Please Recommend: Prokofiev ~ works for piano

Posted by: naim_nymph on 16 April 2011

I’m interested in his piano Sonatas primarily, but also chamber-piano works

(…rather than piano with orchestration.)

 

My knowledge on this is almost nothing much to go by and it’s a jungle out there with so much choice!

 

All I have is one CD…

 

 

Fascinating recordings of the great man’s ability to compose and play the piano, and as much as this is highly enjoyable and easy to engage with the music, the quality of reproduction although historically interesting is not very audiophile.

 

So who nowadays can play Prokofiev piano well…?

 

with exquisite modern [DDD] recording quality on CD?

 

Thank You, Comrades! (in advance for any guidance)

 

Debs

Posted on: 24 April 2011 by fred simon
Originally Posted by herm:
Originally Posted by fred simon:

 

But I still don't have a specific sense of why you think "Yundi Li is no good" other than that you heard a recording of a bad gig ... everyone has a bad gig from time to time.

 

The reason why is I have heard no good gig of his, ever.

 

If you listen to the Toradze / Gergiev / Mariinsky recording of Prokofiev 2 and the Gutierrez / Järvi / Concertgebouw you will find Yundi Li doesn't matter anymore, even though it is a recent DG release. 

 

If you want to support young artists Vinnitskaya would be a much more deserving pianist.

 

 

But why is he "no good" in the Prokofiev performance? That's what I'm trying to understand ... I'm looking for specific reasons.

Posted on: 25 April 2011 by mikeeschman
Originally Posted by fred simon:
Originally Posted by mikeeschman:

I have this Yundi Li of the Prokofiev 2nd on Fred's recommendation, and I am compelled to say that it leaves me utterly unmoved, for whatever reasons.

 

I have left it at that because I am occupied with music that does engage me, and I feel no urge to explore further.

 

 

The music doesn't move you, or Li's performance?

 

Maybe you should try the recording by Anna Vinnitskaya, as I'm considering doing.

I never "clicked" with the music, so it's unfair to form an opinion about Yundi Li.

 

Someday I may try another performance, but not right now.

Posted on: 30 April 2011 by fred simon
Originally Posted by fred simon:
Originally Posted by herm:
Originally Posted by fred simon:

 

But I still don't have a specific sense of why you think "Yundi Li is no good" other than that you heard a recording of a bad gig ... everyone has a bad gig from time to time.

 

The reason why is I have heard no good gig of his, ever.

 

If you listen to the Toradze / Gergiev / Mariinsky recording of Prokofiev 2 and the Gutierrez / Järvi / Concertgebouw you will find Yundi Li doesn't matter anymore, even though it is a recent DG release. 

 

If you want to support young artists Vinnitskaya would be a much more deserving pianist.

 

 

But why is he "no good" in the Prokofiev performance? That's what I'm trying to understand ... I'm looking for specific reasons.

 

And I guess no specific reasons are forthcoming, unfortunately.

Posted on: 01 May 2011 by herm

no, sorry, I'm not going to analyse bar by bar or something. The Prokofiev 2 needs to have a powerful kind of demonism that Yundi Li just doesn't have. It is a very impressive piece of music, so even in a non-optimal performance it is very good music.

Posted on: 01 May 2011 by herm

I'm kind of baffled how in the case of the Chopin Preludes topic a query for recommendations is turned into an esoteric bar by bar discussion of half notes while recommendations are not discussed. Same here. I make some recommendations: Gutierrez and Toradze and Vinnitskaya, adn point out that Yundi Li is not the ideal interpret for this kind of music. 

Posted on: 01 May 2011 by naim_nymph

Fred,

 

I'm presently sample-exploring this Prokofiev 6 cd set, haven't purchased it yet but it's very good value for money (on offer) at £15.

I'm finding the Browning/Leinsdorf version of concerto no.2 quite sane and a little more understandable... maybe a good one for me to start with?

plus i went over for a quick listen sample to symph no.3 in C minor (which i'm familiar with) and due to it's gravitational pull i stayed the whole performance, it's more dynamic than my Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine ~ Theodore Kuchar version (on naxos)

This set also includes a couple of Violin Concertos, one of which with Itzhak Perlman on violin... So all very tempting : )

 

Debs

 

Erich Leinsdorf conducts Prokofiev

 

Disc 1:

Symphony No. 2 in D minor, Op. 40

Symphony No. 6 in E flat minor, Op. 111

 

Disc 2

Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 44

Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, Op. 100

 

Disc 3, & 4:

Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 5 (Complete)

John Browning (piano)

 

Disc 5:

Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19

Erick Friedman (violin)

Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63

Itzhak Perlman (violin)

 

Disc 6:

Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64 - excerpts

Lieutenant Kijé Suite, Op. 60

David Clatworthy (baritone)

Posted on: 01 May 2011 by mikeeschman

Naim_nymph,

 

That Leinsdorf Symphony No. 5 in your box set is something quite special.

Posted on: 01 May 2011 by fred simon
Originally Posted by herm:

no, sorry, I'm not going to analyse bar by bar or something. The Prokofiev 2 needs to have a powerful kind of demonism that Yundi Li just doesn't have. It is a very impressive piece of music, so even in a non-optimal performance it is very good music.

No one is asking for a bar by bar analysis. Just asking for some specific reasons why you feel "Yundi Li is no good" ... I assume there are actual reasons?

Posted on: 01 May 2011 by fred simon
Originally Posted by herm:

I'm kind of baffled how in the case of the Chopin Preludes topic a query for recommendations is turned into an esoteric bar by bar discussion of half notes while recommendations are not discussed. Same here. I make some recommendations: Gutierrez and Toradze and Vinnitskaya, adn point out that Yundi Li is not the ideal interpret for this kind of music. 

The recommendations are discussed plenty in the Chopin thread.

 

If you're not interested in the esoteric analysis, don't read it. A few people are interested and are participating ... hopefully that's allowed.

 

You "point out" that "Yundi Li is not the ideal interpret[er] for this kind of music" as though it's apparent and you are merely notifying us. Your continued refusal to offer any specific reasons supporting your opinion makes it seem as though there aren't any.

Posted on: 01 May 2011 by fred simon
Originally Posted by naim_nymph:

Fred,

 

I'm presently sample-exploring this Prokofiev 6 cd set, haven't purchased it yet but it's very good value for money (on offer) at £15.

I'm finding the Browning/Leinsdorf version of concerto no.2 quite sane and a little more understandable... maybe a good one for me to start with?

 

As I mentioned, the Browning/Leinsdorf Concerto No. 2 is the one I grew up with, and it's very good.

 

Enjoy!

 

Fred

Posted on: 02 May 2011 by mikeeschman
Originally Posted by fred simon:
Originally Posted by herm:

I'm kind of baffled how in the case of the Chopin Preludes topic a query for recommendations is turned into an esoteric bar by bar discussion of half notes while recommendations are not discussed.

 If you're not interested in the esoteric analysis, don't read it. A few people are interested and are participating ... hopefully that's allowed.

 

I have been following the analysis with great interest, and hope it continues and even expands.

Posted on: 04 May 2011 by fred simon
Originally Posted by Frank F:

Analysis is a waste of time, the best performance by a long way is Rachmaninov plays Rachmaninov - fuill stop.  At least he knows how it should be played. 

 

 BTW, I have all of the LPs and they are superb

 

FF

 

Many find analysis illuminating and enriching, not a waste of time at all.

 

And speaking as a composer, I have too much respect for the interpretive arts to say that a composer's word is the last word.

Posted on: 04 May 2011 by George Fredrik

But is a composer [and his or her opinion] more significant than the listener [or his or her opinion]? Certainly the composer is more important than the performer [even if the composer IS the performer], but the composer is only as important as his or her music is to the listener - barring any personal relationship.

 

It is possible to imagine a composer who felt he or she was of great importance, but who was of no significne to any listener. I would call him or her an un-important composer. [Dame Ethel Smythe for example?].

 

ATB from George

Posted on: 04 May 2011 by mikeeschman

For Christ's sake, some posters wanted to air their views, and it ended in analysis.

 

That can only be to the good.  If not interested, go away.

 

Otherwise, contribute.

Posted on: 04 May 2011 by Florestan
Originally Posted by naim_nymph:

Doug, if you’ve time (and access to Spotify) please give a listen to the Grubert/Raekallio version, be very interested to know your opinion.

 

Thanks!

 

Debs

Hi Debs,

I finally got around to looking into this and it seems that Spotify is not available in the dark corner of the world in which I live so I have to try and source this elsewhere.


By the way, thanks for the Leinsdorf recommendation.  I have this on order and am looking forward to this set with anticipation too.

 

Happy Listening!

Doug

Posted on: 11 June 2011 by Florestan

The Leinsdorf came about a week ago and I have only had time to listen to the G minor Piano Concerto.  In my favourite movement, the 1st, at least, it is quite obvious how much this is the polar opposite to say, the Anna Vinnitskaya.  Not as disparate otherwise but on the 1st, Leinsdorf/Browning are quick, light, and agile while Varga/Vinnitskaya are lugubrious, weightier, and serious even, in comparison.

 

In just the 1st movement of the G minor piano concerto, I still much rather prefer the Vinnitskaya but more listening is required and I have to see how Leinsdorf handles the remaining works.