Listening to Faure piano music - reacquainting with the Pascal Roge selection: https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8050302--faure-piano-music

Beautiful piano tone and great music - any other favorites for Faure piano works?

Also, still going through my opera collection - this time The Makropulos Case. There is nothing quite like the Janacek operas - fascinating and moving. I had the MacKerras Decca version and just also got the Supraphon recording for a few bucks at the Qobuz download sale - another interesting version.

Notsure1 wrote:

> Also, still going through my opera collection - this time The Makropulos Case. There is nothing quite like the Janacek
> operas - fascinating and moving. I had the MacKerras Decca version and just also got the Supraphon recording for a
> few bucks at the Qobuz download sale - another interesting version.

Hello, Notsure1!

Janáček's operas are fantastic and wonderful. Some of my favorites. A Cunning Little Vixen is perhaps my favorite, and my current favorite version is Rattle's, orig. recorded for EMI in June 1990 as part of the Peter Moores Foundation Opera In English. Reissued on Chandos Opera in a more lavish presentation, which is the one I have.

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/janácek-the-cunning-little-vixen

Preppin' for tomorrow's concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall, featuring guest conductor Susanna Mälkki and soloist Daniil Trifonov. The program:

Brahms: Academic Festival Overture, Op.80 (1880)
Enno Poppe: Fett (2019) (U.S. premiere, LA Phil commission with generous support from the Lenore S. and Bernard A. Greenberg Fund)
Brahms: Piano Concerto No.2 in B-flat major, Op.83 (1878-81)

Listening to the evergreen mid-1970s Gilels/Jochum collab with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Still a marvelous rendition that takes me away each and every audition.

r.c.m.r. lives!

. . aaaand I just listened to Chailly's Academic Festival Overture with the Gewandhausorchester from the 2013 Symphonies integrale. Stunning version. So much better than Jochum's 1970s analog recording with the LPO on EMI (which is pretty bad). Can't wait!

Oscar wrote:

> Preppin' for tomorrow's concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall, featuring guest conductor Susanna Mälkki
> and soloist Daniil Trifonov. The program:

<self-snip>

And now for the immortal Reiner & Gilels recording of the Brahms B-flat major concerto from 1958 with the Chicagoans at Symphony Hall. Truly a spine-tingling performance, compromised, naive early (narrow) stereo recording and all.

Trifonov is _in town_! "Oh, Danny boy!!"

Oscar wrote:

> And now for the immortal Reiner & Gilels recording of the Brahms B-flat major concerto from 1958 with the Chicagoans at Symphony Hall. Truly a spine-tingling performance, compromised, naive early (narrow) stereo recording and all.

So, how does this compare with the mid-1970s Gilels/Jochum collab with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra?

I have them both and I cannot pick a winner! What does everyone else think?

Reiner better.

palsing wrote:

> Oscar wrote:

>> And now for the immortal Reiner & Gilels recording of
>> the Brahms B-flat major concerto from 1958 with the
>> Chicagoans at Symphony Hall. Truly a spine-tingling
>> performance, compromised, naive early (narrow) stereo
>> recording and all.

> So, how does this compare with the mid-1970s Gilels/
> Jochum collab with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra?

Reiner has more paprika, Jochum ha more kraut.

> I have them both and I cannot pick a winner! What does
> everyone else think?

Sell one and the remaining one wins.

Cheers

On 2/24/24 10:23 PM, palsing wrote:
> Oscar wrote:
>
>> And now for the immortal Reiner & Gilels recording of the Brahms
>> B-flat major concerto from 1958 with the Chicagoans at Symphony Hall.
>> Truly a spine-tingling performance, compromised, naive early (narrow)
>> stereo recording and all.
>
> So, how does this compare with the mid-1970s Gilels/Jochum collab with
> the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra?
>
> I have them both and I cannot pick a winner! What does everyone else think?

The RCA has notoriously bad sound, so that's one way to differentiate.
The best version I've heard was the K2 XRCD on JVC, FWIW.

Oscar wrote:

> And now for the immortal Reiner & Gilels
> recording of the Brahms B-flat major
> concerto from 1958 with the Chicagoans
> at Symphony Hall. Truly a spine-tingling
> performance, compromised, naive early
> (narrow) stereo recording and all.

I heard Gilels do it live more than once,
and I heard all his recordings of the B2.
They are definitely not to my taste. They
sound "serious" for lack of a better term,
and heavy handed. Why I am not surprised
that someone obsessed with Bruckner and
Wagner and Bohm and Jochum likes them? ;-)

Among the Russians, Richter and Bashkirov
sound more mercurial, and if one likes
one's Brahms "serious" Zhukov buries
Gilels and all the others for sheer
seriousness:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIuNz3JeiJg

At this time, I no longer include Gilels
among the top dozen Brahms PC2 versions.

> Trifonov is _in town_! "Oh, Danny boy!!"

Run for shelter! Don't listen to Treif!

Cheers

A few days late, but I made a spontaneous decision to see Wayne Marshall two nights ago (Sunday) in an organ recital at Walt Disney Concert Hall. I saw there were 4 great seats unclaimed about 2 hours before showtime, so I suited up and made the pilgrimage. Bought the cheapest ticket for $20 and sat in the good seat, where I had a swell view of Marshall. Seventh row center and in the acoustic sweet spot. It was a fabulous program of the Franco-Belgian masters: Marcel Dupré, Saint-Saëns, Jongen (the piece he wrote for the Wanamaker organ in Phila., but never got to play on it), Franck and of course, Widor, the Symphony No.5 in F minor, Op.42 No.1. Also a Marshall improv to open and another Marshall improv to close the night, riffing on Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, which just marked its 100th anniversary since the Paul Whiteman premiere in NYC in Feb. 1924. The WDCH organ, nicknamed "Hurricane Mama' by Terry Riley (whom I saw in 2009 in a 3-hour improv concert—WHOA! AMAZING), sounded superb under Marshall's expert application of registrations and clearly virtuosic playing with feet and hands. I was amazed and would love to see him again. Most of all, the Franco-Belgian masters m
usic was given appropriate respect by Marshall and its everlasting glory shone through in a most pleasurable and inimitable way. 10/10.

Next concert: This Saturday, Marc-André Hamelin pays a visit to Zipper Hall at Colburn School of Music, across Grand Av. from WDCH. Have been wanting to see Hamelin for years. He will only be performing one work, however, as it is not a recital: Franck's Piano Quintet in F minor (1878-79), for piano, 2 violins, viola and cello. Can't wait.

Just saw I did not post my review of Trifonov at Walt Disney Concert Hall on the night before Wayne Marshall's recital. Well, as I commented upthread, it was the Brahms B-flat concerto, Op.83, this time, and it was a very leisurely and quite slow performance. Former LA Phil principal guest conductor, Susanna Mälkki (2017-2021), conducted. I will say that Trifonov made the most of the every phrase, spinning out some of the most beautiful pianism I have heard in concert in a long time, and did manage to maintain the long line—and it is a very long concerto, to be sure, four movements and all—although it was not how I enjoy hearing this concerto. The felicities of Trifonov's playing were manifold, but Gilels/Reiner it was most certainly not. When taking in a concert you take what you get and, this being one of my favorite works, I enjoyed it and took pleasure from it. But, Mälkki just was not to my taste and I knew it from the jump, within the first 10 seconds of the opening Academic Festival Overture, composed within the same span of months as the concerto, c.1880. This was _not_ Chailly and the Gewandhausans (what a version that is!), still my favorite recent cycle of Brahms.
(The concertos with Freire are still among my top 3, and prob best 2CD of the pair.) No, Mälkki was soft-edged, too considered, gentle, and lacking impetus and verve. I could not get into it. Am I a chauvinist pig? I hope not. It really dragged, though. I wanted to headbang! And, I would have given the same appraisal for the concerto if not for Trifonov's miraculous way with the keyboard. A magician. Certainly one of the top 3 pianists touring the globe and making recordings in 2024. IMHO.

The middle portion of the program, before the intermission, was the U.S. premiere of Enno Poppe's Fett (2019), a co-commission of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The English translation is 'fat'. Percussion exited the stage and strings and a woodwind complement proceeded to unveil strands of microtonal chording in a very imaginative and modern work that I found very pleasing. Of course the audience was polite and somewhat receptive but could not wait to get to the bar or bathroom upon its completion. This work was to be premiered in the U.S. in 2021, but was set back because of the pandemic. Mälkki conducted the premiere in Europe in 2019.

All in all, an very enjoyable concert in spite of my criticisms, which I believe would be shared by many in this group and I maintain are not nitpicking criticisms. Had the best seats int the house. Close enough to see Trifonov's hands and his body language, but within the acoustic sweet spot of rows 5-20 in Front Orchestra. Balcony is also good for sound, but I do not like it up there if I can help it.

Oscar wrote:
>
> Had the best seats int the house. Close enough
> to see Trifonov's hands and his body language,

How does "body language" contribute to the music?

Cheers

"Am I a chauvinist pig? I hope not."

You enjoyed the concert just the same.

It looks like a clear case of the live experience competing with your memory of your favorite recordings.

You forgot to mention Trifonov's sartorality etc.

Notsure01 wrote:

> Listening to Liszt: Annees Italie, performed by Bolet
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbsO2cT3Idg
> I’d previously only been familiar with the
> Petrarca 104 - and really enjoy Bolet’s
> performance. The rest of this Annee seems
> less memorable - maybe other performances
> are superior? Suggestions??

Bowlet would not be the first choice for any
Liszt works, even though he was considered a
specialiszt. He plays well but he has nothing
to say, As usual. YouTube is your best friend.
or should be. And learn how to liszten.

Cheers

Need to correct myself again, was too focused on voices. Can't listen to Solti's nozze because of his accompaniment - it's out of my fav. Mozart opera recordings.

Also: S. Richter sucks, as does Bashkirov.

JudeoN4zi wrote:

> Also: S. Richter sucks, as does Bashkirov.

Many pianists would kill to suck half as
much as Richter or Bashkirov. Or even a
tenth.

Just say you don't like them. Everyone
understands this is a matter of taste,
even though they may have never tasted
taste.

Cheers

Oscar Wilde wrote:

> And now for the immortal Reiner & Gilels recording of
> the Brahms B-flat major concerto from 1958 with the
> Chicagoans at Symphony Hall. Truly a spine-tingling
> performance, compromised, naive early (narrow) stereo
> recording and all.

If you believe Gilels and Reiner were immortal you
know nothing about immortality.

Cheers

On Feb 28, 2024 at 7:33:33 PM EST, "DeepBlue" <DeepBlue> wrote:

>
> Just say you don't like them. Everyone
> understands this is a matter of taste,
> even though they may have never tasted
> taste.
>
>

Strange hearing this from you Dan!!

-Owen

DeepBlue wrote:

> JudeoN4zi wrote:

>> Also: S. Richter sucks, as does Bashkirov.

> Many pianists would kill to suck half as
> much as Richter or Bashkirov. Or even a
> tenth.

Another pianist is another pianist - he either sucks or he doesn't ;)

> Just say you don't like them. Everyone
> understands this is a matter of taste,
> even though they may have never tasted
> taste.

They suck, there are better pianists.

> Cheers

Owen Hartnett wrote:

> On Feb 28, 2024 at 7:33:33 PM EST, "DeepBlue" <DeepBlue> wrote:
>>
>> Just say you don't like them. Everyone
>> understands this is a matter of taste,
>> even though they may have never tasted
>> taste.

> Strange hearing this from you Dan!!

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Pianists that don't suck - still pondering though:

Gieseking, Gould, E. Fischer, Moravec, Pletnev, Rubinstein, Schnabel and Sofronitsky are the first ones that come to mind.

Also: Derzhavina, Eschenbach, Conrad Hansen

Maybe: Friedman, Feinberg, Sokolov, Volodos, Horowitz

Fav conductors: Still Celibidache, Klemperer, Krips, Mengelberg

Fav violinists (not too much listening-experience): Szeryng, Milstein (maybe: Huberman, Kreisler, Heifetz)

Fav cellists (not too much listening-experience): Probably Casals and Fournier (not so sure about Fournier anymore)

--

This list is related to the interpretations of works of my favourite composers (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms - I think I actually prefer Brahms over Schubert...)

JudeoN4zi wrote:

> Pianists that don't suck - still pondering though:
> Gieseking, Gould, E. Fischer, Moravec, Pletnev,
> Rubinstein, Schnabel and Sofronitsky are the
> first ones that come to mind.
> Also: Derzhavina, Eschenbach, Conrad Hansen
> Maybe: Friedman, Feinberg, Sokolov, Volodos,Howitz

Didn't you just say the other day they all sucked ?!?

Did you skip taking your pills again ?!?

Oy vey!

JudeoN4zi wrote:

> Pianists that don't suck - still pondering though:

> Gieseking, Gould, E. Fischer, Moravec, Pletnev, Rubinstein, Schnabel and Sofronitsky are the first ones that come to mind.

> Also: Derzhavina, Eschenbach, Conrad Hansen

> Maybe: Friedman, Feinberg, Sokolov, Volodos, Horowitz

> Fav conductors: Still Celibidache, Klemperer, Krips, Mengelberg

> Fav violinists (not too much listening-experience): Szeryng, Milstein (maybe: Huberman, Kreisler, Heifetz)

> Fav cellists (not too much listening-experience): Probably Casals and Fournier (not so sure about Fournier anymore)

> --

> This list is related to the interpretations of works of my favourite composers (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms - I think I actually prefer Brahms over Schubert...)

Correction: I prefer Schubert over Brahms by far - Brahms has fallen out of favour, this time for real. I think I might even prefer Haydn over Brahms...

With this said I can't name Rubinstein as one of my favourite pianists anymore.