BaL 6.05.17 - Prokofiev: Piano Concerto no. 3

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

This is a work that is very dear to my heart. I remember seeing Matthew Argerich play it on 'Andre Previn's Music Night' in 1977. I'm not sure if that broadcast was a repeat or a first airing. It was preceded by Prokofiev's 'Lieutenant Kije' Suite. In Previn's introduction, he remarked that the work was 'terribly difficult to play! And here to play it is one of the worlds great virtuoso's, Martha Argerich'.

What fourteen year old boy could resist this stunning woman playing this exotic music?! I recorded the programme by dangling my father's microphone in front of the tv's speaker and capturing it on cassette. It probably sounded terrible but I played that tape over and over. The performance was released a couple of years ago on DVD minus Previn's spoken introduction. Just wonderful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgnE25-kvyk

[verismissimo]

Think I've only ever had John Browning with the Boston Symphony under Leinsdorf (on LP), which I played to death in the 1970s. Lucky enough to see him play it with the Chicago Symphony at Symphony Hall in Chicago. He departed this life in 2003.

Time for something new!

[BBMmk2]

What a colourful, virtuosic concerto this is. I'll be looking forward to this quite a bit. I have mebntioned earlier what versions I have so be good to add, if any?!?!?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

... in Phase-4 Stereo ("unfailingly vivid" - 'Penguin Guide') on Decca;

I suspect that was Ivan March. He liked that sort of think. Great for impressive sound on a Dansette, but overpoweringly artificial on better equipment.

That said, I gave this another spin yesterday, and the multi-miked/multi manipulated technique suits this concerto better than many other works in the Phase 4 boxset.

[richardfinegold]

I didn't know the Prokofiev PCs at all but probably 25 years ago saw the Berof/Masur cycle in a reissue catalog. I enjoyed that two disc set. Later I bought one of those two disc Great Pianist of the 20th Century that had one of the Martha Argerich recordings of the 3rd and that is simply stupendous. I hauled the Berof off the shelves yesterday and it is still enjoyable but the Argerich leaves it sounding tame and one can't help but notice a bit of a Teutonic frown on the proceedings from Masur

[Beef Oven!]

I suspect that was Ivan March. He liked that sort of think. Great for impressive sound on a Dansette, but overpoweringly artificial on better equipment.

That said, I gave this another spin yesterday, and the multi-miked/multi manipulated technique suits this concerto better than many other works in the Phase 4 boxset.

I understand he also liked funk, on the quiet

I only have the Naxos Kun Woo Paik, with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit, which I seem to have had forever. They got/get reasonable enough reviews and they are not works that I do more than listen now and again.

But if something grabs my attention on BaL-day ......

EDIT: If anyone’s interested in those Naxos recordings they are available s/h from Amazon for 38p plus £2.52 p&p (or 39p if you want to buy them both from the reliable musicMagpie seller (previously Zoverstocks).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm betting on Argerich, though I don't know which one. It just seems to be a work where she would be supreme.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I only have the Naxos Kun Woo Paik, with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit, which I seem to have had forever. They got/get reasonable enough reviews and they are not works that I do more than listen now and again.

But if something grabs my attention on BaL-day .....

- me, too. Those NAXOS performances are very good, and the musicMagpie offer should be snapped up by anyone who is interested in these works and doesn't already have them.

I doubt that Paik/Wit will receive the laurels on the day, though - my suspicion is that the more intense heat of Argerich will prevail.

[Beef Oven!]

- me, too. Those NAXOS performances are very good, and the musicMagpie offer should be snapped up by anyone who is interested in these works and doesn't already have them.

I doubt that Paik/Wit will receive the laurels on the day, though - my suspicion is that the more intense heat of Argerich will prevail.

Actually, those Naxos discs got very good reviews, IIRC - not sure why I said 'reasonable enough'.

[gurnemanz]

No mention so far of Toradze/Gergiev and the Kirov Orchestra. Loved and despised in roughly equal measure in reviews I have read. I acquired it on a big piano compilation box a few years ago and have just listened again. Probably too exaggerated an interpretation to be a BaL contender but I found it a most exhilarating ride.

[Petrushka]

No mention of Lang Lang and BPO/Rattle either. I have the CD, and while it's fine enough, I still return to Argerich/BPO/Abbado in this piece. Once heard, no other will do.

Toradze hammered his way through this concerto at a Prom with Gergiev and the Kirov Orchestra some years back that also included a sensational Shostakovich 4 after the interval and I've always meant to seek out his recording.

[visualnickmos]

I've just seen that for some reason, I have several versions, which rather than deliberate acquistions must have been a very gradual accumulation. Like Beefy, I too, seem to have owned the Naxos for ever!

Ashkenazy/Previn
Graffman/Szell
Paik/Wit (quite partial to this one)
Beroff/Masur
Bronfman/Mehta

Sometimes BaL surprises us all and doesn't 'go for' the one we all thought. I have a feeling that may just be the case here, but we shall see.... seems like the bookies favourite on here is one of Argerich's...

[HighlandDougie]

Although I'm sure that it hasn't been available for a long time, there is another John Browning version, also conducted by Erich Leinsdorf but with the Philharmonia, originally issued by Capitol. Rather better recorded than the Boston SO and most enjoyable. And despite splurging on Japanese pressings of the Argerich ("Platinum" SHM-CD, whatever that might be) and Ashkenazy (SHM-CD), I most often listen these days to Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, who is well-supported by the BBC Phil and Gianandrea Noseda - and well-recorded, especially as a 24/96 download.

[silvestrione]

For me, as with Tchaikovsky 1 and Rach 3, it needs a great pianist to convince me this is a worthwhile work. And it's striking how many great pianist's names are missing from that list. But, POLLINI! I am astonished he ever played it.

[Stanfordian]

No mention of Lang Lang and BPO/Rattle either. I have the CD, and while it's fine enough, I still return to Argerich/BPO/Abbado in this piece. Once heard, no other will do.

Toradze hammered his way through this concerto at a Prom with Gergiev and the Kirov Orchestra some years back that also included a sensational Shostakovich 4 after the interval and I've always meant to seek out his recording.

A classic recording from Argerich/BPO/Abbado certainly the best around. Lang Lang and BPO/Rattle is an excellent recording too that I often play.