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

Great movie, even better soundtrack.

+1 arrived today.

Graham

Beethoven / sonatas #13, 23, 26 / Claudio Arrau (1984)

Arrau took Beethoven seriously, and in many sonatas, he found a stunning gravitas that makes it impossible to turn away. But in "Les Adieux", which starts this disc, I think he took this a step too far;  the epic treatment just doesn't fit the notes, and the first movement just refuses to get going. Things get better in the second and third movement, even though Arrau doesn't lighten the mood at any point. The finale is vintage Arrau, and almost makes up for the rocky start of this sonata.

But the Appassionata... words fail me. This may well be the highlight of Arrau's pianistic achievements. Aided by Philips' truly fantastic sound, he meticulously crafts the sonata out of a single piece of granite. The sense of power and the control with which Arrau could still yield it are awesome. Like almost everything he played late in life, he takes his time to sculpt the notes, and his reading is slower than the norm. But in the third movement, with the famous build-up to some of the fastest music Beethoven wrote, Arrau reaches an impressive speed without giving up his tonal quality. He misses Kovacevich's or Pollini's ability to turn on dime; but as compensation, Arrau adds a couple of dimensions to the usual three.

Sonata #13 ends the recital; it is best known as the prelude to the Moonshine sonata. Here Arrau does relax and scale back, as requested by the music, and the result is very fine. The highlight of this sonata is the layered theme of the short second movement; predictably Arrau reaches into the deepest recesses of his grand to pull out a fountain of sound. In III. he misses some of the intimacy I would ideally like to see, but then IV. is very well done again.

In summary, a beautiful disc that highlights the considerable strengths and (inevitable?) weaknesses of Arrau late in life. The sound engineers, as in the rest of this series as well as the concertos with Davis, should have won an Oscar. 

Cheers,

EJ

Beethoven: Maxim Rysanov (Viola), Kristina Blaumane (Cello), Jacob Katsnelson (Piano)

Frédéric Chopin: Khatia Buniatishvili (Piano)

Waltz, Op. 64: no 2 in C sharp minor 

Sonata for Piano no 2 in B flat minor,Op. 35

Ballade for Piano no 4 in F minor, Op. 52

Concerto for Piano no 2 in F minor, Op. 21

Mazurkas for Piano, Op. 17, no 4 in A minor

I will not defend covers but I will defend the music / playing.  I like this just as I liked her Liszt album. A very fine player...

"In Our Time" on BBC Radio 4. Worth the licence fee on its own.

What's wrong with that cover Florestan? No need to defend it...

On CD

Lunch time listen before returning to work.

Graham

Cool

Ha..Ha..Happiness

Shine On...

On CD, and actually isn't too bad either:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swtl3jhxSA0

The famous Kapsberger's tune 'Arpeggione' - where  the name of Christina Pluhar's ensemble 'L'Arpeggiata' came from - means 'play (theorbo) on harp mode'

Very good record.

Vinyl

Graham

First play for a while.

Harry Connick jnr "Blue Light", its so damn good an album I have just pressed play for a second listen! 

On CD:-

listening in 96/24

another one of my favourite young pianists with an extremely well developed musicality, who takes the time and trouble to let you hear what is in the music.