BaL 3.05.14/5.11.22- Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto no. 1 in B flat minor

[edashtav]

A good thought. I am no expert on recordings available; but certainly, I find the Gerstein / Gaffigan / Deutsches SO Berlin CD of the original version a very different - more subtle, less "barnstorming" - experience, after the familiar warhorse.

(Having said which, my own personal favourite - not mentioned this morning - remains the high-voltage, capricious Golovanov/Gilels recording from 1940s Moscow, which is anything but subtle!)

Yes, the Soviets blood and guts Tchaikovsky was very influential in my youth. Now, I hear that Putin’s troops have razed the Villa in N.E. Ukraine once used by the composer. I wonder whether Tchaikovsky’s Little Russian symphony gets programmed in Mother Russia, these days?

[pastoralguy]

I vaguely remember JMcG trying her best to get André Previn's attention during a rehearsal break (probably with the LSO or RPO). He was understandably busy with rehearsal matters but IIRC she was persistent (even a bit pushy, to her credit in this BaL) and received some advice from the great man. It might have been along the lines of "You'd better learn Tchaik 1 before trying to debut with the Hugh Wood."
.

Yes, iirc, she played a bit of the Grieg concerto and some Charles Ives. The Ives seemed to get Previn’s attention.

[Master Jacques]

Yes, the Soviets blood and guts Tchaikovsky was very influential in my youth. Now, I hear that Putin’s troops have razed the Villa in N.E. Ukraine once used by the composer. I wonder whether Tchaikovsky’s Little Russian symphony gets programmed in Mother Russia, these days?

I don't know, but cutting out anything with Ukrainian connections wouldn't leave them with much on in the opera houses! I do see that the Irkutsk SO are doing the 'Polish' on Monday 7th, in Moscow's Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. They'd doubtless like Poland back as well...

[Barbirollians]

Yes, the Soviets blood and guts Tchaikovsky was very influential in my youth. Now, I hear that Putin’s troops have razed the Villa in N.E. Ukraine once used by the composer. I wonder whether Tchaikovsky’s Little Russian symphony gets programmed in Mother Russia, these days?

I have nearly all of the performances JMcG chose bar the Anda/Solti which I thought sounded terrific so I have ordered that. It was her dismissal of AMcG whinging about sound quality on the Horowitz/Toscanini that raised a smile here .

[Master Jacques]

I have nearly all of the performances JMcG chose bar the Anda/Solti which I thought sounded terrific so I have ordered that. It was her dismissal of AMcG whinging about sound quality on the Horowitz/Toscanini that raised a smile here .

Quite so - her reply was "who cares?", with an almost audible shrug of the shoulders. (And 'snap!', for me on the Anda/Solti disc.)

[Pulcinella]

Sounds like a good BaL, worth listening to if only to hear the tussle of the McGregors.
Maybe I have to come to terms with Sounds after all.

Apart from the BBC MM issue (Alexander Melnikov/BBCNOW/Titov) I have what must be 'the other' Argerich recording: with Dutoit and the RPO; I don't feel like I need another (though I could presumably stream the winner if I wanted to).

PS: Looking at Alpie's list, I see that I should have said 'one of the other Argerich recordings'!

[Nick Armstrong]

the tussle of the McGregors

I haven’t heard this BaL yet - but have just realised that of course I’ve had what I presume to be the chosen Argerich for decades, as it’s paired with her Rachmaninov 3rd, for many years a favourite.

Never listened to the Tchaikovsky part of the disc, my antipathy to this concerto is no recent thing…

[richardfinegold]

A good thought. I am no expert on recordings available; but certainly, I find the Gerstein / Gaffigan / Deutsches SO Berlin CD of the original version a very different - more subtle, less "barnstorming" - experience, after the familiar warhorse.

(Having said which, my own personal favourite - not mentioned this morning - remains the high-voltage, capricious Golovanov/Gilels recording from 1940s Moscow, which is anything but subtle!)

I don’t listen to this piece much, after I overdosed on it many years ago. If I had to take one with me into exile it would be Horowitz/Toscanini. If you are going to barnstorm, might as well use up the incindiarires

[ardcarp]

her reply was "who cares?"

Yes, wasn't that wonderful? I also loved her views about playing a concerto with an all-too-compliant conductor. She said conductor and soloist ought to have equal input...'a bit like a boxing match' if I remember correctly. Not sure I quite agree with that, and it depends of the nature of the concerto, but it's a quote I might keep in mind for future stick-waving!

[Barbirollians]

I haven’t heard this BaL yet - but have just realised that of course I’ve had what I presume to be the chosen Argerich for decades, as it’s paired with her Rachmaninov 3rd, for many years a favourite.

Never listened to the Tchaikovsky part of the disc, my antipathy to this concerto is no recent thing…

Nope - the chosen version was the Argerich/Abbado - the one coupled with the R3 is the Kondrashin.

[Nick Armstrong]

Nope - the chosen version was the Argerich/Abbado - the one coupled with the R3 is the Kondrashin.

Ah … okay. Well I won’t be purchasing, even once I’ve heard the clash of the McGregor claymores…

[smittims]

'a bit like a boxing match' seems to be the critical concensus on the famous Richter/Vienna Symphony DG recording conducted by Herbert von Karajan, who was not 'all-too-compiant'. Nevertheless it's a favourite of mine, along with Solomon/Dobrowen and Curzon/Solti. One might not think it Clifford's sort of work, but he played it a good deal , and it's one of the few works he recorded more than once.

[Pulcinella]

Sounds like a good BaL, worth listening to if only to hear the tussle of the McGregors.
Maybe I have to come to terms with Sounds after all.

Apart from the BBC MM issue (Alexander Melnikov/BBCNOW/Titov) I have what must be 'the other' Argerich recording: with Dutoit and the RPO; I don't feel like I need another (though I could presumably stream the winner if I wanted to).

PS: Looking at Alpie's list, I see that I should have said 'one of the other Argerich recordings'!

Just listening (and enjoying this) now; partner has Sounds set up on his iPad, but I haven't taken the plunge yet!

[antongould]

Just listening (and enjoying this) now; partner has Sounds set up on his iPad, but I haven't taken the plunge yet!

Oh you really must Pulcers ….. one of the Wonders Of The Modern World IMVVHO

[Pulcinella]

Oh you really must Pulcers ….. one of the Wonders Of The Modern World IMVVHO

It's supposedly available on Sonos, which would let me use the house hifi system, but I can't get my head round it (seems only to play what's being broadcast live) so you might be right, and I'll just go the iPad route (presumably with a new account/password, not sharing my partner's).

PS! I think I'm now set up on both my iPad and the house Sonos system.
Now all I need is some time to start exploring.