Tchaikovsky : Piano Concerto No 1 - your favourite performance of the old warhorse

[VodkaDilc]

I enjoy the Gilels/Reiner and Horowitz/Barbirolli versions. Whenever I listen to it I imagine the Ken Russell images from the Dr Kildaire and Glenda Jackson film - probably what Ken was aiming for, though it makes me feel a bit of a pleb.

[visualnickmos]

Listening to that marvellous swansong of Classic FM magazine - its 2 CD freebie of Tchaikovsky that included the van Cliburn/Kondrashin mega selling account of this piece ......

Is it this one by any chance? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Piano-Concer...kovsky+cliburn

Or this one? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Van-Cliburn-...m_cr_pr_sims_i

[Barbirollians]

I was referring to the former studio accounts but those live Testament versions are pretty stunning - especially the Rachmaninov.

[BBMmk2]

One i greatly enjoy is Martha Argerich, with RSO Berlin/Chailly, c/w Rach 3(Bavarian RSO/Kondrashin). I think this one has to be my favouritye one I have.

[Barbirollians]

One i greatly enjoy is Martha Argerich, with RSO Berlin/Chailly, c/w Rach 3(Bavarian RSO/Kondrashin). I think this one has to be my favouritye one I have.

I think you have your accompanists back to front . The Argerich Rachmaninov3 is with Chailly and the Tchaikovsky with Kondrashin .

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

I only had the Richter/Karajan which I have to say I thought received an unduly harsh press. What other Richter performances are out there worth listening to - I see there is one with Ancerl and I am sure I recall seeing a Mravinsky .

The Richter/ Ancerl recording is definitely worth hearing and is on a recently issued 2-disc set:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Favourite-Piano-Concertos-Sviatoslav-Richter/dp/B00BBQD7CU/ref=sr_1_7?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1371592070&sr=1-7&keywords=richter+piano+concertos

(Declaration of interest - I penned the sleeve notes)

[teamsaint]

I like the one they plays on the Champions league footy.
No idea who is playing, though its quite often Man utd.

ok, I'm sorry.

[Stanfordian]

One i greatly enjoy is Martha Argerich, with RSO Berlin/Chailly, c/w Rach 3(Bavarian RSO/Kondrashin). I think this one has to be my favouritye one I have.

Hiya maestro, I am in full accord with your choice of the RSO Berlin/Chailly. The coupling is great too.

[verismissimo]

It's a work I hardly ever put on in recent decades. But last night I spun Byron Janis with the Minneapolis SO/Skrowaczewski, which I thought was excellent.

Then it occurred to me that they all sound a bit the same in this work.

[Ferretfancy]

The critics sniffed at Richter / Karajan on the grounds that soloist and conductor had different ideas about how it should go, but I can't say that i hear anything very amiss. I enjoy the Janis very much, and for a couple of vintage versions, how about Solomon in 1929 and Horowitz in 1941.

[Bryn]

Re. Cliburn/Kondrashin, there is also this:



though the DVD version I got via ebay is of Chinese manufacture and labeling, and gives the orchestra a somewhat different (extended) name.

Here's a You Tube offering:

[visualnickmos]

My first introduction to this was a Decca LP, that I bought in Impact Records in Gillingham High Street in about 1972 - which I carried home - cycling one-handed. So that was that week's paper-round money!

Peter Katin, LSO/Edric Kundell (never heard of him) but the 'B' side is a gem; Concert Fantasia, Peter Katin, LPO/Boult

Still plays beautifully despite being nearly carved down to nothing on an old Ferguson mono record player...

[gurnemanz]

I only had the Richter/Karajan which I have to say I thought received an unduly harsh press. What other Richter performances are out there worth listening to - I see there is one with Ancerl and I am sure I recall seeing a Mravinsky .

I have a rather ancient Melodiya LP of Richter/Mravinsky/Leningrad dated 1972 which was for many years my only recording and is something of a classic. It's on Youtube and available.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

As an early Tchaikovsky fan, I bought a mid-price LP of the work, played by Ciccolini. To be honest, I was a little disappointed by the work, which I still do not rate particularly highly. Further recordings did little to change my mind, and the generally bad press for the other works for piano and orchestra discouraged me from looking further. Then my uncle gave me a recording of the 2nd and 3rd concertos, played by Gary Graffman in hideously metallic sound. But the music shone through and I still prefer these works (and the Concert Fantasia) to the far better-known earlier work.

A puzzle.

The 2nd movement of the B flat minor work begins with a flute melody, the third note of which appears to be incorrect, and some conductors move the note up a third so that it corresponds with all other appearances of the theme. Any thoughts?

[Hornspieler]

As an early Tchaikovsky fan, I bought a mid-price LP of the work, played by Ciccolini. To be honest, I was a little disappointed by the work, which I still do not rate particularly highly. Further recordings did little to change my mind, and the generally bad press for the other works for piano and orchestra discouraged me from looking further. Then my uncle gave me a recording of the 2nd and 3rd concertos, played by Gary Graffman in hideously metallic sound. But the music shone through and I still prefer these works (and the Concert Fantasia) to the far better-known earlier work.

A puzzle.

The 2nd movement of the B flat minor work begins with a flute melody, the third note of which appears to be incorrect, and some conductors move the note up a third so that it corresponds with all other appearances of the theme. Any thoughts?

In fact, the interval between the two disputed notes is a fourth (mi to lah in tonic sol-fah)

Some flautists make the change from the printed note without even being asked. Some conductors insist on playing what is written in the copy. I think most listeners would prefer to hear the more familiar phrase.

I would love to hear the soloist adjust his part to fit the flautist - then everyone else would be in total confusion.

HS