BaL 9.02.19 - Beethoven: Piano Concerto no 5 in E flat "Emperor"

[richardfinegold]

One idea I have is do this in four programmes. The last programme, you whittled it down to four recordings, and the reviewer dies a more in depth review.

With such a Herculean task, anything is possible

[pastoralguy]

Almost any of the listed recordings would be a worthy candidate of a place on the library shelf so why not simply list the version to avoid with supporting rationale?

[Bryn]

Almost any of the listed recordings would be a worthy candidate of a place on the library shelf so why not simply list the version to avoid with supporting rationale?

But that way, one might miss out on the Gould/Stockie, which is such a hoot.

[pastoralguy]

But that way, one might miss out on the Gould'Stockie, which is such a hoot.

Fantastic!!

[cloughie]

But that way, one might miss out on the Gould/Stockie, which is such a hoot.

Is that the truckload delivered to the reviewer?

[vinteuil]

But that way, one might miss out on the Gould/Stockie, which is such a hoot.

... I listened last night to the Gould/Stokowski whch I had forgotten I had (in the big Glenn Gould box). Mme v was off on a photography course at CityLit, so I cd listen with the vol up to 11.

It's quite wonderful. Thank you, Bryn, for having flagged it up.

Not sure whether it's Beethoven - but it's a glorious noise...


.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

As an Interlude in our discussions of recordings, I've just rediscovered this poem in the Seamus Heaney Thread (thanks again to Padraig) - the poet is remembering an experience that happened in one of his lessons when he was a young teacher at a secondary school:

The Play Way

Sunlight pillars through glass, probes each desk
For milk-tops, drinking straws and old dry crusts.
The music strides to challenge it
Mixing memory and desire with chalk dust.

My lesson notes read: Teacher will play
Beethoven's Concerto Number Five
And class will express themselves freely
In writing. One said 'Can we jive?'

When I produced the record, but now
The big sound has silenced them. Higher
And firmer, each authoritative note
Pumps the classroom up tight as a tyre

Working its private spell behind eyes
That stare wide. They have forgotten me
For once. The pens are busy, the tongues mime
Their blundering embrace of the free

Word. A silence charged with sweetness
Breaks short on lost faces where I see
New looks. Then notes stretch taut as snares. They trip
To fall into themselves unknowingly.

[richardfinegold]

Has anyone heard the Blu Ray version of Solti/Ashkenazy in all 5 of the PCs? I don’t think I ever heard any of the recordings from that set in any format.
I am listening to Serkin/Bernstein now, part of a big Serkin box that I don’t think I ever played this particular disc from...

[BBMmk2]

Has anyone heard the Blu Ray version of Solti/Ashkenazy in all 5 of the PCs? I don’t think I ever heard any of the recordings from that set in any format.
I am listening to Serkin/Bernstein now, part of a big Serkin box that I don’t think I ever played this particular disc from...

I would rather like to!

[silvestrione]

Nice to be reminded of that Heaney poem, thanks. Now why did I never try that? (in the classroom I mean)

[richardfinegold]

Well the Serkin/Bernstein won’t win the palm this time. A huge disappointment, Serkin barreling through the piece with nary a hint of rubato, Bernstein appearing disinterested, and the sound is pretty bad as well, as boxy as anything Columbia produced in the 1960s

[HighlandDougie]

Has anyone heard the Blu Ray version of Solti/Ashkenazy in all 5 of the PCs? I don’t think I ever heard any of the recordings from that set in any format.
I am listening to Serkin/Bernstein now, part of a big Serkin box that I don’t think I ever played this particular disc from...

I bought the LPs when they first appeared in about 1974. They were never particularly distinguished, recording-wise (Krannert Center, U of Illinois, Urbana) but the Blu-Rays make the best job possible with them. Piano tone is very clear but a bit bass-light. Orchestra can get a bit muddied. Performances haven't lost their attraction, IMV. Highly enjoyable, if not earth-shattering. Listened using my new Oppo-clone UDP and the Mytek, which impresses me mightily!

[cloughie]

I bought the LPs when they first appeared in about 1974. They were never particularly distinguished, recording-wise (Krannert Center, U of Illinois, Urbana) but the Blu-Rays make the best job possible with them. Piano tone is very clear but a bit bass-light. Orchestra can get a bit muddied. Performances haven't lost their attraction, IMV. Highly enjoyable, if not earth-shattering. Listened using my new Oppo-clone UDP and the Mytek, which impresses me mightily!

Dont do blu-ray but had the LPs and have the CDs. Nought wrong with them!

[richardfinegold]

I bought the LPs when they first appeared in about 1974. They were never particularly distinguished, recording-wise (Krannert Center, U of Illinois, Urbana) but the Blu-Rays make the best job possible with them. Piano tone is very clear but a bit bass-light. Orchestra can get a bit muddied. Performances haven't lost their attraction, IMV. Highly enjoyable, if not earth-shattering. Listened using my new Oppo-clone UDP and the Mytek, which impresses me mightily!

Does the Mytek Brooklyn take Blu Ray from the Oppo? My Manhattan I doesn't, which is one reason that I bought the Bryston DAC 3, which taskes DSD and everything else from the Oppo over HDMI.
btw, the Serkin/Bernstein Emperor was a downer, but the accompanying Choral Fantasy was a hoot, with over the top involvement by Conductor and Soloist. I am wondering if they were recorded at the same sessions and they were more interested in the oddball Choral Fantasy and dashed off the warhorse Emperor as quickly as they could

[Conchis]

I have a nasty feeling some horrible, etiolated HIP performance will win this time!