BaL 14.02.15 - Ravel: Piano Concerto in G

[Nick Armstrong]

Zimerman please

Dammit yes... (sorry, Damit). Actually, I thought about it and followed Ferney's lead in leaving out the second 'n'... It looked right! I always think 'Zimerman' looks wrong but of course you're correct!

Any views about the subject in hand, Z, now the corrections are out of the way? Or was your post simultaneosuly indicating your pianistic preference in this piece?

[edashtav]

Jon Swain's excellent BAL was in radio terms the equivalent of this concerto, brilliantly executed & conceived as a sparkling Saturday morning divertissement -- making us chuckle over our cornflakes, & eliciting the occasional sigh, as well. How about a BAL for it's sinistral companion, JS ?

Well said, S ir!
There's quite a lobby on the Board for Ravel's concerti, isn't there. There's a realisation that these two swansongs are profound works - amongst the most vital of their times. Neither is an easy "play", thy are open to many different interpretations and almost as many that are misconceived. It's great to be able to share such enthusiasms.

[Alison]

The Yundi/Ozawa has a natural authority for me - and I speak as one not predisposed towards DG's young photogenic stars. Plenty of detail yet so little fuss and a reminder of the taken for granted skills of a veteran conductor.

[Nick Armstrong]

The Yundi/Ozawa has a natural authority for me - and I speak as one not predisposed towards DG's young photogenic stars. Plenty of detail yet so little fuss and a reminder of the taken for granted skills of a veteran conductor.

Thanks Alison. As ever, I agree with your every syllable

[Barbirollians]

Argerich is marvellous and do you really not have the legendary Prokofiev 3/ Ravel record Caliban ? With an extraordinary Gaspard thrown in !

[Nick Armstrong]

Argerich is marvellous and do you really not have the legendary Prokofiev 3/ Ravel record Caliban ? With an extraordinary Gaspard thrown in !

Oh yes, Barb (as mentioned in fact in my #4 above) - that recording was one of my earliest purchases on a DG 'Privilege' musicassette (which I still have somewhere) which accompanied me through part of University and periods in Paris and was one of my most-played tapes! Subsequently acquired on CD - although a different coupling, on a DG 'Klassikon' CD (I suspect bought in Paris) coupled with Gaspard but the Kontarskys playing Ma Mère L'oye instead of the Prokofiev (I have the latter also on a 'Klassikon' CD coupled with Abbado conducting Violin Concerto No 1 and Lt. Kije).

Having only had that Argerich performance for probably 20 years, I've found it exhilarating to discover so many other ways of playing it... But after all the recent listening, I must go back to it and see how it fares!

[BBMmk2]

Argerich is marvellous and do you really not have the legendary Prokofiev 3/ Ravel record Caliban ? With an extraordinary Gaspard thrown in !

I have, being an Argerich fan! :)

[Barbirollians]

Oh yes, Barb (as mentioned in fact in my #4 above) - that recording was one of my earliest purchases on a DG 'Privilege' musicassette (which I still have somewhere) which accompanied me through part of University and periods in Paris and was one of my most-played tapes! Subsequently acquired on CD - although a different coupling, on a DG 'Klassikon' CD (I suspect bought in Paris) coupled with Gaspard but the Kontarskys playing Ma Mère L'oye instead of the Prokofiev (I have the latter also on a 'Klassikon' CD coupled with Abbado conducting Violin Concerto No 1 and Lt. Kije).

Having only had that Argerich performance for probably 20 years, I've found it exhilarating to discover so many other ways of playing it... But after all the recent listening, I must go back to it and see how it fares!

That recording got about - it was also on a DG Galleria release . That tape was my first exposure to the work and I was dazzled by it and it must have worn very thin.

[Nick Armstrong]

That recording got about - it was also on a DG Galleria release . That tape was my first exposure to the work and I was dazzled by it and it must have worn very thin.

Mine too... I think the Galleria came a bit later (didn't it have Sonatine and Gaspard with it, rather than the Prokofiev?). Anyway, yes, I think it's one of those recordings DG have reissued many times in various configurations over the years.

[Barbirollians]

Yes Sonatine and Gaspard . I only discovered the Prokofiev when the DG Originals CD was released.

[Ferretfancy]

Well said, S ir!
There's quite a lobby on the Board for Ravel's concerti, isn't there. There's a realisation that these two swansongs are profound works - amongst the most vital of their times. Neither is an easy "play", thy are open to many different interpretations and almost as many that are misconceived. It's great to be able to share such enthusiasms.

I think that the contrast between the two concertos is amazing, especially as he was working on both works simultaneously. The opening of the D major is surely one of the most sinister in music.

[Ferretfancy]

Bonsoir HD! No apologies needed; I think I can safely say we understand each other.... but very kind of you to acknowledge, nonetheless. Thank you.

About Michelangeli; I too, thought he sounded rather 'Arctic' in what is essentially Mediterranean music.... Like you, I wasn't surprised at the final choice - indeed, it was a glittering performance, but I'm not sure it was one I would choose as my point of reference. The reason being that I feel that 'live' performances can sometimes - not always - be great for occasional visits but become a little too invasive on repeated listenings. That's purely my thought - nothing more. I, too was very impressed by the young Benjamin Grosvenor - one to watch, I'm sure. The extracts played were dazzling. It doesn't appear to be on CD as yet...?
And the Katchen; interesting comment about 'not knowing better at the time'. A bit frightening that, as it may imply that one's enjoyment - for want of a better word - is solely dependent on an acquisition of "greater knowledge" - blind listening is, I'm sure, a good thing sometimes.....

Off-topic;
Just want to say - I'm still loving the Bruckner; now there's a composer! The more one becomes familiar with the work, or to be more precise, the more one listens, the more one discovers - a great and wonderful journey; that's how I would describe my Bruckner experience, so far.....

Benjamin Grosvenor's version is available on an Excellent Decca CD, coupled with Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Saint-Saens No. 2, with the RLPO and James Judd

[Nick Armstrong]

Benjamin Grosvenor's version is available on an Excellent Decca CD, coupled with Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Saint-Saens No. 2, with the RLPO and James Judd

As per my longer post above, I wouldn't bother...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Can't imagine why you and many others don't use "Settings" to select "Newest First" for thread display - it's a no brainer; so much simpler

I'll give that a try.

[Nick Armstrong]

...plus as a wild card, Thibaudet/GMJO-Philippe Jordan (fab performance recorded from the 2013 Prom).

This performance is coming up on R3 on TTN, when the Gustav Mahler JO prom is repeated. So the Ravel will be on about 12.40 after the 'Rienzi' overture.

Recommended!!