BaL 1.11.14 - Chopin: Preludes Op.28

[pastoralguy]

That's puzzling, I seem to remember them doing double-acts on CDR before, more than once?

When?

[amateur51]

That's puzzling, I seem to remember them doing double-acts on CDR before, more than once?

I agree RT and it wasn't a happy partnership because AMcG kept trying to put words into KH's mouth ... and he wasn't having any of it

[gurnemanz]

Continuing the Dichterliebe digression, I also love Souzay and have his later version with the less interesting Jacqueline Bonneau as accompanist. I enjoyed the Souzay/Cortot link which also led me to this classic recording with Charles Panzéra. (Slightly disappointed when we don't get the high note on "am Herzen frisst".)

[Richard Tarleton]

When?

Well in the last 2-3 years.....not on BAL, but on one of the other slots in the programme. Could he have said "nice to see you?

[amateur51]

As we seem to be having a Schumann interval (ahem!) here's a snippet of a Cortot masterclass on Schumann.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNUNNNNj_Qw

A voice, a style, and playing proirities from a different age - imagine Lang Lang, as one contemporary example, trying to play like this

[pastoralguy]

Well in the last 2-3 years.....not on BAL, but on one of the other slots in the programme. Could he have said "nice to see you?

The impression I got was that they hadn't met before. But what do I know? I was eating my scrambled eggs at the time. (Very nice they were too, not solid but avoiding the half cooked way that can befall this most palatable of dishes. And there was a howling baby about 10 feet away at the time. Just the environment for a live radio broadcast...! )

[Nick Armstrong]

Just caught up with this BAL and have read the above with interest, cutting and pasting a few points to return to...

Sitting in The Sage's foyer watching this BAL. Fascinating!

Thank you for THE definite article. It's such a relief!

Pollini (the first DG one) is the only set I have.
Sounds terrific to me,does anyone else rate this version highly ?

I do. I've never been able to fathom this 'glacial/brittle' criticism of Pollini, that was trotted out again on this BAL. For me his readings allow the music to speak for itself, stunningly. (cf. the LvB Op 109-111 sonatas).

Despite the redundant "chat" presentation, I'm quite enjoying hearing the excerpts on this BaL - even if I seem to be preferring the versions the reviewer least enjoys! (And I did wonder who "Claire Williams" was, until AmcG referred to "he")

I know - who is this British lass Claire?! I thought... And why is her playing singled out by the reviewer, it seems lumpy and badly recorded to me. (I was quite proud of myself when I realised it was "Lllllllyr" not Claire - because I've never thought Williams' playing deserved the compliments / career it has received)

I like AMcG, but this format DOESN'T WORK! Such a contrast to the recent exemplary Strauss Oboe Concert BaL.

I couldn't agree more. Some interesting insights when Ken Hamilton was allowed to speak for himself (I liked the bit about rubato being about a give and take in the timing which makes the music sound right to the ear... it made me think it's a bit like Greek columns not being straight or parallel, but seeming so to the eye)

And interesting extracts as far as they went. But bizarre that Trifonov's live performance was raved about and then never mentioned again, with Gulda then bursting to the front.

Too much wasted time, not enough comparison.

From what I could ascertain, Andrew McGregor hadn't met the reviewer before hand. ('It's really nice to meet you', I overheard)

That's puzzling, I seem to remember them doing double-acts on CDR before, more than once?

I definitely remember them doing double-acts in the studio on at least two or three occasions, Richard. If they really hadn't met before, there's been some unbelievable radio trickery in the past. I don't think so.


PS:

Slightly related to the thread (only slightly) I just heard Lang Lang murdering some Chopin on a French TV chat show. Reminded me of Mrs Mills, and that is not intended as an insult to the Grande Dame of the old Joanna, an entertainer who I actually remember as a kid, and quite liked!

He murdered some Mozart on this CD Review too. He really is a carbuncle on the rear end of music.

[tigajen]

Llyr as stated in post 44

[Nick Armstrong]

Llyr as stated in post 44

Indeed, or as I attempted to render it phonetically in post 82,

"Lllllllyr"

[Richard Tarleton]

[COLOR="#0000FF"]
I've never thought Williams' playing deserved the compliments / career it has received)

Same here - and I've heard him live, in small venues, playing a range of stuff. One of life's little mysteries.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Llyr as stated in post 44

As mud.

[Nick Armstrong]

Same here - and I've heard him live, in small venues, playing a range of stuff. One of life's little mysteries.

How interesting that it's the same live. I heard possibly the worst Beethoven playing I've ever heard on the radio from him (but NB I've never heard Lang Lang play Beethoven)

I think it's something to do with being a BBC Young Generation Artist - which seems to lead to endless and indiscriminate praise on the airwaves cf. the inexplicable continuing appearances before the public of Ailish Tynan, from the same 'intake'. (Of course the BBC YGA has also included some amazing talents - Schwitzgebel, Levit, Grosvenor, Ihle-Hadland....)

[visualnickmos]

I 'only' have Claudio Arrau's Philips recording of these preludes. Not mentioned at all - as was the case for a truckload of other great recordings.

I find this a very enjoyable set, but then I do have a soft-spot for Arrau's recordings - well, the few that I possess, at least. I'm hankering after his Decca LvB concertos and sonatas, but way, way out of my price range - forever, I feel!

[Pianoman]

Everyone's laid into this BAL quite rightly; apart from his rather mannered delivery and the annoying format this week, who in their right mind would pick a live Gulda recording as a first choice? Sorry, just nonsense with so many justly famous versions out there that weren't given a mention. Rant over.

[BBMmk2]

Glad I missed this BaL, then! jamming keyboard sessions, has it's advantages! Who won? I rather like Ashkenazy and Argerich.