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

[Bryn]

Then again presented with one he might have Ben thrilled to play what he had written for those earlier pianos on it instead .

Why do you hold such a low opinion of his ability to write for the instruments available to him? As the instruments of his time developed, so did his writing for them. He exploited their capabilities, and those of the musicians who played them, to the full. I remain quite convinced that presented with a modern Steinway, he would have composed music to exploit that to its full, too, including taking its even timbre into consideration, as he did the varying poperties of the pianos of his time, as in Op. 27/2, for instance.

[DoctorT]

I listened to Perahia/Haitink yesterday and found it lacking in largeness of vision and purpose compared to Kovacevich/Davis; it's going to the charity shop....

Agreed, Mal. The Kovacevich/Davis version has been my favourite for years. Somehow the Perahia recording seems to lack passion. I await BaL with interest.

[Bryn]

How long ago was this BaL recorded? The Minnaar, supposedly a recent release, has been around for just a week or so short of 4 years now. Strange that after making a point about the tempo the composer intended for the 'slow' movement, Kenyon went on to concentrate on those who entirely disregarded Beethoven's intentions. Not a well argued case from NK, I feel.

[Mal]

That was a strange choice, a two star reviewer on amazon suggests: "this stands out in a crowded field only for its eccentricity." Anyway, at least he gave some good press to my favourite :) I'll be sticking with Kovacevich/LSO/Davis as my library staple.

[BBMmk2]

That was a strange choice, a two star reviewer on amazon suggests: "this stands out in a crowded field only for its eccentricity." Anyway, at least he gave some good press to my favourite :) I'll be sticking with Kovacevich/LSO/Davis as my library staple.

Indeed it was. I’ll stick with the ones I gave. I’m thinking about buying the Maurizio Pollini/Claudio Abbado box set with this concerto included.

[edashtav]

That was a strange choice, a two star reviewer on amazon suggests: "this stands out in a crowded field only for its eccentricity." Anyway, at least he gave some good press to my favourite :) I'll be sticking with Kovacevich/LSO/Davis as my library staple.

I decided that Hannes Minnaar was worth a punt and ordered it together with Frang's new recording of the 1st Bartok Concerto imaginitively paired with Enescu's early Octet which I know only through Silvestri's interpretation on LP.

[Bryn]

That was a strange choice, a two star reviewer on amazon suggests: "this stands out in a crowded field only for its eccentricity." Anyway, at least he gave some good press to my favourite :) I'll be sticking with Kovacevich/LSO/Davis as my library staple.

That two-star review was decidedly ill-informed. Not that the five-star above it was much better.

[Bryn]

Thanks for that. I have just ordered a "Used: Very Good" copy for £12 (including p&p), (only 64p more than the cheapest ex-library copy). The Colt collection is referred to in "The Story of the Piano".

"The Early Piano" was delivered this morning. It will make a fine companion for the Binns survey of the sonatas. Many, if not all, of the instruments from the collection used by Binns, are illustrated in the book.

[edashtav]

That two-star review was decidedly ill-informed. Not that the five-star above it was much better.

I saw that, Bryn: it informed my action.

[Barbirollians]

I saw that, Bryn: it informed my action.

This was an odd BAL - the winner sounded rather ordinary in the extracts played with some pianism that rather drew attention to itself not the music to my ears .

One would never have known until a very passing late reference to Uchida’s apparently new account that any woman had ever played the piece ( which was embarrassing ) indeed Uchida’s account with Sanderling is very fine. Well worth listening to and watching Annie Fischer on You Tube too.

Any BAL of this work that fails to mention Solomon/Menges definitely deserves a black mark.

Glad to see Kovacevich/Davis take high order but I knew I was going to be sceptical when Klemperer’s gloriously heroic account of the opening was declared heavy handed .

[jayne lee wilson]

Please could someone summarise the "shortlist"/winner for this BaL - i.e, the ones NK seem to favour towards the conclusion etc - for those who, well, may be disinclined to listen through?

I'm surprised anyone would take Amazon reviewers on trust - I frequently find even those who "seem to know what they're doing" terribly misleading (or simply too subjective, or too obviously subjective), before/after hearing the recording... thank god for SOR...

Yes, all is subjective - but you can still try to make the perspective-effort at least.

[vinteuil]

Please could someone summarise the "shortlist"/winner for this BaL - i.e, the ones NK seem to favour towards the conclusion etc -, for those who, well, may be disinclined to listen through?

... he concluded by identifying three 'groups' -

1. the older classics : here he selected Serkin, Kempff, and Arrau, with his recommendation for the 1958 Arrau (with Galliera)

2. the more recent : here, Brendel, Kovacevich, Perahia, and Zimerman : recommendation 1992 Zimerman (with Bernstein)

3. the most recent : Andsnes, Vogt : final overall recommendation - 2015 Minnaar with de Vriend on challenge classics.

Hope I've remembered that right.

[jayne lee wilson]

... he concluded by identifying three 'groups' -

1. the older classics : here he selected Serkin, Kempff, and Arrau, with his recommendation for the 1958 Arrau (with Galiera)

2. the more recent : here, Brendel, Kovacevich, Perahia, and Zimermann : recommendation 1993 Zimermann (with Bernstein)

3. the most recent : Andsnes, Vogt : final overall recommendation Minnaar with de Vriendt.

Hope I've remembered that right.

Generously informative, thanks... might be worth a listen after all!
I did enjoy de Vriend's recent Schubert Symphony release (2&4, with the Residentie), I must say...

[jayne lee wilson]

I decided that Hannes Minnaar was worth a punt and ordered it together with Frang's new recording of the 1st Bartok Concerto imaginitively paired with Enescu's early Octet which I know only through Silvestri's interpretation on LP.

OT, sorry (Enescu means a lot to me), but Ed - a few months ago I looked at the Octet quite extensively here...scroll along for various reviews/comments etc...

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?19440-Enescu-Octet/page2&highlight=enescu+octet

[visualnickmos]

OT, sorry (Enescu means a lot to me), but Ed - a few months ago I looked at the Octet quite extensively here...scroll along for various reviews/comments etc...
http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...t=enescu+octet

I remember; based on your excellent observations, I came across the Arte Nova label version - for a couple of Euros! A fascinating composition, that I am grateful to have been made aware of.
Thank you