What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol.VIII)

Kevin,

What number is your copy?

Stu.

On the 10" black stuff.My son bought this for me for fathers day this year.

 He does have good taste in music when he buys for his dear old.

Stu.

Eins.. zwei.. drei.. vier.. fünf..!

Phillips 9xLP box-set : )

playing the no.7 in A, op.92 [+ overture 'Fidelio' op.72c]

I don't know why the pix of Mendelssohn either. It should have been the pix of his Immortal Beloved!

I've only heard two of his Beethoven Sonatas: No15 & and wonderful No.26.( Les Adieux )

How is his Moonlight?

Mozart Piano Concert No.20: Haskil/Markevitch

This is very different from her earlier set. Bold, daring ( for her anyways ) and more creative cadenza.

I feel this is a much more *together* set than the one with Fricsay.

This stereo CD sounds pretty good, too. I bet the original vinyl is even better.

Backhaus' Moonlight Sonata is wonderful.  A no nonsense affair, rock solid technically and with superb voicing and architecture (long line).  Very compelling actually with only the tiniest hint of romanticism or sentimentality which is kept in tow by his focused objectivity.  For Backhaus, it is about clarity (perfectly voiced harmony), phrasing, and rhythm.

This afternoon I was working on the Tempest Sonata a little bit so I decided to have a listen to some random recordings.  I only had enough time to listen to eight different recordings but out of the old school guys (and gal), Wilhelm Backhaus came out on top for me.  He is a very strong player in certain aspects.

Actually, the cover of that album probably has more meaning to it than initially one might suspect.  All kinds of symbolism as a chiseled Beethoven towers over a meekly Mendelssohn.  I think both Mendelssohn and Schubert had it toughest to come nearly directly after Beethoven and both trying to be creative and find there own voice under such a large shadow of Beethoven.  You could say that early Mendelssohn had many markings of a late Beethoven.

I forgot I had this but I'm still fuming that it isn't on vinyl!!

Listened to Piano Concerto No. 4 in G-major earlier

Wilhelm Backhaus / Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt 

Not sure when the 4th was recorded but all the Concertos were recorded in Vienna between April 1958 and June 1959)

Assuming it is the same performance as that wonderful vinyl copy above (boo hoo hoo )

Now I'm going to enjoy this again through DVD

Wilhelm Backhaus / Karl Böhm

Piano Concerto No. 4 in G-major recorded in April 1967.  Backhaus was 83 at the time and would die two years later.

That sounds like how I hear his Sonata No.26. Structured and controlled. Very mucho with clear tone and dead on note delivery. I found it interesting as if there is a sense of melacholy and sadness but a bit of anger mixed in. Series of strong bold strokes.

I bet he adds interesting angle to this old overplayed No.14.

An interesting quote by Backhaus on timing and rhythm:

"As for the metronome, I approve of it to cultivate the sense of rhythm in those who are lacking in this particular sense. I sometimes use it myself, just to see the difference between the mechanical rhythm and the musical rhythm – for they are not always the same by any means."

Yep. That's the same set. When I was shopping for his No.1 I found a London box set containing all of his Concertos from the same session.
Backhaus recorded No.4 10 times in his career. Love to hear his earliest recording ('29) and the live recording with Guido Cantelli/NY Phil. ( '56 )

Backhaus/Böhm video is lovely indeed. I like Böhm's orchestration too.

Phillips 9 x LP box-set : )

Playing..

Symphony no.2 in D, op.36

plus:

Overture 'Leonore' no.1, op.138

Overture 'The Consecration of the House', op.124

(p) 1975

Cabezon: Canto a mi Caballero

Wonderful music of the blind composer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMHhx1-TE7g

On CD:-

The three Op.2 sonatas. Astonishing, I don't think I've ever heard these works come off as mature and musically convincing as under Arrau. This is proving to be a remarkable set (apart from the album art... I mean, seriously... Arrau, Beethoven, and the recording team deserve much better).

EJ

Originally Posted by naim_nymph:
Phillips 9 x LP box-set : )

Playing..

Symphony no.2 in D, op.36
plus:
Overture 'Leonore' no.1, op.138
Overture 'The Consecration of the House', op.124

(p) 1975

I see Masur hasn't put you to sleep yet.

This sounds even better on vinyl than it did on CD ...  and not to put too finer point on it America's finest always seem to deliver

Originally Posted by naim_nymph:
Phillips 9 x LP box-set : )

Playing..

Symphony no.2 in D, op.36
plus:
Overture 'Leonore' no.1, op.138
Overture 'The Consecration of the House', op.124

(p) 1975

I see Masur hasn't put you to sleep yet.

His number Seven did, however his number Two is quite fabulous actually.

number twos? - have to watch wot you say around here!

The cover-art is a number two...

Another vinyl classic - this time from Sparks 

Johannes Brahms: Radu Lupu

Sonata for Piano no 3 in F minor, Op. 5

Theme and Variations for Piano in D minor

Rhapsodies Nos. 1 & 2 for Piano, Op. 79

Pieces (6) for Piano, Op. 118

Pieces (4) for Piano, Op. 119

Intermezzi (3) for Piano, Op. 117

Concerto for Piano no 1 in D minor, Op. 15 (Edo De Waart/London Philharmonic Orchestra)

Franz Schubert: Imogen Cooper

Sonata for Piano in C minor, D 958

Moments musicaux (6) for Piano, D 780/Op. 94

German Dances (16) and Ecossaises (2) for Piano, D 783/Op. 33

Sonata for Piano in G major, D 894/Op. 78

Impromptus (4) for Piano, D 935/Op. 142