Lunchtime Concerts one stop shop

[Ein Heldenleben]

Nelson Goerner - Wigmore Hall March 25

i was looking forward to this, especially as he programmed Balakirev, Islamey.
Oh dear, a veritable car crash of a ‘performance’. He needs an honest agent, it was a shocker!

What was wrong with it ? Apart from the fact I don’t like the Davidblunderstanze much. I thought his tone was a bit harsh maybe .

[Braunschlag]

It was riddled with mistakes, mis- hits. If you’re going to take Islamey on then it’s wise to know the notes. Sloppy.

[Ein Heldenleben]

It was riddled with mistakes, mis- hits. If you’re going to take Islamey on then it’s wise to know the notes. Sloppy.

I stopped listening to that after the slow section. Up to that point I’d only heard a couple of smudges . One of those pieces that gets more difficult near the end though with lots of octaves , indeed chordal octaves . Surprised - it’s well within his formidable technique, it never was the most difficult piece ever written. Some of the Liszt Etudes and Chopin Godowsky Etudes are trickier.

[Braunschlag]

Ah - it got really messy after the slow section. He started off fast, couldn’t really sustain it. It’s not the greatest piece ever written but Balakirev piles on challenge after challenge. Just when you think it’s hit the peak he lobs another curved ball in. A compendium of pianistic (rather than musical) complications.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Ah - it got really messy after the slow section. He started off fast, couldn’t really sustain it. It’s not the greatest piece ever written but Balakirev piles on challenge after challenge. Just when you think it’s hit the peak he lobs another curved ball in. A compendium of pianistic (rather than musical) complications.

He’s not alone in making a hash of the final pages. Those are amongst some of the most difficult octave passages ever written - but some pianists doesn’t find octaves that tricky . It’s a silly bit of music isn’t it really . The Liszt transcendentals ( in their various versions ) are much more worth the effort . Not that I can play much of them

[Braunschlag]

Yes, it’s a stunt piece of course! But there are some priceless renditions - Pletnev (twice, Carnegie and RFH), Berezovsky, Pogo Stick, Kissin, Gavrilov -
all live and edge of seat.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes, it’s a stunt piece of course! But there are some priceless renditions - Pletnev (twice, Carnegie and RFH), Berezovsky, Pogo Stick, Kissin, Gavrilov -
all live and edge of seat.

Must be a Moscow Conservatory test piece. They do horrible things like timed Hanon exercises with the metronome speed constantly cranked up.
Berezovsky once said he could work up the transcendentals in a week but Chopin Godowsky took a fortnight. It’s ridiculous..

[gradus]

The comments encourage me to listen! The only Islamey I have on record is Pletnev at Carnegie and its mighty impressive.
Of more interest to me is the Schumann which isn't performed that often.

[french frank]

Of more interest to me is the Schumann which isn't performed that often.

I rather like the Davidsbündlertänze. I bought a couple of secondhand CDs on spec a while back because I didn't know Schumann's piano music. These were vols 1 and 4 of the Nimbus recordings performed by Daniel Levy. Would they reach an RR shortlist? - I took a dislike to the performance of Träumerei but I did enjoy Gesänge der Frühe op 133 and Waldszenen op 82.

[Pianorak]

Looking forward to today's Lunchtime Concert

BEETHOVEN Sonata no. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110
SCRIABIN 4 Preludes Op. 22
BEETHOVEN Sonata no. 23 in F minor ‘Appassionata’, Op. 57

Alim Beisembayev, piano

[Ein Heldenleben]

Looking forward to today's Lunchtime Concert

BEETHOVEN Sonata no. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110
SCRIABIN 4 Preludes Op. 22
BEETHOVEN Sonata no. 23 in F minor ‘Appassionata’, Op. 57

Alim Beisembayev, piano

And rightly so . It’s absolutely superb playing .

[french frank]

And rightly so . It’s absolutely superb playing .

This is the pianist who replaced Benjamin Grosvenor at the Proms last year, at 2 days' notice.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-66615296

[Sage comment about the classical cannon in the BBC story - 1812?.]

[Padraig]

Today's Concert. Niamh OSullivan - a voice to remember.

[gurnemanz]

Today's Concert. Niamh OSullivan - a voice to remember.

Agreed. Rewarding interpretations and lovely tone.

[gradus]

The comments encourage me to listen! The only Islamey I have on record is Pletnev at Carnegie and its mighty impressive.
Of more interest to me is the Schumann which isn't performed that often.

Having listened to the repeat today, I thought the Schumann and Handel excellent and the Balakirev so hell-for-leather that regardless of accuracy it carried me along, just as some Horowitz live recordings do.