Russian pianists

[Nick Armstrong]

2nd April, 10.50am - David Owen Norris on Russian Pianists

Youri Egorov: The 1980 Ambassador Auditorium Recital
FIRST HAND FHR44 (CD)

Vladimir Sofronitsky: Concert Recordings (Live)
MELODIYA MELCD1002312 (5 CD + DVD Video budget)

Lazar Berman: The Complete Sony Recordings
SONY 88875168362 (6CD supra-budget)


I really enjoyed this section of yesterday's programme - once DON had imposed himself and stopped AMcG chuntering on a bit too much early on, I learnt a lot and was fascinated by the examples.

Lazar Berman was big when I was just getting into music, but I never got on with his playing... and that remains the case. There's something about his 'steel-fingered' style and approach to expression which I find completely unsympathetic, I just want it to stop, by and large. Although his 'wall of sound' way with the big solo in the first movement of Rachmaninov's 3rd PC was pretty breathtaking - might have to investigate further. Amazingly, it was with Abbado (& LSO) - Berman/Abbado seems like the definition of a meeting of opposites.

What it came down to in my mind, was that there's a big element of 'horses for courses'. I loved Sofronitsky in Schumann and Scriabin but really disliked his way with the Schubert Impromptu where the rubato, the 'unmetronomic' playing style which DON stressed, sounded to my ears to spoil the music. Whereas a similar style in the dreamier Schumann Fantasie was entrancing. (I find to my delight that I have Kreisleriana by Sofronitsky, from a Diapason cover disc - look forward to playing that).

I enjoyed all the Egorov extracts - especially the Debussy Reflets dans L'Eau encore. (Impossible to imagine what Berman playing a Debussy piece of that kind might sound like ....)

Did no one else listen to this segment?

I've now listened to this a second time, and have been fascinated anew. Would love to know others' reaction to the relative merits of the three pianists in the selected repertoire...

Bringing things up to date, I was enthralled by the new Sudbin Scarlatti disc illustrated on the most recent programme, and have invested. Amazing pianism, and rather in the Sofronitzky tradition, it seems to me.

However, it wasn't until I heard the second item on the recording - the A major sonata K.208 - that I realised quite how much Sudbin adds - as he says, to be fair, these are arrangements for piano, really. In the case of K.208, what makes me realise it is that I play that piece, and it's the only one I know well. I'm not sure it's improved by the florid additions - and maybe those who know Scarlatti's pieces better would find the same with the others. Anyone else heard this recording?

[silvestrione]

Yes I listened, and it was fascinating. The only one I know is Berman, whose Liszt playing I admire. As a pianophile, it's surprising perhaps that I have nothing on my shelves by Sofronitsky....thnk I might have picked up somewhere that he was rather wayward and idiosyncratic. Probably true! But Owen Norris's enthusiasm was infectious.

I'm tempted to ry the Sudbin Scarlatti too, even though I prefer Scarlatti on the harpsichord really (e.g. Pierre Hantai).

[Don Petter]

Made me put the Sofronitsky Melodiya set on my list, but the price is a bit higher than most current boxes (we've been spoilt), and I've still got a Mercury and Satie box to digest. Embarrassment of riches!

[Sir Velo]

I'm tempted to ry the Sudbin Scarlatti too, even though I prefer Scarlatti on the harpsichord really (e.g. Pierre Hantai).

Indeed. Scarlatti loses far more than he gains by pianistic bowdlerization.

Good to know that Hantai's long awaited fourth instalment of his Scarlatti cycle has just been released. Sadly, knowing the BBC's bias against the harpsichord I fear that one won't be able to sample it on Radio 3.

[Pianorak]

I have just ordered this 7 CD set from Amazon marketplace: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Youri-Egorov...s=music&sr=1-3
Youri Egorov was the only surprise. Always liked Berman, esp. his Années de Pèlerinage. IMV Sofronitsky's Scriabin is hors de combat, although Pletnev is another favourite of mine.

[Stanfordian]

I have just ordered this 7 CD set from Amazon marketplace: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Youri-Egorov...s=music&sr=1-3
Youri Egorov was the only surprise. Always liked Berman, esp. his Années de Pèlerinage. IMV Sofronitsky's Scriabin is hors de combat, although Pletnev is another favourite of mine.

Hiya Pianorak,
It's shame that Sofronitsky included no Russian music on that Warner set.

[vinteuil]

Indeed. Scarlatti loses far more than he gains by pianistic bowdlerization.

Good to know that Hantai's long awaited fourth instalment of his Scarlatti cycle has just been released. Sadly, knowing the BBC's bias against the harpsichord I fear that one won't be able to sample it on Radio 3.

Thank you so much for flagging up the Hantai - this is great news.

Of course I prefer Scarlatti on the harpsichord : it is my own instrument...

But I'm less harsh than you are regarding Scarlatti on the piano - there are some magical versions - Christian Zacharias, Horowitz, Marcelle Meyer - which are enormously preferable to mediocre harpsichord performances (Richard Lester... ).

I shall certainly be getting the Sudbin...




.

[Richard Tarleton]

Indeed. Scarlatti loses far more than he gains by pianistic bowdlerization.

Do we know which DS sonatas were written for harpsichord and which for early pianoforte? (I'm remembering DON's ish aside in that BBC4 great pianists prog recently, before the performance of K427 by Perahia)

OT, here's a bit of bowdlerisation which may possibly please vinteuil - actually it's the best bit of footage of them I've seen, I wonder what else is lurking out there?

I remember Berman bursting onto the London scene in the 1970s, but never saw him.

[richardfinegold]

Sounds like a fascinating program.
Berman was quite ballyhooed here when he made his Tchaik PC Recording with Karajan and his subsequent Liszt. I have listened to some of his recordings lately and tend to find him pretty insensitive, the proverbial bull--or in this case, a bear--in a China Shop. Like an Actor who can only scream his lines.
Egorov died of AIDS in the early 80s (I think, not checking right now). He acquired kind of a martyr status. I was listening to his recording of the Emperer Concerto a few weeks ago, the last record I spun before selling my turntable. I don't know that he ever lived up to his hype. Perhaps if he had been allowed to live longer...
I think Sudbin is great and will seek out his Scarlatti disc. Regarding Scarlatti on Piano v. Harpsichord, I am afraid I fall on the Thomas Beecham side of the issue.

[BBMmk2]

I used to have Berman's recording(on LP), of Liszt's Transcendental Studies. I believe it's been reissued?

[Sir Velo]

Thank you so much for flagging up the Hantai - this is great news.

Of course I prefer Scarlatti on the harpsichord : it is my own instrument...

But I'm less harsh than you are regarding Scarlatti on the piano - there are some magical versions - Christian Zacharias, Horowitz, Marcelle Meyer - which are enormously preferable to mediocre harpsichord performances (Richard Lester... ).

Mmm, notwithstanding the Horowitz recordings I have are in truly dire 1980s remasterings, I think you need to add Perahia and Pletnev to your list of pianists who've done DS proud over the years.

For me, and there's no great logic behind this, Scarlatti on the harpsichord in the morning; on the pianoforte in the evening. I also prefer those recordings which achieve an equal balance between the fast and slow stuff, which Hantai, at least in his second selection didn't quite provide. Too heavy with the pyrotechnics and my ears tend to tire very quickly.

[vinteuil]

I think you need to add Perahia and Pletnev to your list of pianists who've done DS proud over the years.

.

... yes .

[gradus]

I think Berman's much-delayed London concert premiere was with the LPO under Haitink in Rachmaninov 3 on a programme that included Shostakovich 10 (I think) and although I attended I can't remember much about Berman's playing although the symphony performance whether in tandem with the Rach or not, remains one of my all-time favourite live performances. If it wasn't Berman in the first half it would have been Jon Vickers performing with searing intensity the Dungeon scene from Fidelio and Wintersturme.
Re Berman's playing, as far as I recall the notices weren't particularly overwhelming. Only other thing about him that comes to mind is that he was apparently capable of playing faster than anyone in his time at the conservatory (Moscow?).

[gradus]

A Russian pianist that was brought to my attention recently is Vladimir Tropp in a wonderful account of Schumann's Humoreske coupled with Carnival. His playing in the former is I think my favourite recording of the piece. It is not a flashy performance rather more Eusebius than Florestan and hence very involving.

[zola]

A Russian pianist that was brought to my attention recently is Vladimir Tropp in a wonderful account of Schumann's Humoreske coupled with Carnival. His playing in the former is I think my favourite recording of the piece. It is not a flashy performance rather more Eusebius than Florestan and hence very involving.

Tropp gave a wonderful "old school" Scriabin recital at Chetham's Piano Summer School last year, where he was on the faculty. Interestingly, I sat in on a lesson he gave to Tomoka Kan who was in the BBC Young Musician keyboard final.