Schubert D960 Andante Sostenuto - Blind sampling

[Chris Newman]

Could you elaborate on what you mean by 'a bit vocal'

Gosh, Basil. If it is you playing accept my apologies

What I meant was the pianist sometimes grunts along with the music at times (probably without any awareness of the fact) like John Barbirolli, Colin Davis, Giandrea Noseda and Antonio Pappano (all conductors, of course) and pianists, Clifford Curzon and Glenn Gould. Now Curzon has already been played....could J be Gould? No....

Grunting is one of life's little curiosities like why do viola players in string quartets sniff loudly?

[Basil]

Gosh, Basil. If it is you playing accept my apologies

I wish! I'd give my right arm to be able to play an instrument

And yet another D'oh!

Of course that's what you meant, this will probably sound strange, but I haven't actually listened to it yet, I 'rip' all my CD's to a computer and use a Squeezebox to play them. The convenience is just outstanding! Unlimited playing time, I could, if I wanted to, play the whole of the Ring cycle in one uninterrupted session!

And there are many sets with a single work spread over two discs.

ps, a bizare example just this minute, I'm ripping some Mozart piano concerti, and No.19 is spit over two discs!

As to Pianists 'singing along', it doesn't bother me anywhere near as much as the mechanical noise that is captured on far too many piano recordings.

For example, the Bach Partitas played by Jean Louis Steuerman.

[amateur51]

Could you elaborate on what you mean by 'a bit vocal'

This performance is incredibly slow and the recording has caught plenty of deep breathing & grunting - perhaps this is Chris meant by "vocal"?

I remember a performance that came out on EMI many years ago by Daniel Adni that was noticeably slower than most I'd heard but I haven't heard it in years and I sold the LP.

Schnabel's recording is pretty slow but I remember that he picked up in the middle section. The recording is has insufficient snap, crackle & pop for the 1930s too.

I shall continue delving, unless someone beats me to it.

Many thanks for reviving this fascinating idea, Basil

[amateur51]

Grunting is one of life's little curiosities like why do viola players in string quartets sniff loudly?

Oh you got in before me re "vocal" Chris - glad I was close-ish

I like hearing conductors & others who grunt & sniff & sing along but I know that it irritates other hugely. My all-time loudest sniffer was pianist Claudio Arrau who could be heard right at the back of the balcony at the Royal Festival Hall!

[amateur51]

Well blow my old socks off, is it Kissin?

I confess that I don't own this performance but used Spotify instead

[Basil]

amateur51
Well blow my old socks off, is it Kissin?

I confess that I don't own this performance but used Spotify instead

It is! Recorded June 2003, I bought it on the strength of a Chopin disc, bit of a spur of the moment thing, of the four Ballades, which I think are stunning, so I had to hear what he did with the D960.

I had a feeling it might prove as suprising to many here as it did to me!