BaL 17.06.2017 - Beethoven: Diabelli Variations

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

This was a serious idea.

I know, Bbm - the problem that I mentioned in my first reply (before beacons, pigeons and ferrets were mentioned) would be a considerable hindrance. Subsequent comments weren't meant to be poking fun at your suggestion - just the way we get a bit Goon Showesque on this rather wonderful Forum,

[Bryn]

I know, Bbm - the problem that I mentioned in my first reply (before beacons, pigeons and ferrets were mentioned) would be a considerable hindrance. Subsequent comments weren't meant to be poking fun at your suggestion - just the way we get a bit Goon Showesque on this rather wonderful Forum,

Off course, there was a time when we had telephones, and we would share the relevant number with those who might need it. I wonder what happened to them.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Soon to begin.

[Richard Tarleton]

Fascinating stuff. Bassoon stop, Janissary pedal - looking forward to hearing the full thing tomorrow.

That Kovacevich recording he played the theme from (second extract) - much faster than the 1968 one I have - a later recording?

I'm tempted by the Brendel 2001 live RFH....can't see it on Amazon, if anyone can point me to a reference number I'd be grateful. I was flicking through Brendel on the subject while listening - he singles out Schnabel's recording of the Diabelli.... Lovely story about recording it for Vox, snowy winter, crackling logs in grate which had to be thrown out of the window into the snow as they were too noisy.....

[Bryn]

Fascinating stuff. Bassoon stop, Janissary pedal - looking forward to hearing the full thing tomorrow.

That Kovacevich recording he played the theme from (second extract) - much faster than the 1968 one I have - a later recording?

I'm tempted by the Brendel 2001 live RFH....can't see it on Amazon, if anyone can point me to a reference number I'd be grateful. I was flicking through Brendel on the subject while listening - he singles out Schnabel's recording of the Diabelli.... Lovely story about recording it for Vox, snowy winter, crackling logs in grate which had to be thrown out of the window into the snow as they were too noisy.....

See amazon.co.uk ASIN: B000KGGLC0

Sorry. I just grabbed the lowest priced "Used: Very Good" copy from there. Still looks good value at the full "New" price though.

[Pulcinella]

Off course, there was a time when we had telephones, and we would share the relevant number with those who might need it. I wonder what happened to them.

Soon to begin.

I took this to imply that telecommunications were about to start between Alpie and his deputy, but now realise that it was a reminder that the programme was about to start.

[Richard Tarleton]

See amazon.co.uk ASIN: B000KGGLC0

Sorry. I just grabbed the lowest priced "Used: Very Good" copy from there. Still looks good value at the full "New" price though.

It does indeed. Thanks! Duly ordered.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A most enjoyable BaL - as soon as I heard the wonderful "buzz" of the first extract that IB played from the Staier recording I knew that that would be an addition to my CD collection; and later when the fairground was introduced I fell deeply and irrevocably in love. I wasn't expecting it to "win" (I thought that he was building up to Brendel) but I'm delighted that it did.

I might go for the Download option, however, and burn the Beethoven onto its own disc.

[Bryn]

A most enjoyable BaL - as soon as I heard the wonderful "buzz" of the first extract that IB played from the Staier recording I knew that that would be an addition to my CD collection; and later when the fairground was introduced I fell deeply and irrevocably in love. I wasn't expecting it to "win" (I thought that he was building up to Brendel) but I'm delighted that it did.

I might go for the Download option, however, and burn the Beethoven onto its own disc.

I too was surprised at the chosen 'winner'. Much as I love it, and the two 'live' radio recordings I have (Polish Radio 2010* and Radio 3 a year or so later), I thought the fun and games aspect would rule Staier out as a library choice.

*

Diabelli Variations


Andreas Staier, fortepiano


rec: 14 August 2010, Warsaw, Witold Lutoslawski Concert Studio of the Polish Radio


Variations on Diabelli’s Waltz by Various Composers


(01) various composers

Thema von Anton Diabelli (1781-1858) - Vivace
Var. 16, Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837)
Var. 4, Carl Czerny (1791-1857)
Var. 18, Frédéric Kalkbrenner (1785-1849) - Allegro non troppo
Var. 20, Joseph Kerzowsky (1791-?) - Moderato con espressione
Var. 21, Conradin Kreutzer (1780-1849) - Vivace
Var. 24, Franz Liszt (1811-1886) - Allegro
Var. 26, Ignaz Moscheles (1794-1870)
Var. 31, Johann Peter Pixis (1788-1874)
Var. 28, Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart (Fils) (1791-1844) - Con fuoco
Var. 38, Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

(02) Ludwig VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-1827): 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli in C, Op. 120


[encore]
(03) Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750): Goldberg Variations (BWV 988):
Variation No 25

[richardfinegold]

For me the best Brendel (mischievous and playful as well as virtuosic and poetic: what you want, really!) is in the Philips Unpublished Live and Radio Performances 1968-2001 2-disc set.

Neither Richter is quite satisfactory, if my memory serves me: either poor sound (Praga) or problems with the piano (Philips). I also find Brautigam a little prosaic. Paul Lewis just over-pedals, for me.

The Schnabel contains some of the most philosophically probing playing even he (or anyone else?) ever managed. And he's never short of wit.

The Brendel live is also in the 'Big Brendel Box' his so called complete Phillips recordings. I was recently comparing the two Diabellis in that set. I preferred the studio version as AB was a bit more interventionist in the live performance, but either is preferable to his Vox. He had never performed the piece prior to learning it for the Vox recording

[silvestrione]

The Brendel live is also in the 'Big Brendel Box' his so called complete Phillips recordings. I was recently comparing the two Diabellis in that set. I preferred the studio version as AB was a bit more interventionist in the live performance, but either is preferable to his Vox. He had never performed the piece prior to learning it for the Vox recording

Yes I owned the Vox on LP once, and eventually decided it was a bit of a callow play-through...didn't realise Brendel was just beginning to explore the work. There's a less characterful RFH live version from the 70s, 76 perhaps? I was there. An odd first half of Bach and Liszt Hungarian Rhapsodies.

Oddly, I enjoyed the Staier extracts in this excellent BAL ful of fascinating examples. Why odd? I used to own it but didn't keep it!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Oddly, I enjoyed the Staier extracts in this excellent BAL ful of fascinating examples. Why odd? I used to own it but didn't keep it!

- yes: precisely why I'm reluctant to get rid of recordings I own; many's the time that one that's initially disappointed me reveals its secrets years later.

[pastoralguy]

- yes: precisely why I'm reluctant to get rid of recordings I own; many's the time that one that's initially disappointed me reveals its secrets years later.

[BBMmk2]

A most enjoyable BaL - as soon as I heard the wonderful "buzz" of the first extract that IB played from the Staier recording I knew that that would be an addition to my CD collection; and later when the fairground was introduced I fell deeply and irrevocably in love. I wasn't expecting it to "win" (I thought that he was building up to Brendel) but I'm delighted that it did.

I might go for the Download option, however, and burn the Beethoven onto its own disc.

Very much surpsied by this outcome.

[verismissimo]

Very much surpsied by this outcome.

In my case, surpsied but very much plseaed.