My final year recital...

Posted by: Dan Carney on 23 February 2010

Right,

I've just finalised my end of year recital programme:

Chopin; 4 Mazurkas, Op. 24
Beethoven; Sonata, Op. 10. no. 3

Combined they make up the 30mins required.

So, the notes are pretty much there, so it's time to start listening (in detail) to recordings.

So, what've you got? I won't say what I've began listening to as I'd like to hear suggestions that aren't influenced by my choices so far...

Thanks!

Dan

Posted on: 23 February 2010 by mudwolf

you mean performers on LP or CD?

Arthur Rubenstein: Last Concert in Russia

Horowitz: Chopin Schumann Rach., Liszt

G Gould performing Beethoven's 5th transcribed by Liszt, not heard it yet but it's coming up soon.

Posted on: 23 February 2010 by Steve Bull

I don't know enough to make any recommendations, but Spotify seems to have a large selection of both pieces

Posted on: 23 February 2010 by Florestan

Dan, I'm quite familiar with these pieces and could recommend a wide variety of choices with many varying and different perspectives. What would give me a better idea of what to recommend would be to first find out a little of your playing style and your view of these two composers. What ideas do you have about what these pieces mean to you personally or what do you want to tell people through these pieces?

Also, a general question: If it were possible to not have listened to anyone else play this music before would the outcome be the same / similar?

Wish I lived closer and could hear you play.

Regards,
Doug

Posted on: 23 February 2010 by Dan Carney

Hi Doug,

I my opinion, Chopin should be very 'clean', with a crisp rhythmic intent, decisive pedalling, but maintain a rather simplistic, and elegant beauty.

Think Rubenstein, Zimerman (as appose to Cortot, Perlemuter, for example). Many categorise Chopin's playing into two main 'schools' - the Polish (Rubenstein, Zimerman), and the French (Cortot, Perlemuter). These are only generalisations! I prefer the Polish style...

Beethoven, always the progressive! This sonata is both forward, and backward facing. It bares a strange resemblance to the Haydn D major (the one with the D minor second movement).

For Beethoven, I'm less 'picky' to how I like to hear/play it. I've got Brendel, Bernard Roberts, Gulda, Richter, and Pollini. They are all rather individual...

I'm quite happy with what I want to do with the pieces, but I want to know what everyone else does with them - no doubt this will give me a larger scope of understanding of the works, thus opening-up my own interpretation to new influences.

Thanks,

Dan