What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XI)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 31 December 2014
On the cusp of 2015, we start a new thread...
Anyway, links:
Volume X: https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...-be-interested-vol-x
Volume IX: https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...16#22826037054683416
Volume VIII: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...nt/12970396056050819
Volume VII: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...6878604287751/page/1
Volume VI: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878604097229
Volume V: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878605140495
Volume IV: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878605795042
Volume III: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878607309474
Volume II: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878606245043
Volume I: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878607464290
Can't understand the vocals, but great sounding album if you experience the voice as instrument..
Im actually playing the 45rpm vinyl copy of this, but this is a convenient way of showing it from an iPad.
Great album.
Excellent 2007 release on CD.
Didn't realize I hadn't played this yet, so first run right now...
Delicate playing..
Streaming | FLAC
(1969)
Their excellent follow up album to Music In A Doll's House.
Less prog more pop, but still enjoyable
Pollini: Schumann Fantasie in C Major 1973 release
Revisiting this early recording. Curious to hear how he does it 42 years later this Sunday at the Orchestra Hall.
It will be played even faster and with much less emotion. 
Great album, the title is descriptive...
Bert,
I have plenty of Bollani's recordings but for some reason this one hasn't worked for me.
That's strange, besides Gleda it's my favorite..., perhaps you have to give it a couple of additional spins.
Probably it is a good idea. This is one of my favorites which also took a while to sink in:
Pollini: Chopin Preludes Op.28 1975 recording
This was a huge let down.
This is a very unimaginative reading in that it does not provoke strong visual images. Pollini’s Preludes are almost as fast as Cortot he’s dashing through them but his tunes do not leave the lasting impressions nor a sense of attitude or style.
To be fair, the Preludes are stupendously difficult to convey. Not only technically (which Pollini has no difficulty with obviously) but they are so personal and intimate. Like Bach, they are a tough nut to crack. Everyone has an opinion and everyone is right (in their own mind). The difficulty is finding a player that matches what you want out of the Preludes (or any music for that matter).
The alternative is to play them yourself. I find this to be the most satisfying experience at any point in time (but I do leave the recording devices off and security removes any humans from a 1 mile radius). I off course am completely satisfied with my own interpretations (ha ha). A fact that leaves me completely baffled is that since playing the piano for more than 45 years I have never heard myself play back through a recording. I may have been recorded by others along the way but I have always been too self-conscience to ever want to hear it. Maybe I am too humble and self-effacing? (combined with a massive fear of looking in the mirror). It just seems to me the same as standing naked in front of thousands of people as they laugh, jeer and snicker
I have been thinking of this though for a fews years now already. In fact, about 8 years ago I bought a Zoom H4n and have never been able to even open the box. This winter though, I vow to look fear in the face and try it out for the first time in my life. Who knows, might be the start of something new for me or it will be the first and last time ever. If this is the case, with only one recording in existence, just think what that will be worth some day by treasure hunters 
Halina Czerny-Stefańska: Chopin Preludes Op.28 1959 recording
Completey unknown piano player but according to the liner notes, she was Joint First Prize winner at the International Chopin Piano Competition in 1949, sharing this prize with Bella Davidovich.
Expressively played with friendly disposition but lacking drama not the flashiest Preludes. Technically she also falls behind today's professional pianists.
Kuma,
I have been on sort of a Preludes bent lately too and so I am glad you posted this. I will look for this pianist as she is someone I am not familiar with and it sounds worthwhile. I'm not sure of the name though as what you stated (Halina Czerny-Stefańska) looks different than the album cover (Wszystkie) ?
Why am I interested? You say technically today's pianists are more proficient. That may be true but often the musical understanding of the music by those of the past was exceedingly heads and shoulders above many today who might be technically capable but interpretively vapid.
This week, I listened to Yundi. Technically flawless. I don't think there is anything he cannot do. Interpretively though .... well, I don't know. Out of the 24 preludes, there is not anyone who I have heard that ever nailed the 24 completely (except for yours truly, ha ha). Yundi here has some nice moments but also some very week moments where, in my opinion, he misses the mark completely.
It might remind me a little of the Pollini syndrome. Sometimes he is just wonderful but his over arching character, to me, is just too cold and lifeless. The technical side is the strong point but the musicality is lacking. These individuals are very much against anything showing too much much emotion or having any meaning associated with it.
Yundi: Chopin Preludes
A competent player with his forte on technicality and perfection rather than on artistry, emotion or poetic values.
Johann Sebastian Bach: Edna Stern (piano)
Partita No. 1 in B-flat major, BWV 825
Partita No. 2 in c minor, BWV 826
Partita No. 6 in e minor, BWV 830
In typical Edna Stern fashion, she plays with such warmth and intellectual fervour.
Quasi una Fantasia: Audrey Vigoureux (piano)
Johann Sebastian Bach:
Fantasy & Fugue in A minor BWV 904
Fantasy & Fugue in C minor BWV 906
Ludwig van Beethoven:
Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-flat major, Op. 27, No. 1 "Quasi una Fantasia"
Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110
Audrey Vigoureux is an interesting player for me. She is technically competent but it doesn't come in to your mind while she is playing that, "wow, is she ever technically competent" like it might for Yundi or Pollini). For her, technical competence is merely a means to an end. What I hear though is a real blend of intellectual justification playing against (in a complimentary way) the emotional aspect of the music.
Explained another way, the playing has such a vivid clarity (the intellectual) juxtaposed against a sense of a struggle - that is, there is life, breathing, phrasing, vivacity, a pushing or pulling to make the storyline - but it is wonderfully tamed (by the erudite understanding of score).
A very old vinyl I keep returning to - A lively and surprisingly sophisticated piece of music that Dorati seemed to understand perfectly.
Streaming | Bandcamp | FLAC | Download
(2010)
My first ever Bandcamp download found and recommended by Sorren (Russell) late of this forum.
"Incredibly seductive and haunting at the same time. This album is plain magic and beautiful"
"Beautiful and profound, organic and celestial. A masterpiece of beautiful melodies and haunting vocals".
Great album, the title is descriptive...
Bert,
I have plenty of Bollani's recordings but for some reason this one hasn't worked for me.
That's strange, besides Gleda it's my favorite..., perhaps you have to give it a couple of additional spins.
Probably it is a good idea. This is one of my favorites which also took a while to sink in:
Didn't think about this one, but this one is indeed also great.
Not there best album, but still an interesting concept...
Not a bad album with a couple of long numbers which is new for them. Don't know if I will buy this album, will listen a couple of times more (advantage of having a streaming service).
A kind of advanced cocktail jazz, not interesting enough...
Kancheli's sombre mix of (melodic) minimalism and new-age, given fantastic performances by the Kremerata Baltica, Gidon Kremer, and Patricia Kopatchinskaja.
Cheers,
EJ
Courtesy of Tidal free trial - stunning voice and some beautiful arrangements.
Pollini: Schumann Fantasie in C Major 1973 release
Revisiting this early recording. Curious to hear how he does it 42 years later this Sunday at the Orchestra Hall.
Originally Posted by Florestan: It will be played even faster and with much less emotion.
Will see! I will be particularly honing in to the 3rd movement which is my fave.
I am listening to the Fantasie again now.
I have noticed on his Schubert, he has mellowed reaching deep down and can give moving listening pleasure even live. Tremendous amount of skills to get that out of Schubert tune is something... cuz, not many do.
His Mozart concerto live, however, was a disaster but I blame Muti and my lousy seating arrangement for it.
Streaming | FLAC
(1990)
Just in the mood for some well played hard edged blues with some grunt and this is fitting the bill nicely.