BaL 31.12.22 - Rachmaninov: 24 Preludes

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  • smittims
    Full Member
    • Aug 2022
    • 4388

    #31
    Richter, opposed to the post-war fashion for playing the 'complete' this or that, played about twelve of the Preludes, the others being in his Carnegie Hall recitals reissued recently by SonyClassical. Peter Katin's fine set on Unicorn Lps, has also been reissued.

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    • BBMmk2
      Late Member
      • Nov 2010
      • 20908

      #32
      I have Steven Osborne but I would like a couple more sets, I think.
      Don’t cry for me
      I go where music was born

      J S Bach 1685-1750

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      • RobP
        Full Member
        • Dec 2020
        • 66

        #33
        Originally posted by silvestrione View Post
        For me, the six preludes Richter recorded for DG (I think as a filler for an LP, though I first had them on an EP) are one of the great piano recordings. Just contrast his B flat with Lugansky! I heard him play these at the Royal Festival Hall, where he included the great B minor (not, unfortunately, in the DG set, but on the Olympia CD). In the BAL, we didn't hear the G sharp minor, did we? Richter's favourite encore, and most poetic of the lot for me.
        Sorry for the late reply, but I just logged onto the site for the first time in ages. The six Preludes came with Richter's classic Rachmaninov 2 with Wislocki on DGG SLPM 138 076 and as you say they are as good as Rachmaninov playing gets. Unfortunately the hopelessly compressed CD remasterings that have appeared are pretty dire and alas when DG did move to a 24/96 download of the Concerto they disappeared and were replaced with the awful Tchaikovsky 1st with Karajan. However you can pick up first label LPs for less than a CD, or failing that go to the DG 180gm LP.

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        • Nick Armstrong
          Host
          • Nov 2010
          • 26575

          #34
          Originally posted by Alison View Post
          Just ordered Giltburg, whether he wins or not!
          His recording shot to the top of my list when it was released in 2019, gripping on every level. Glad to hear Lucy P concur
          "...the isle is full of noises,
          Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
          Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
          Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."

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          • Barbirollians
            Full Member
            • Nov 2010
            • 11759

            #35
            Originally posted by RobP View Post
            Sorry for the late reply, but I just logged onto the site for the first time in ages. The six Preludes came with Richter's classic Rachmaninov 2 with Wislocki on DGG SLPM 138 076 and as you say they are as good as Rachmaninov playing gets. Unfortunately the hopelessly compressed CD remasterings that have appeared are pretty dire and alas when DG did move to a 24/96 download of the Concerto they disappeared and were replaced with the awful Tchaikovsky 1st with Karajan. However you can pick up first label LPs for less than a CD, or failing that go to the DG 180gm LP.
            Richer appears to have played 12 from the Op 23 and Op 32 sets - I have those on a BBC MM CD recorded apparently in the Free Trade Hall in 1969.

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            • LeMartinPecheur
              Full Member
              • Apr 2007
              • 4717

              #36
              Originally posted by Barbirollians View Post
              Richer appears to have played 12 from the Op 23 and Op 32 sets - I have those on a BBC MM CD recorded apparently in the Free Trade Hall in 1969.
              I have a Regis CD (RRC 1022) which contains 13 Preludes and 9 Etudes-tableaux said to be licensed from Olympia, the Preludes from 1971 and the E-Ts DDD from 1988. I had the BBC MM but do not appear to have kept it as it seemed to duplicate this Regis CD, possibly a mistake on my pert.

              The 13 Preludes are listed as Op23 No's 1, 2, 4. 5. 7 & 8 and Op 32 No's 1, 2. 6, 7, 9, 10 & 12.

              Dunno if this helps or makes confusion worse confounded!
              I keep hitting the Escape key, but I'm still here!

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              • jayne lee wilson
                Banned
                • Jul 2011
                • 10711

                #37
                Which Richter issue(s) were the RR people working from?

                Just comparing the BBCL 1969 FTH selection to the Regis 1971(?) (also issued on Alto, Praga DSD and originally Olympia) the earlier set has a more soft-focus atmospheric and poetic sound and the readings are a little swifter, more delicate and lyrical; the 1971(?) set more forthright, immediate and dramatic. Both great performances of broadly similar interpretations, though certainly sounding very different.
                Last edited by jayne lee wilson; 06-01-23, 15:25.

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                • mikealdren
                  Full Member
                  • Nov 2010
                  • 1205

                  #38
                  Slight aside but my favourite prelude recording is Horowitz's 1931 version of the G minor, it's amazing.

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                  • silvestrione
                    Full Member
                    • Jan 2011
                    • 1725

                    #39
                    Originally posted by mikealdren View Post
                    Slight aside but my favourite prelude recording is Horowitz's 1931 version of the G minor, it's amazing.
                    Yes, that is amazing! A bit wild, very exciting in the outer sections. Very poetic with singing tone in the treble, in the middle section.

                    (I still prefer Richter!)

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                    • silvestrione
                      Full Member
                      • Jan 2011
                      • 1725

                      #40
                      Originally posted by jayne lee wilson View Post
                      Which Richter issue(s) were the RR people working from?

                      Just comparing the BBCMM 1969 FTH selection to the Regis 1971(?) (also issued on Alto, Praga DSD and originally Olympia) the earlier set has a more soft-focus atmospheric and poetic sound and the readings are a little swifter, more delicate and lyrical; the 1971(?) set more forthright, immediate and dramatic. Both great performances of broadly similar interpretations, though certainly sounding very different.
                      The BAL played the Olympia versions. The live recording from Manchester is treasurable, was on BBC Legends...The DG recordings have that kind of studio perfection which perhaps only Lipatti can match (not in Rachmaninov of course).

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                      • jayne lee wilson
                        Banned
                        • Jul 2011
                        • 10711

                        #41
                        Originally posted by silvestrione View Post
                        The BAL played the Olympia versions. The live recording from Manchester is treasurable, was on BBC Legends...The DG recordings have that kind of studio perfection which perhaps only Lipatti can match (not in Rachmaninov of course).
                        Thanks....

                        And Sorry Silv....my BBC release is of course the BBC Legends one (not MM ), of the FTH selection. BBCL 4090-2. With RFH selections of Chopin, Beethoven, Schumann (terrific OP.13) etc.


                        The Regis is certainly better sounding than the Olympia, I'd be wary of Alto as some reviewers have noted a more processed sound (less hiss etc.) on various other releases, despite their being sister labels.
                        Praga SACD has the whole of that recital, and may just be the best sound of all. Still available too.

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                        • Barbirollians
                          Full Member
                          • Nov 2010
                          • 11759

                          #42
                          Originally posted by jayne lee wilson View Post
                          Thanks....

                          And Sorry Silv....my BBC release is of course the BBC Legends one (not MM ), of the FTH selection. BBCL 4090-2. With RFH selections of Chopin, Beethoven, Schumann (terrific OP.13) etc.


                          The Regis is certainly better sounding than the Olympia, I'd be wary of Alto as some reviewers have noted a more processed sound (less hiss etc.) on various other releases, despite their being sister labels.
                          Praga SACD has the whole of that recital, and may just be the best sound of all. Still available too.
                          The BBCMM appears to be of the same performances in 1969 at the FTH.

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                          • jayne lee wilson
                            Banned
                            • Jul 2011
                            • 10711

                            #43
                            Originally posted by Barbirollians View Post
                            The BBCMM appears to be of the same performances in 1969 at the FTH.
                            So there really was an MM issue too? Goodness. Richter reissues, well....
                            See #37, now corrected to BBCL....!
                            The Praga series is quite extensive now, so if you want the physical albums...

                            Everyone wants a slice.... a bask in the radiance....

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                            • silvestrione
                              Full Member
                              • Jan 2011
                              • 1725

                              #44
                              Originally posted by jayne lee wilson View Post
                              So there really was an MM issue too? Goodness. Richter reissues, well....
                              See #37, now corrected to BBCL....!
                              The Praga series is quite extensive now, so if you want the physical albums...

                              Everyone wants a slice.... a bask in the radiance....
                              I've got a little confused...what's on Praga? The original Olympia recordings, presumably, not the BBC versions? Or a Prague recital of the same pieces...

                              Comment

                              • jayne lee wilson
                                Banned
                                • Jul 2011
                                • 10711

                                #45
                                Originally posted by silvestrione View Post
                                I've got a little confused...what's on Praga? The original Olympia recordings, presumably, not the BBC versions? Or a Prague recital of the same pieces...
                                Take a browse.....


                                Qobuz is the world leader in 24-bit Hi-Res downloads, offering more than 100 million tracks for streaming in unequalled sound quality 24-Bit Hi-Res

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