BaL 2.11.24 - Prokofiev: Piano concerto 2

[Pulcinella]

Can they have a dance off?

The suspense is over.
16/11/24 has been revealed as Berlioz' Nuits d'été.

[Retune]

...and the new Chochieva, which I'm still getting to know.

I didn't know she'd done it until now. Anything she records is pretty much an automatic purchase for me, so Presto now have my money (previewed and enjoyed the Rimsky-Korsakov online just now, which I had never heard before). I wonder if this disc was released too late to be considered for today's BaL? I already have Rana and Wang in the Prokofiev, which should make for some interesting comparisons. An excellent concert from Wang and Ólafsson at the RFH last night, by the way.

[Pulcinella]

Gramophone (November 2024, just dropped through the letter box) has a comparative review by Marina Frolova-Walker of the new recordings by Goodyear and Chochieva, with the latter being a pretty clear favourite.
If they've been out in sufficient time to have these reviews prepared and printed, one does indeed hope that they'll feature in today's BaL.

[oliver sudden]

A pianist friend has recently made me aware of an early live Ashkenazy with Rozhdestvensky. Not a BaL-type choice (nothing really goes wrong but the piano is clearly only just surviving the onslaught), but absolutely blistering.

[Retune]

Gramophone (November 2024, just dropped through the letter box) has a comparative review by Marina Frolova-Walker of the new recordings by Goodyear and Chochieva, with the latter being a pretty clear favourite.
If they've been out in sufficient time to have these reviews prepared and printed, one does indeed hope that they'll feature in today's BaL.

Hopefully! The official release date was 18 Oct, just 2 weeks ago, but reviewers must get advance copies and it would make sense to pass one on to the BaL guest reviewer in time to consider it, if possible.

[Retune]

Yuja Wang wins.

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

No Chochieva, so I guess we don't know whether she didn't make the deadline or didn't make the cut. Still, with the way BaL works these days they'll probably do it again in 5 years...

[Pulcinella]

Yuja Wang wins.

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

No Chochieva, so I guess we don't know whether she didn't make the deadline or didn't make the cut. Still, with the way BaL works these days they'll probably do it again in 5 years...

Thanks: added to OP.
Listening interrupted during second movement discussion.

[Alison]

Sorry not to hear any of the new Goodyear although David Nice was not too enthusiastic in BBCMM. Litton and the BBCSO added interest for me.

[Barbirollians]

David Nice - once a very reliable BAL contributor.

i was surprised MFW didn’t do this BAL as she did the Third Concerto . Yes she prefers the Chochieva but doesn’t like her programme . Goodyear gets plaudits for his technique but brickbats for his musical interpretation.