BaL 25.01.20 - Chopin: Four Scherzi

[Darloboy]

Richter - on Olympia, reissued on Regis, but this is probably the same as the Melodia-Eurodisc (Munich, 1977) and SXLP (15 versions of the same recording are listed: https://www.discogs.com/Sviatoslav-R.../master/629213). In the comments on the Amazon link, someone has remarked (in 2010) that it came to their notice on BaL: “The Penguin guide gives this its highest possible rating, the Rough Guide as well. Radio 3 had a one hour special on the scherzi recently and chose Richter, hands down, above every other pianist. After hearing him on that programme I, straight away, ordered this CD” and I did likewise. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chopin-Sche.../dp/B000H8RUH6

Which are the other two Richter recordings indicated in the OP list?

I assume that the Radio 3 one hour special on the scherzi was BaL on 6 March 2010, in which Piers Lane, "in conversation with Andrew McGregor" (the very first twofer perhaps?) chose the Regis Richter reissue as 1st choice for all 4 scherzi.

Interestingly in light of comments on here to the effect that one single pianist can't do justice to all 4 scherzi, Lane also made individual 1st choices: No. 1 was Demidenko; No. 2 was the aforementioned Richter; No. 3 was Argerich; and No. 4 was Rubinstein.

[ardcarp]

But then I can’t sit through the Goldbergs either

It's my perfect calmimg strategy, especially under Angela Hewitt's control. But no sleep is involved in my case.....

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Enjoy this BaL, 'cos there isn't one next week.

[BBMmk2]

Finally a decent reviewer! Iain Burnside and it shows!!!!

[Ein Heldenleben]

Finally a decent reviewer! Iain Burnside and it shows!!!!

I think there’s been a good run recently...

[vinteuil]

.

... I enjoyed this, and learned quite a lot. The Richter is a wonder.

I shall be acquiring the Huvé

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07G236196

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[Stanfordian]

.

... I enjoyed this, and learned quite a lot. The Richter is a wonder.

I shall be acquiring the Huvé

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07G236196

.

Yes, a fine reviewer this time. The Richter sounded to my ears as Chopin played like Rachmaninov. Not enough pedal for me.

In my view playing of the 4 Scherzi doesn't get any better than this recording:

https://www.sa-cd.net/showtitle/2353

[Ein Heldenleben]

I was pleased the Emmanuel Ax version made it to the final three - I have a cassette of this and must have it heard dozens of times on train journeys . The B Flat minor is particularly good..
Ian B is an exemplary reviewer . One thing about his final choice Richter : for all his breakneck speed reputation (in Liszt for example ) was there ever a better slow player ..?

[ardcarp]

At "I'm just loving your short list..now where shall be start?" I very nearly turned off. Yes, Burnside is a fine reviewer, but there was a fair bit of hesitancy in his verbal delivery, and as always, it would have been SO much better if he'd been allowed to be in charge. Such a shame there wasn't time to hear the Pleyel piano. The four scherzos (not a set, as has been pointed out) are so familiar, it set me to wonder at all the where and whens that I've heard them played. I'm not such a record/CD adherent as many on the Forum, so they must crop up a lot in recital pianists' core repertoire.

[Ein Heldenleben]

At "I'm just loving your short list..now where shall be start?" I very nearly turned off. Yes, Burnside is a fine reviewer, but there was a fair bit of hesitancy in his verbal delivery, and as always, it would have been SO much better if he'd been allowed to be in charge. Such a shame there wasn't time to hear the Pleyel piano. The four scherzos (not a set, as has been pointed out) are so familiar, it set me to wonder at all the where and whens that I've heard them played. I'm not such a record/CD adherent as many on the Forum, so they must crop up a lot in recital pianists' core repertoire.

I used to go a lot of London recitals. Performances of all four were rare - in fact I don’t think I’ve heard one. I think the reasons are - they are very technically demanding (with the exception of the B flat minor ) and ( in my opinion only) make for something of a repetitive experience . Even individual performances aren’t that common - for example there are none scheduled in the upcoming international piano series at the South Bank and I can’t see any in the next month at the Wigmore . They are a bit of a pianist’s graveyard ...they are very often set as test pieces in piano competitions though particularly the B minor which is almost unplayably hard..

[Keraulophone]

was there ever a better slow player ..?

No.

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e.g. Schubert D.894 live at the Aldeburgh Festival, 1977. (I taped it off air, Radio3.)

No.5 of: https://www.theguardian.com/music/to...ter-recordings
(Service's top ten doesn't even include today's Scherzi first choice.)

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[Ein Heldenleben]

No.

e.g. Schubert D.894 live at the Aldeburgh Festival.

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Or indeed slow movement Bflat D960...

[BBMmk2]

A pity Ashkenazy didn’t make it. I don’t think I heard Rubenstein mentioned?

[HighlandDougie]

A pity Ashkenazy didn’t make it. I don’t think I heard Rubenstein mentioned?

Opening example; then later on. Both from 1936/37 recording.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Opening example; then later on. Both from 1936/37 recording.

Bit of a shame the second excerpt of Rubinstein from the B flat minor made up so much of his excerpts . He plays the E major leggiero section very fast and very beautifully then having set a furious pace comes a major cropper in the B flat min sempre con fuoco section which is full of block chords and octaves and needs big hands. I agree with AM it’s thrilling but there are plenty of finger slips.
Emmanuel Ax plays this section really well....