BaL 25.11.23 - Ravel: Le tombeau de Couperin

[Pulcinella]

My first version was Louis Lortie, borrowed from the local library, and it remains a favourite. Ben Grosvenor would make an excellent library choice.

Streamed earlier this evening before choir practice; inclined to agree.

[gradus]

Very much looking forward to this programme although I've never heard a performance I didn't like.

[CallMePaul]

Not strictly true.

This is from Wiki:

Presto site lists only one Exton recording, Richard Strauss' Ein Heldenleben - Pittsburgh SO? Manfred Honeck. I therefore assume that the Ashkenazy Ravel recording mentioned has been deleted.

[Pulcinella]

This looks like it:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ravel-Orchestral-Nhk-Tokyo-Ashkenazy/dp/B0000TCLK8

[cloughie]

I had assumed that both the piano original (six movements) and orchestral suite (four movements) would be covered.
So nearly all my listening, mentioned recently on the What Classical....thread (Abbabo, Ansermet, Boulez (Sony and DG), Dutoit, Haitink, Martinon, Ozawa), in which I thought Ansermet surprisingly good (despite fears over the woodwind intonation), has been in vain!

I have a Hungaroton CD with all six movements orchestrated conducted by Zoltan Kocsis.

[Pulcinella]

I have a Hungaroton CD with all six movements orchestrated conducted by Zoltan Kocsis.

Kocsis' orchestration of the other two movements is mentioned in the Wiki article I quoted from.
But perhaps what it says isn't the whole truth (if you believe the Presto site) as it looks like all six movements have been (re)orchestrated.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7973785--orchestrations-by-zoltan-kocsis-of-works-by-debussy-and-ravel

[silvestrione]

Streamed earlier this evening before choir practice; inclined to agree.

Likewise (without the choir practice: after a committee meeting, just the job!)

[Rolmill]

Ben Grosvenor would make an excellent library choice.

Annoyingly this is not included on his 'Homages' CD, but I'm sure you are right, he seems to excel in virtually everything he records.

I have Gieseking, Crossley and Chamayou - the Chamayou is my favourite, from his terrific set of the complete Ravel piano music (available at bargain price - strongly recommended).

[Pulcinella]

Annoyingly this is not included on his 'Homages' CD, but I'm sure you are right, he seems to excel in virtually everything he records.

I have Gieseking, Crossley and Chamayou - the Chamayou is my favourite, from his terrific set of the complete Ravel piano music (available at bargain price - strongly recommended).

Yes it is; that's where I streamed it from yesterday.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8173856--benjamin-grosvenor-homages

(Unless there are different incarnations of the release, which might be the case if special attention is drawn to its inclusion in this digital version.)

[richardfinegold]

This thread is making me realize that usually I listen to the orchestral version. The piano versions that I have were all acquired as parts of multi cd box purchases

[Rolmill]

Yes it is; that's where I streamed it from yesterday.

....

(Unless there are different incarnations of the release, which might be the case if special attention is drawn to its inclusion in this digital version.)

Indeed - it may on the digital version (and therefore available for streaming), but it definitely isn't on the CD!

[HighlandDougie]

Indeed - it may on the digital version (and therefore available for streaming), but it definitely isn't on the CD!

I have both the CD and, because it omitted "Le Tombeau" the hi-res download. There is therefore no physical CD available which includes the performance, alas. If one wants BG's performance, the download of the whole programme:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8173856--benjamin-grosvenor-homages

is better value as it's cheaper than the the files of "Le Tombeau" on their own

[AuntDaisy]

I must have mis-heard, but did Martin Handley say who the winner was, earlier on Breakfast? He certainly played an extract. I was sorting out Marco's breakfast (our terrier) and only half-listening.

Update: I did mis-hear, he was just offering us a taster, played by Nathalia Milstein.

[Ein Heldenleben]

For any one else listening at the moment this HIPP performance of Dichterliebe complete with histrionic “operatic” flourishes is rather interesting - maybe slightly bonkers . It sounds a bit like an old style East End / Irish pub singer who has had a few. I rather like it.

[Goon525]

I guess one or two here will have switched off after Flora says that piano recording technology has improved considerably since Gieseking ‘54!