Beethoven and Chopin

quote:

Originally posted by CFMF:
Mike

Which recording(s) of the Chopin Preludes are you listening to? I have recordings by Pollini, Blechacz, Sokolov, and Argerich. I cannot decide which I like best. Which one(s) do you prefer?

Best,
BBM

At the moment, I can't take my hands off the Blechacz. I haven't heard the Pollini, but I do have him doing the Etudes, and imagine his Preludes are flawless as well.

Mike

The Pollini Preludes recording IS flawless. I also have his recording of the Etudes which I enjoy immensely. Pollini's recording of the Polonaises is a thin sounding recording to my ears, so I usually listen to the Rubinstein recording instead. But now I'm getting off topic...

Enjoy,
BBM

quote:

Originally posted by CFMF:
Mike

The Pollini Preludes recording IS flawless. I also have his recording of the Etudes which I enjoy immensely. Pollini's recording of the Polonaises is a thin sounding recording to my ears, so I usually listen to the Rubinstein recording instead. But now I'm getting off topic...

Enjoy,
BBM

How is that off topic? You have given me the appetite to buy the Pollini Chopin Preludes, just by introducing the thought :-)

The Rubinstein has always eluded me. He gets things going really well, then botches some bit of rhythm, muddies his voicing or hits a few clams, instantly snapping you back from the music and into the here and now.

Most unpleasant :-)

I'm speaking of his Beethoven Concertos with Barenboim and the London Philharmonic Orchestra on RCA LPs.

I listened to him once, and never since.

I found a set of Rubinstein Chopin Mazurkas, and will give some of that a spin tonight, as you speak so highly of him :-)

Mike

Right on!

Best,
BBM

Mike,

There are some Chopin recordings that I consider to be completely indispensable.

Rubinstein: Ballades and Scherzos
Moravec: Nocturnes
Lipatti: Waltzes, etc.
Ashkenazy: Mazurkas (complete)
Perahia: Impromptus, etc.
Michelangeli: Recital
Anderszewski: Ballades, Mazurkas, Polonaises

Now I AM going off topic: Walter Klien Mozart Piano Sonatas (complete)

Best,
BBM

Sorry! I just couldn't help myself...

Best,
BBM

CFMF, you have me thinking about performance practice in Chopin.

The music is tremendously complex harmonically, fluid lines always in motion, and bursting to the seams with thematic material. Well, at least the preludes seem that way.

What makes you sort out performances, the favored separated from the less fortunate?

For me, it is the execution of rubato. Rubato plays with the beat by stealing from one part and shorting another, speeding up or slowing down. It can effect a single beat, or a five bar passage. The rubato should end up where it started.

Some players have a very natural rubato, they regulate it as easily and smoothly as you might pace a Sunday walk.

Others may shutter or take a rude bump, but most often they don't finish where they started.

I just hate it when that happens :-)

Seriously, I think not ending where you started (think metronome) in a rubato passage makes you say "What?"

So I guess this is my most fundamental requirement for Chopin performances, a flawless rubato. Pollini and Blechacz are most masters in this regard.

A note about mistakes. Don't foul up in a rubato passage. Do it somewhere else. A clam or rhythm error in a rubato passage kills the entire performance deader than a doornail.

If I couldn't get performances that meet my standards, I would certainly learn to live with less, but, fact is, I can get them and I do :-)

Neither Blechacz nor Pollini are ever anything short of perfect, at least in my experience (about 20 CDs and LPs). Fact is, they set the standard for me.

Mike,

Completely agree regarding the importance of rubato in the playing of Chopin.

To answer your question:
I love the sheer power of Rubinstein in the Ballades and Scherzos. Moravec has the touch of Rubinstein and the tonal palette of Arrau in the Nocturnes. Lipatti has a way with the Waltzes that makes each one seem like a precious gem. I also like the order in which he plays them. Ashkenazy has the "kick" that is required in the Mazurkas. They were the compositions that were closest to Chopin's heart. Perahia gives one the impression that he is playing the Impromptus for the very first time. As if he just discovered them. Fresh. Michelangeli is Michelangeli. Magic. Anderszewski plays with a softness of touch that seems to evade most others.

Chopin himself said that he never plays anything the same way twice...

I have no musical skills whatsoever. I just know when something sounds right to me. Others may differ in their opinions. That's fine with me.

At this very moment, I am listening to Led Zeppelin. Before that it was Lynyrd Skynyrd, and before that, Chet Baker. Next up is Charles Mingus. That's just the way it is with me. Some days I listen to no music at all.

There really is no right and wrong. It's all good!

Best,
BBM

A Chopin list shouldn't be without his sonata #3 and scherzi. One of my desert island discs is Pogorelich' recording of the scherzi. There are many good recordings of sonata #3 - one that I haven't listened to for some time but intend to shortly is Uchida's.

EJ

The list wasn't meant to be exhaustive.

IMHO, the Pogorelich scherzi are more about sheer virtuosity than interpretation. I much prefer Rubinstein's approach in the scherzi. But maybe that's just me...

As for the sonatas, Horowitz is my preference with #2, and either Argerich or Perahia for #3.

Best,
BBM

Anyone else remember Josef Hoffman? In his day, he was considered the world's greatest Chopin interpreter.

I have him doing the sonatas from piano rolls on Everest LPs. They are quite interesting, and beautiful.

The Pollini Chopin Preludes arrived yesterday. It has had two good listens now.

I don't want to be without the Pollini or the Blechacz, both being spectacular, and quite different to each other.

The Blechacz will probably get more air time, as the recording is much superior to the Pollini, being decades newer. That's a shame.

Mike,

I am glad to hear that you are enjoying the Pollini. We are a bit spoiled for choice with the Preludes, which can only be a good thing!
Have a great weekend...

Best,
BBM

I think pretty soon, attention will be turned to Haydn Trios and Mozart Operas. That appetite made itself apparent today.

Blame George.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:
I think pretty soon, attention will be turned to Haydn Trios and Mozart Operas. That appetite made itself apparent today.

Blame George.

Hehehe! Evil cackle from the undergrouth!

ATB from George

Mike,

Are you familiar with the Beaux Arts Trio recordings of the Haydn trios? If not, not a bad place to start...

Best,
BBM

quote:

Originally posted by CFMF:
Mike,

Are you familiar with the Beaux Arts Trio recordings of the Haydn trios? If not, not a bad place to start...

Best,
BBM

That's the one I'm listening to. George put me onto it.

Mike,

You are mining pure gold with that collection. Endless pleasure to be sure!

I am listening to a wonderful Brahms disc as I type. Very special. I am not trying to spend your money, but if you are interested, here is a link...

http://www.amazon.com/Brahms-F...%BCcke/dp/B000001GHH

Best,
BBM

Isn't that odd. When I went to play the Haydn, I bumped into this Brahms, which has ended up taking the day. So tomorrow will be for The Magic Flute and the Haydn trios :-)

I had to decide which complete set of Brahms Symphonies etc. to get, and it came down to the Abbado or Klemperer sets. I ended up getting the Klemperer set based on George's recommendation. I am very happy with my choice. The Abbado must be pretty fine in it's own right, I would imagine.

Best,
BBM

The Abbado is spectacular.