Edwin Fischer's Legacy.

Do my eyes deceive me? No mention of Fischer’s recording of the 48? Surely an unintended oversight. A masterful, wondrous recording if ever there was one.


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Dear Todd,

Not a deliberate oversight!

Fredrik

Thanks Fredrik. After listening to Fischer's Emperor, I recently ordered the Beethoven 3rd and 4th concertos on Testament. I may also explore the Mozart concertos on Apr. Too bad the Brahms 2nd concerto(which I have on a Music and Arts Furtwangler/Brahms box) is of such poor fidelity. Gee, I just don't understand why they didn't have stereo in 1942 in Germany. Guess, they weren't an technologically advanced as they thought......

Dear Oldnslow,

The quality of the old Brahms Second Piano Concerto is a mystery. The LP I had was far better than the DG CD from about 1988, but the Testament CD is far better than any other issue I have heard. I was not expecting it to be more than passable, but it is really rather fine. I have some Music and Arts transfers, and in every case they were rougher than the parallel Tahra (France) or Testament issues, though I never got the Music and Arts disc of this particualar performance. I think you might find the Testament issue much finer going on other issues though. I listened to it last evening, and the Fischer recording of the Empereor just after lunchtime. That was a feast for an Easter Sunday!

All the best from Fredrik

yes, it is real hit or miss on Music and Arts. I may have to invest in the Testament, though I had duplicating the same performance

There is a rare bonus on the Testament, which I personally found fascinating once. A movement from Furtwangler's own Piano Concerto with the same forces.

But the transfer is more than just reasonable.

I have found with these old Radio tapes, it is sometimes necessary to double up to get a good transfer. Sometimes Music and Arts are fine, but Tahra are more reliably so.

APR's 78 transfers are splendid, as a matter of interest.

All th best from Fredrik

Dear Fredrik

Other than Edwin Fischers EMI CDs with concertos by Bach and the WTC, which is the only piano version of the WTC, I can stand to listen to except perhaps the version of Sviatoslav Richters, I own:

A Music and Arts doubleCD with live recordings of some Beethoven sonatas (no. 8, 21, 30, 14, 7, 15, 32 and the fantasia in g-minor(most of it in B-major). The sound quality of the Moonlight is the worst I ever have heard on any phonographic reproduction, but the other sonatas are fine.

And an Electrola LP with sonatas 7 and 23, if I remember right, a studio recording from the 1950ies I think.

And a KochCD with recordings from the 1930ies with his chamber orchestra containing a chamber version of Grosse Fugue and an alternate version of the Second Brandenburg concerto with
P. Spörri (former Berlin Philharmonic soloist) playing piccolotrumpet at the right pitch.
I prefer the later Philharmonia version with Harold Jackson though.

Regards,

I had the Sonata No 7 on an Electrola LP set, with some others, but I guess they are out of print. They were very lovely. Somewhere I have transfered No 7.

I have the later Brandenberg recordings[2 and 5]. I am especially fond of the Fifth, but again it is in limbo just now I think.

If I could I would get the Music and Arts issue though!

Thanks, pe-zulu, from Fredrik

quote:

Originally posted by Fredrik_Fiske:
I had the Sonata No 7 on an Electrola LP set, with some others, but I guess they are out of print. They were very lovely. Somewhere I have transfered No 7.

This must be the same LP I own. I have transferred no.23 to CD, since the other sonatas were on the Music and Arts CDs in better interpretations.

Schumann's Phantasie in C

This is available here:

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=...id=10915&name_role=1

This is one of my favorite recordings of one of my favorite Schumann works. You also get Cortot playing the Symphonic Études, which is, IMO, the supreme performance of that great piece, and Rachmaninoff playing Carnaval, as well as mumerous other performances from the "Golden Age".

Peter,

That whole album looks very appetizing! Good heads up and thanks from Fredrik

Fredrik-

You're welcome. If you pick up this album and like Cortot's playing, by all means try to get every shred of Schumann he's recorded. IMO, no one ever played Schumann with the depth, humanity, and pianistic voicing that Cortot brought to his readings. His Kreisleriana is so good, that I fail to see how anyone who has not heard his recording can fully understand this piece in all its subtle complexity. Obviously he's my favorite Schumann interpreter of all time!

Cortot was a genius, though I only have him on records in the Archduke and B flat Trios of Beethoven and Schubert with Thibaud and Cassals!

Where are the greats of today in comparison? We live a rather pail times I think in terms of the bravery and strength of artistic vision. Mostly because the Music and Record Critics and Reviewers (not the most imaginative breed) have, as a type, spent too much time describing mere note-spinning to perfection as the ideal, rather than considering great artistry to come from an inner vision and perception, only aided by a sufficient technique to realise that vision in performence.

Why do people read record reviews instead of using their ears? It is just as sad as people who buy a particular model of gramophones becasue some review says it is good. Do they do the same when sellecting a wife or girlfriend? Or perhaps that seems too obviously sad! The profession of reviewing has led to a destruction of originality, and, really, to a dumbing down of quality in every departement except technical perfection. Being personal or original is almost regarded as a flaw, even if it only means the reviewer does not share the particular visionary view-point. Why do people want anothers prejudices to control their own experince? If I ever met a music critic there is a serious risk I might loose my usual sanguine air! What a mess!

Fredrik