Spinning before bedtime

[Colonel Danby]

I prefer some piano music in the late hours, probably French, perhaps Poulenc's 'Nocturnes', definitely played by Pascal Roge.

I would like to hear the late quartets of Beethoven, but I've yet to acquire them as I insist that they be played on period instruments and no band has taken up the challenge. Ideally, the Salomon String Quartet on Hyperion, but with the sad death of Michaela Comberti I fear that that ensemble has been disbanded. I really mourn her passing, as she was a talented musician and a really nice person.

[Bryn]

I would like to hear the late quartets of Beethoven, but I've yet to acquire them as I insist that they be played on period instruments and no band has taken up the challenge.

There is the (now no longer in the catalogue, but still available) Eroica Quartet recording of Op. 135 (accompanied on the CD by Op. 74 and Op. 95), but I entirely concur. A survey of all the late quartets by a leading HIPP string quartet is very much to be desired.

[MickyD]

Colonel Danby,
Have you tried the Eroica Quartet's disc on Harmonia Mundi of Beethoven quartets? Sadly I think it is only a one-off, but they are good period instrument performances of quartets 10, 11 and 16 by a talented young team.

[Alison]

It being that time of the day, I feel inclined to dig out another Beethoven op 7. Angela Hewitt this time.

I am fascinated by the way the last movement, in a quite mind bending way, seems to dissolve away to nothing.

[Barbirollians]

Op 111 - Brendel's last recording - sublime stuff.

[Alison]

I'm happy to carry on with LvB piano sonatas for the late hours this week.

The Angela Hewitt version of op 7 is simply exquisite and in wonderful sound.

Tonight I'm going for the scarcely less wonderful opus 10 no 3 from that same disc.

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

This evening, am very much in the mood for late Schubert, so:

Piano Sonata in B flat D960 - Sviatoslav Richter

[Alison]

Right, I'll check the latest Gramophone to see what it has to say about Richter
in its survey of D960s!

[johnb]

Sorry to say it but I *really* dislike the Richter D960 that I have.

Monumental and funereally slow, Schubert's the essential (and elusive) balance of innocence and profundity seems to pass him by.

[johnb]

IGI and Alison, you have both inspired me to listen to the wonderful Clifford Curzon recording of D960. (I see it's available on Spotify should anyone care to sample it.)

[Bryn]

Well I have decided to spin D960 too - Jan Vermeulen, playing a Nannette Streicher instrument of 1826. Gets right to the heart of the work.

[Alison]

Vermeulen not mentioned in Gramophone survey !

Thumbs down for Richter (Such balefulness!....)

Thumbs up for Curzon - and a DVD available for good mesure.

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

Monumental and funereally slow

Yes, it is, but a valid interpretation, especially moving.

I also read the Gramophone article and was surprised at the absence of Vermeulen (a recording of which I have in a download) and Andreas Staier. I really hope Warner reissues Staier's account.

[MickyD]

Different fare for me last night - the haunting first Léonin disc that Red Byrd did for Hyperion. It was pitch black outside and the Mistral was howling around the house - just the perfect atmosphere!

[Roehre]

Different fare for me last night - the haunting first Léonin disc that Red Byrd did for Hyperion. It was pitch black outside and the Mistral was howling around the house - just the perfect atmosphere!

Yes. That's the perfect condition to listen to either of those Leoninus CDs.