). Superb stuff!

[aquablob]

http://www.youtube.com/v/sIVrC5unt1Y

op.28/24 from 1980 Chopin Competition

There are tons of flubs in this performance, and he really "bangs" for most of the prelude; yet near the end of the performance I had goosebumps! There's just an inexplicable "X-factor" in here. Thanks for sharing!

[Drasko]

I am guessing that there's a cutoff in terms of his recordings and I am also guessing that sidoze will be along soon to let us know what that date is. 

There is no cutoff point in terms of his DG recordings. Last one is from 1995 (Scherzi) before his wife died in 1996 and he completely stopped recording.

Only since then, in concert, he has become more and more peculiar so any new recordings would probably be on the unusual side. But he isn't recording anything as far as I know.

sidoze is off for a long weekend, I believe.

[Holden]

There are tons of flubs in this performance, and he really "bangs" for most of the prelude; yet near the end of the performance I had goosebumps! There's just an inexplicable "X-factor" in here. Thanks for sharing!

There is an even bigger X-Factor in the Argerich recording and without the overly percussive effects. I've listened to quite a lot of Pogo and find that I don't really like most of his recordings.

[George]

Sorry, couldn't resist. 

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

The man appears to have some sort fetish with his fingers. I appreciate the recommendations and I like some of his playing, but I don't think I'll be rushing out to buy any DVDs of him.

[sidoze]

Also, I'm aware of some anti-Pogo sentiment in some quarters. What's with that?

Probably the puritans, the least edible form of plant life.

I always find it odd that people call him Pogo. You don't say Arger for Argerich or Schit for Schiff, so just say the name and get it over with. And people wonder why he seems aloof.

There is an even bigger X-Factor in the Argerich recording and without the overly percussive effects.

Not in my opinion. Nowhere near as intense, just listen to that rush 35 seconds from end. Argerich has little sense of shape and style in most Chopin if you ask me, but I know I'm in the minority here.

yet near the end of the performance I had goosebumps!

it's even better if you listen without looking or have the CD of it

Only since then, in concert, he has become more and more peculiar so any new recordings would probably be on the unusual side. But he isn't recording anything as far as I know.

I hope he doesn't record anything ever again. People always forget that a(n) (honest) recording is just a one-time take and has no value for an artist who plays the piece differently on every occasion (which is what he does). I doubt he'd want to be open to attack from armchair critics who are dead weight anyway.

[dirkronk]

I always find it odd that people call him Pogo.

Really? In an environment where the media gushes about "Brangelina" and "TomCat"? I find it pretty tame, myself...possibly even affectionate. After all, Pogo was the name of my alltime favorite (albeit fictional) possum.


Besides, do people call him that to his face? I figured it was just a shorthand reference used by fans--I've seen it used by others, hence my own usage in this thread. I certainly find myself using Furt for Furtwangler, Mengie for Mengelberg, Herbie the K (or Hairbert or occasionally "the great coifed one") for van Karajan, at least in e-mails and on message board. But if those gentlemen were still around and I were to meet them, I'd hardly use such casual familiarities in person.

Hmmm...

Meanwhile, Tony, do you have any specific Pogorelich recommendations or warnings that haven't been voiced by others?

Oh...and just so you won't feel all alone...I'm not that crazy about Argerich's Chopin myself. At least not all of it. The last time I listened to her rendition of the sonata #2, I had a hard time understanding how people could rave about the performance when she seemed to my ears to be distorting some of the most beautiful passages. Oh well.

Cheers,

Dirk

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I always find it odd that people call him Pogo.

Better than 'relish, don'tcha think?

[Mandryka]

Dug up this old thread because I wanted to report nice discovery -- the Scarlatti sonatas on this DVD. They sounded better than the performances on his Scarlatti CD -- at least as far as I remember them (haven't checked yet!).

In fact the whole DVD is great -- the Chopin sonata is wiered but, IMO, it works. There's drama and colour and shape through the whole thing, and it certainly doesn't ever fall apart, even in the outrageously slow slow movement.

And the Mozart seems perfect to me -- nothing mannered or eccentric, just a really lively and colourful Turkish March sonata. Offhand I can't think of a better record of this one (Maybe Gould)

Anyways, I recommend you give it a listen if you can get hold of it.

Here's the track list:

Chopin's Polonaise No.4,   Nocturne No.16, Prélude No.25 in C sharp minor, Op.45 and  B minor sonata
   

Haydn's Piano Sonata in A flat, Hob. XVI:46

Mozart's  Piano Sonata No.11 -"Alla Turca"

[aquablob]

Dug up this old thread because I wanted to report nice discovery -- the Scarlatti sonatas on this DVD. They sounded better than the performances on his Scarlatti CD -- at least as far as I remember them (haven't checked yet!).

In fact the whole DVD is great -- the Chopin sonata is wiered but, IMO, it works. There's drama and colour and shape through the whole thing, and it certainly doesn't ever fall apart, even in the outrageously slow slow movement.

And the Mozart seems perfect to me -- nothing mannered or eccentric, just a really lively and colourful Turkish March sonata. Offhand I can't think of a better record of this one (Maybe Gould)

Anyways, I recommend you give it a listen if you can get hold of it.

Here's the track list:

Chopin's Polonaise No.4,   Nocturne No.16, Prélude No.25 in C sharp minor, Op.45 and  B minor sonata
   

Haydn's Piano Sonata in A flat, Hob. XVI:46

Mozart's  Piano Sonata No.11 -"Alla Turca"

Thanks!

[Coopmv]

I only have 2 Pogo recordings, both baroque, JS Bach and Scarlatti keyboard works.  Pogo is an excellent interpreter of these works IMO.  I have no clue as to what he is like with other composers ...

[Mandryka]

I think that the really essential Pogorelich recordings are his Brahms, his Ravel, his Beethoven sonata on DVD, the Scarlatti and Mozart I just mentioned (i.e the Castello Reale Di Racconigi DVD) , the Chopin Preludes and sonatas, the Prokofiev and the Musorgsky.

The Bach recordings and the Chopin Scherzos  have good things in them.

The Scarlatti CD, the Beethoven Opus 111 and the Schumann are more ordinary I think. And I've never heard his Mozart CD or his Liszt sonata or his concerto recording.

His strengths -- colour and expression. He often plays things slowly: for me his tempo judgements work fine,  but many find him too unorthodox. When you hear him play, you are conscious of the performer's poetry as much as the composers, if you know what I mean, and many people find this conceited.

I rather like it.

You don't say . . . Schit for Schiff

Yes I do.

[Coopmv]

I think that the really essential Pogorelich recordings are his Brahms, his Ravel, his Beethoven sonata on DVD, the Scarlatti and Mozart I just mentioned (i.e the Castello Reale Di Racconigi DVD) , the Chopin Preludes and sonatas, the Prokofiev and the Musorgsky.

The Bach recordings and the Chopin Scherzos  have good things in them.

The Scarlatti CD, the Beethoven Opus 111 and the Schumann are more ordinary I think. And I've never heard his Mozart CD or his Liszt sonata or his concerto recording.

His strengths -- colour and expression. He often plays things slowly: for me his tempo judgements work fine,  but many find him too unorthodox. When you hear him play, you are conscious of the performer's poetry as much as the composers, if you know what I mean, and many people find this conceited.

I rather like it.

I may give his Beethoven and Chopin a try ...

[George]

I may give his Beethoven and Chopin a try ...

The Preludes and Scherzos are excellent. I am quickly becoming a fan of the pianist.