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

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

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

Er, yes. So it is.

[Hornspieler]

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

Er, yes. So it is.

Sorry EA but I can't resist posting this little story:

A friend of mine described his experience on joining the then Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra straight from Music College at the tender age of eighteen. It was his first professional concert and the symphony was Schubert's 9th, The Great C Major, which was one of Rudolf Schwarz's favourite works.
All went well until midway through the last movement, when our young innocent, receiving no help at all from his colleagues and completely baffled by the complexities of the Rudy's baton, took his life into his hands and came in firmly -- a beat too early. He realised his mistake at once, of course, but it was too late to avoid notice.

Afterwards, he sought out the conductor in order to apologise.

Schwarz laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. “My boy,” he said “we all make mistakes. You, the player, you make mistakes. I, the conductor, I make mistakes.”

He released his grip and the young man thought he was forgiven, but Schwarz suddenly wheeled round.

“But,” he thundered, “I DON'T make them THERE !"

HS

[BBMmk2]

Wondefrul anaecdotes from you, as usual, HS!! :)

[Stanfordian]

It's been great looking at everyone’s choices in the great Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor. My choice is Shura Cherkassky with the Berliner Philharmoniker under Leopold Ludwig. It’s a mono recording from 1951 at the Jesus Christ Church Berlin/Dahlem on DG ‘The Originals’ 457 751-2. The coupling is pretty excellent too Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major played by Cherkassky with the Berliner Philharmoniker under Richard Kraus. It’s another mono recording from the same venue in 1955. I also like the playing of Martha Argerich with the Berliner Philharmoniker under Claudio Abbado on DG.

[Barbirollians]

It's been great looking at everyone’s choices in the great Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor. My choice is Shura Cherkassky with the Berliner Philharmoniker under Leopold Ludwig. It’s a mono recording from 1951 at the Jesus Christ Church Berlin/Dahlem on DG ‘The Originals’ 457 751-2. The coupling is pretty excellent too Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major played by Cherkassky with the Berliner Philharmoniker under Richard Kraus. It’s another mono recording from the same venue in 1955. I also like the playing of Martha Argerich with the Berliner Philharmoniker under Claudio Abbado on DG.

Having many moons later caught up with this recording I don’t blame you Cherkassky is dazzling in this recording and makes the best possible case for the Siloti abridgment of the Second Concerto too.

[Dave2002]

Having many moons later caught up with this recording I don’t blame you Cherkassky is dazzling in this recording and makes the best possible case for the Siloti abridgment of the Second Concerto too.

It is currently available as a download from Presto - with Prokofiev 7th sonata and some Stravinsky.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8037177--piano-masterpieces-shura-cherkassky-plays-tchaikovsky-prokofiev-and-stravinsky

I did see him perform once, and part of the piano fell off due partly to his very vigorous playing. Fortunately someone in the audience knew how to screw the relevant pedal parts back on.

I thought he'd made a recording of Prokofiev's Piano Concerto no 1 - perhaps with Boult - but the only recording I can find with Boult at the moment is by Mindru Katz.

[cloughie]

Having many moons later caught up with this recording I don’t blame you Cherkassky is dazzling in this recording and makes the best possible case for the Siloti abridgment of the Second Concerto too.

Why settle for the Siloti when you can have the real thing via Kersenbaum/Martinon?

[BBMmk2]

Why settle for the Siloti when you can have the real thing via Kersenbaum/Martinon?

Argerich and Abbado for me, every time, or the one she done with Chailly.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Following on from Alpie’s revelation that one of his favourite pianists is “myself” I was wondering whether any one has had a stab at playing it. It’s a very interesting piece with sections that sound very difficult and flashy but aren’t ; sections that sound very difficult and flashy and are more or less unplayable; and sections that don’t sound that hard but are very hard.
For me Horowitz mainly because of his incredible left hand. And the Bflat octaves at the end. As Rachmaninov said to him “ you win the octave Olympics. “

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Argerich and Abbado for me, every time, or the one she done with Chailly.

Do you mean Kondrashin? It's coupled with the Rach3 she did with Chailly. I might give it a spun now that CDs are unboxed and the new Audiolabrador is installed.

[Barbirollians]

Why settle for the Siloti when you can have the real thing via Kersenbaum/Martinon?

I have Stephen Hough and Peter Donohoe in the full version with their special guest stars on violin and cello.

[Barbirollians]

It is currently available as a download from Presto - with Prokofiev 7th sonata and some Stravinsky.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8037177--piano-masterpieces-shura-cherkassky-plays-tchaikovsky-prokofiev-and-stravinsky

I did see him perform once, and part of the piano fell off due partly to his very vigorous playing. Fortunately someone in the audience knew how to screw the relevant pedal parts back on.

I thought he'd made a recording of Prokofiev's Piano Concerto no 1 - perhaps with Boult - but the only recording I can find with Boult at the moment is by Mindru Katz.

Quite a few secondhand copies on CD from Amazon I got mine from Edinburgh classical music for just £2.99 and it is in mint condition.

[Bryn]

For reasons quite unconnected with the quality of performance or recording:



The opening orchestral bars were used for the Purcell Room performance of Hugh Shrapnel's Houdini Rite by John Tilbury, back in 1970. Below, a shot from a later performance of the Rite at Durham University in 1971:

[cloughie]

Argerich and Abbado for me, every time, or the one she done with Chailly.

I was referring to PC2, BBM

When it comes to No1 Katchen/Gamba is an old but good recording and the coupling I had on an Ace of Clubs LP was a sparkling performance of Liszt’s Hunarian Fantasia. Curzon/Solti was another good one as was Ashkenazy/Maazel. Alternatively there are 3 Gilels - Reiner Maazel and Mehta. I could cite other well executed 1s (and 2s)

[cloughie]

For reasons quite unconnected with the quality of performance or recording:

No doubt from the early days played on a Dansette or radiogram!

I wonder if Joyce Hatto borrowed that one?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergio_Fiorentino