BaL 2.11.24 - Prokofiev: Piano concerto 2

[Pulcinella]

1500
Building a Library

Jonathan Cross selects his favourite version of Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16

Presto listing here (some as part of complete set):

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/works/71979--prokofiev-piano-concerto-no-2-in-g-minor-op-16/browse

Edit: Thanks to Retune for details of the winner.

Yuja Wang wins.

Rachmaninov #3, Prokofiev #2
Yuja Wang (piano), Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel
DG 479 1304

[Darloboy]

Hallelujah! A work that's never been featured on BaL before...

There was a BaL Prokofiev programme "The Anniversary Year on Record" presented by David Nice back in December 1991 which included the Gutierrez/Neeme Järvi recording of the 2nd & 3rd concertos but I don't think that really counts.

[smittims]

It's a curious but likeable work. I've long enjoyed the John Browning/ Erich Leinsdorf recording, from their set of all five.

[Pulcinella]

Kun Woo Paik, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit (Naxos)
and
Michel Béroff, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Kurt Masur (EMI/Warner)
on the shelves here.

There is no BBC MM CD (of any of the piano concertos, in fact!).

[Pianoman]

From being a neglected work to suddenly everywhere....

I have a fondness for this piece, especially the crazy Ist movement cadenza. Current favourites are Stewart Goodyear, who has terrific support, and the new Chochieva, which I'm still getting to know. Old favourites are Guttierez, Paik on Naxos and Yundi Li on DG.

[Barbirollians]

Freddy Kempf on BIS.

[Maclintick]

I have a fondness for this piece, especially the crazy Ist movement cadenza.

Hair-raising moment when the orchestra surges in after that cadenza. Once while driving, we had to pull over and stop at that point during a terrific live broadcast from the RFH Rana/LPO/Jurowski. Wonder if she's recorded it ? On the shelves, Bronfman/IPO/Mehta, Ashkenazy/LSO/Previn among others...oh, and Kissin live was marvellous..

[oliver sudden]

Hair-raising moment when the orchestra surges in after that cadenza.

Indeed, although not only after but during, and doubling everything the piano is doing!

I've never been able to get past Ashkenazy/Previn (not that there's much wrong with that apart from the piano intonation) and this is one of my favourite pieces so I will be very interested in proceedings here.

[richardfinegold]

Kun Woo Paik, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit (Naxos)
and
Michel Béroff, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Kurt Masur (EMI/Warner)
on the shelves here.

There is no BBC MM CD (of any of the piano concertos, in fact!).

those are the two on my shelf as well.

[Maclintick]

I've never been able to get past Ashkenazy/Previn (not that there's much wrong with that apart from the piano intonation) and this is one of my favourite pieces so I will be very interested in proceedings here.

Tuning sometimes a bit of a bugbear in Decca's Ashkenazy recordings, I fear.

[ostuni]

Hair-raising moment when the orchestra surges in after that cadenza. Once while driving, we had to pull over and stop at that point during a terrific live broadcast from the RFH Rana/LPO/Jurowski. Wonder if she's recorded it ? On the shelves, Bronfman/IPO/Mehta, Ashkenazy/LSO/Previn among others...oh, and Kissin live was marvellous..

Yes, Beatrice Rana recorded it about 10 years ago (one of her first recordings), with Pappano & Santa Cecilia Orch: very good, as I recall.

[Barbirollians]

As is Yuja Wang.

[Pulcinella]

From being a neglected work to suddenly everywhere....

I have a fondness for this piece, especially the crazy Ist movement cadenza. Current favourites are Stewart Goodyear, who has terrific support, and the new Chochieva, which I'm still getting to know. Old favourites are Guttierez, Paik on Naxos and Yundi Li on DG.

Left me curiously unmoved, sadly.
About to stream Trifonov.

[HighlandDougie]

As the CD arrived earlier, I've just about recovered from the aural assault from Zlata Chochieva. She takes no prisoners - I felt sorry for the poor old City Halls (Glasgow) Steinway (unless she brought her own). Most enjoyable disc, though, as the Rimsky Korsakov I know of old from the Richter recording in a rather dodgy LP pressing. And the Tfasman might have been written with Winifred Atwell in mind - delivered with aplomb.

[Pulcinella]

I found the Wiki article quite informative, and it has a fairly comprehensive discography.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_...._2_(Prokofiev)