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

[richardfinegold]

Perhaps they should divide them up into
1) 78 rpm version
2) Pre stereo lp version
3) Stereo analog version
4) Digital version
5) Historically Informed (whatever that would be for this Warhorse of Romanticism)

[Darloboy]

As is evident from the above discussion, last time out, in May 2014, Chris de Souza chose Argerich/BPO/Abbado on DG.
Before that, Edward Greenfield chose Ashkenazy/LSO/Maazel in September 95, with Rudy/Leningrad PO/Jansons as digital choice.

Although it’s tedious that they are doing it again after only 8 years, the work did used to come up even more frequently in BaL, having been covered in 1958, 1960, 1963, 1967, 1972 and 1985.

[Nick Armstrong]

As the BBC appears to be lacking in imagination, constantly repeating itself rather than seeking to improve, I’ve decided to follow suit and take the easy option. It’s only 8+ years since this work was reviewed on BaL, so I’ve no intention of compiling a duplicate list. However, if there are newer versions known to forumists, I’m happy to add them.

However, I would prefer the BBC to show a little - no, a lot more imagination.

Couldn’t agree more…

[Pulcinella]

Couldn’t agree more…

Maybe they should look at our Summer BaLs for some inspiration; there's often more lively discussion there than on the 'real' BaL threads.

[Ein Heldenleben]

As the BBC appears to be lacking in imagination, constantly repeating itself rather than seeking to improve, I’ve decided to follow suit and take the easy option. It’s only 8+ years since this work was reviewed on BaL, so I’ve no intention of compiling a duplicate list. However, if there are newer versions known to forumists, I’m happy to add them.

However, I would prefer the BBC to show a little - no, a lot more imagination.

To be fair I think the reason they are doing it again is because there are many new versions on the market. Two spring to mind - an excellent Simon Trpceski / Petrenko and one I heard on R3 this week the stellar Beatrice Rana with Pappano. Just look g at Amazon there’s also a Matsuev. Rana is something special though I only heard her in the third movement. To be honest I’ve heard the piece so many times I don’t think I select it much as a home play.
I suppose the fundamental question is why do so many pianists record it? I guess because they like playing it (it is very pianistic as you know and isn’t full of tedious scales ) and it sells.

[smittims]

Yes, I'm tempted to think it's the companies who say 'you must do Tchaik 1 to get known before we'll let you do ...(insert name).

I knew a pianist who surprised me by expressing his dislike (he used a stronger word) of the work. He said 'no pianist' liked it 'because the soloist never gets the tune. I didn't agree.

I've always loved it, perhaps because it was one of the first few works I came to know, on my father's 78s: Rubinstein/Barbirolli. I imagine many CD collectors will have many versions they didn't especially want, simply because it turns up so often in box sets one bought for other reasons.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes, I'm tempted to think it's the companies who say 'you must do Tchaik 1 to get known before we'll let you do ...(insert name).

I knew a pianist who surprised me by expressing his dislike (he used a stronger word) of the work. He said 'no pianist' liked it 'because the soloist never gets the tune. I didn't agree.

I've always loved it, perhaps because it was one of the first few works I came to know, on my father's 78s: Rubinstein/Barbirolli. I imagine many CD collectors will have many versions they didn't especially want, simply because it turns up so often in box sets one bought for other reasons.

Yes the pianist never gets the opening Dflat big tune and even the orchestra only get it once. He / she does get the second movement melody, a lovely second subject tune in the third , and then the bang- along- with- the - orchestra big tune at the end.
What the pianist does get is wrist ache as the piece must have more octave passages than any other concerto.

[pastoralguy]

I believe Ashkenazy didn’t like the work but played and recorded it because it was expected that a soloist of his calibre would. Does anyone remember a programme featuring Esther Rantzen called ‘The Big Time’ where up and coming youngsters were given a shot at ‘stardom’? One of the featured artists was a very young Joanna McGregor who was taken on by an agent who kept asking her ‘have you learnt the Tchaikovsky yet?!’ She was very evasive about learning a piece she had little sympathy with. To my knowledge, she’s never played it.

My favourite version, apart from Argerich and Abbado is the wonderful Beatrice Rana whose recording I listened to just the other night. I have a soft spot for Peter Katin on CfP since that was one of the first Lps I ever bought, happily coupled with Litollf’s Scherzo!

Has the Tchaikovsky second piano concerto ever been covered by BaL?

[smittims]

That Katin/Pritch on CFP was on of their 'launch titles' a few new recordings they did to boost the label which otherwise consisted of reissued EMI recordings. Full-price records were expensive in real terms in those days (aboiut £50 in today's values) so Classics for Pleasure were a welcome bargain, including some very fine recordings such as the Sargent 'Planets'.

[CallMePaul]

As the BBC appears to be lacking in imagination, constantly repeating itself rather than seeking to improve, I’ve decided to follow suit and take the easy option. It’s only 8+ years since this work was reviewed on BaL, so I’ve no intention of compiling a duplicate list. However, if there are newer versions known to forumists, I’m happy to add them.

However, I would prefer the BBC to show a little - no, a lot more imagination.

Like the far superior Piano Concerto No2 - several good recordings available now and the cut edition thankfully confined to the scrap heap! Am I alone in not liking the first concerto and in having no wish to acquire a recording?

[Master Jacques]

Like the far superior Piano Concerto No2 - several good recordings available now and the cut edition thankfully confined to the scrap heap! Am I alone in not liking the first concerto and in having no wish to acquire a recording?

There's a sense in which you probably don't need to possess a recording of a work so universally loved and admired, and so often played.

If you want to give yourself a chance to revalue this masterpiece, I'd recommend Kirill Gerstein's 2015 reading with the DSO Berlin under James Gaffagin (Myrios Classics). This was the world premiere recording of the 1879 version, transcribed from the composer's own conductor's score (and published as a UR Urtext just after the Gernstein recording was made). The differences are startling, PT's original conception being much less barnstorming than the familiar score, which was rearranged after the composer's death (so without his permission) and has limited claims to authenticity.

[Barbirollians]

I cannot believe this is back again after only 8 years - does anyone producing Record Review have a clue ?

[Nick Armstrong]

I cannot believe this is back again after only 8 years - does anyone producing Record Review have a clue ?

I’ve basically decided I don’t need this show any more. I’ll look at their online listing of selected new releases and use Qobuz to hear any that catch my eye, and maybe dip into the programme to listen if someone decent is talking about them… but otherwise, it’s become a waste of time sadly

[Pulcinella]

I’ve basically decided I don’t need this show any more. I’ll look at their online listing of selected new releases and use Qobuz to hear any that catch my eye, and maybe dip into the programme to listen if someone decent is talking about them… but otherwise, it’s become a waste of time sadly

i quite often check out the new releases on the Presto site, updated each Friday.

Here's their latest:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/articles/4927--new-release-round-up-new-release-round-up-14th-october-2022

[Nick Armstrong]

i quite often check out the new releases on the Presto site, updated each Friday.

Here's their latest:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...h-october-2022

Thanks, yes - I get their email newsletter which performs the same function: useful