Emil Gilels - SONY bargain box

[Barbirollians]

This is another of these astonishing Sony/RCA boxes. His recordings for them were limited but I have been profoundly dazzled by this box since receiving it a couple of days ago .

The only performance I really knew was the Gilels/Mehta Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No1 - with its rather ropey recording yet magisterial piano playing .

Well so far I have found the ealry Gilels/Reiner Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No1 living up to the hype , albeit the recording is a tad primitive, the finale in particular would bring any audience to their feet . The Chopin 1 is just magical - I cannot say much more about it but at every turn it felt that this is the way it was meant to be played - right up the top of the tree with Pollini/Kletzki for me and the Schubert D 850 is so beautifully played and voiced it sends shivers down my spine .

Lots still to listen to - but so far a very big thumbs up and only about £10 the box !

[akiralx]

Yes, the Chopin is very good. I know the Tchaikovsky PC1 with Reiner and also one on EMI with Maazel - which I assume was recorded after the one with Mehta?

The one with Maazel is also not very well recorded IMHO - the producer was Suvi Raj Grubb and sad to say I find I am disliking many of his later recordings, his memoirs are enjoyable though...

[Barbirollians]

The Mehta is later but live in 1980.

[Barbirollians]

It is harshly recorded but still packs a punch and Gilels is magnificent in it .

I have greatly enjoyed the Gilels/Reiner Brahms Piano Concerto No 2 from the 1950s - very good sound for its time and it is a thrilling account of the work , tremendously exciting but i have to say I still prefer the Gilels/Jochum which sounds to me like a more complete rendition of the work - if that makes sense.

[richardfinegold]

This is another of these astonishing Sony/RCA boxes. His recordings for them were limited but I have been profoundly dazzled by this box since receiving it a couple of days ago .

The only performance I really knew was the Gilels/Mehta Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No1 - with its rather ropey recording yet magisterial piano playing .

Well so far I have found the ealry Gilels/Reiner Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No1 living up to the hype , albeit the recording is a tad primitive, the finale in particular would bring any audience to their feet . The Chopin 1 is just magical - I cannot say much more about it but at every turn it felt that this is the way it was meant to be played - right up the top of the tree with Pollini/Kletzki for me and the Schubert D 850 is so beautifully played and voiced it sends shivers down my spine .

Lots still to listen to - but so far a very big thumbs up and only about £10 the box !

I had written on this box when I purchased it a few months ago. It is a fantastic bargain. I disagree about your assesment of the recording of the Mehta Tchaikovsky Concerto; I think the recording sounds adequate. I particularly enjoyed the Brahms 2.

[Barbirollians]

Surely you will agree there are better recordings made live in 1980 ?

I think the orchestra suffers more than Gilels from it .

[richardfinegold]

i am out of town but will listen to it again when I return. what I remember most is the consistency of the playing and interpretation despite the intervening decades.

[richardfinegold]

This is another of these astonishing Sony/RCA boxes. His recordings for them were limited but I have been profoundly dazzled by this box since receiving it a couple of days ago .

The only performance I really knew was the Gilels/Mehta Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No1 - with its rather ropey recording yet magisterial piano playing .

Well so far I have found the ealry Gilels/Reiner Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No1 living up to the hype , albeit the recording is a tad primitive, the finale in particular would bring any audience to their feet . The Chopin 1 is just magical - I cannot say much more about it but at every turn it felt that this is the way it was meant to be played - right up the top of the tree with Pollini/Kletzki for me and the Schubert D 850 is so beautifully played and voiced it sends shivers down my spine .

Lots still to listen to - but so far a very big thumbs up and only about £10 the box !

I'm home and listening to the 1980 recording. I agree that it is not an audiophile spectacular and that the Orchestra sounds pretty recessed. None of this detracts from a great live performance and I suspect that is why it was included along with the earlier version. I still find it more listenable than most Yellow Label recordings from the same period.

[Barbirollians]

I have owned it for ages and have always loved it - but like the live Perahia/Mehta chopin concertos - it is despite the recording.

[gurnemanz]

If I had to name the most impressive pianist I had seen live it would probably be Gilels, ... but I never saw Richter.

[richardfinegold]

If I had to name the most impressive pianist I had seen live it would probably be Gilels, ... but I never saw Richter.

I saw Horowitz, who isn't my favorite Pianist, but definitely the most significant that one that I have seen live.

[Barbirollians]

Argerich undoubtedly the most dazzling I have seen live . Brendel and Barenboim the most profound.

[Bryn]

Regrettably, the only time I heard Brendel live was at a Prom where he played the Brahms 1st concerto, and it was dire. I could hardly believe a pianist I so admired via his recordings and live broadcasts could have such an off night. Fortunately I was able to catch another piano hero of mine in performance at Kings Place last year. Paul Badura-Skoda, that is. No disappointment there. Only heard David Tudor live on one occasion, but what a tour de force that was!

[Sorry. A bit of topic. Must have caught the bug.]

[richardfinegold]

Argerich undoubtedly the most dazzling I have seen live . Brendel and Barenboim the most profound.

I heard Brendel many times at the CSO summer home, Ravinia. I always admire his Pianism and have several of his recordings but somehow he just doesn't register as one of the elite Pianists for me. I've never really warmed to his tone, which has always seemed small scaled and somewhat lacking in color in comparison to the real Piano titans.

[Barbirollians]

I saw Brendel play a concert of Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert in Manchester not long before his retirement that was immensely moving and deeply felt .