BaL 12.05.12 Chopin's Mazurkas

[DracoM]

Actually, as someone who isn't the slightest bit interested in the comparison process (x better than y) but enjoys listening to different interpretations, I prefer these more general discussions. And it's always good listening to David Owen-Norris as a reviewer.

Couldn't agree more, and thus he made me listen to music I would not normally be interested in. More DON, please.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

BaL seems to be going off the boil a little with these grouped topics rather than comparisons of individual works. It's the same again next week, with Gesualdo's entire recorded output up for grabs. At least this week's discussion is finite.

I share your concern about Gesualdo, Alpie (how can 45 mins cover the entire output adequately?) but it's a little harsh to put "The Chopin Mazurkas" in the same category: there can't be an individual BaL on each individual Mazurka, and many listeners will want to buy a complete set of the Mazurkas(/Nocturnes/Preludes/Etudes/Ballades/Scherzi etc) so it isn't unreasonable to have a programme comparing the different available complete sets?

[ardcarp]

More DON, please.

[Curalach]

many listeners will want to buy a complete set of the Mazurkas(/Nocturnes/Preludes/Etudes/Ballades/Scherzi etc) so it isn't unreasonable to have a programme comparing the different available complete sets?

I agree and so very well done this morning.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I raise my hands in acquiescence.

[amateur51]

Rather think words failed there, BBM.

BBM has a writing style all his own - akin to Les Dawson on the piano I like to think

[MickyD]

In the exemplary 'Real Chopin' set on NIFC [Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina] the mazurkas are divvied up between -

Ewa Poblocka
Raul Koczalski
Dina Yoffe
Fou Ts'ong
Janusz Oleniczak
Tatiana Shebanova
Ka Ling Colleen Lee
Kevin Kenner

Exemplary indeed, Vinteuil - ever since I bought this marvellous set, I have played it over and over.

[amateur51]

Exemplary indeed, Vinteuil - ever since I bought this marvellous set, I have played it over and over.

Thirded MickyD & vints

[Nick Armstrong]

In the exemplary 'Real Chopin' set on NIFC [Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina] the mazurkas are divvied up between -

Ewa Poblocka
Raul Koczalski
Dina Yoffe
Fou Ts'ong
Janusz Oleniczak
Tatiana Shebanova
Ka Ling Colleen Lee
Kevin Kenner

And yet the recommendation made was of the NIFC recording - all the mazurkas, as I understood it, played by Adam Harasiewicz (piano) - NIFC NIFCCD208-209 (2CD)

I think I must be missing something. I assume that the NIFC has released more than one set of the mazurkas, the above 'portmanteau' box, and the recommended complete set.

Is that right?

Anyone here listened tot he Harasiewicz set? No one above seems to have mentioned it (other than in #1), or expressed surprise at DON's recommendation.

I enjoyed the survey, although I don't think I shall be racing out for a complete set of these pieces.

[vinteuil]

In the exemplary 'Real Chopin' set on NIFC [Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina] the mazurkas are divvied up between -

Ewa Poblocka
Raul Koczalski
Dina Yoffe
Fou Ts'ong
Janusz Oleniczak
Tatiana Shebanova
Ka Ling Colleen Lee
Kevin Kenner

And yet the recommendation made was of the NIFC recording - all the mazurkas, as I understood it, played by Adam Harasiewicz (piano) - NIFC NIFCCD208-209 (2CD)

I think I must be missing something. I assume that the NIFC has released more than one set of the mazurkas, the above 'portmanteau' box, and the recommended complete set.

Is that right?

.

M'learned friend is right. There is the NIFC "Real Chopin" box, containing all the works, on origynalle instromentes (Erard and Pleyel). And then there is a further NIFC series (white labels rather than black) of various other Chopin recordings, mainly on modern instruments, or of "historically interesting" (mainly Polish) recordings.
The Harasiewicz is a twofer in this other ongoing NIFC series.

[amateur51]

And yet the recommendation made was of the NIFC recording - all the mazurkas, as I understood it, played by Adam Harasiewicz (piano) - NIFC NIFCCD208-209 (2CD)

I think I must be missing something. I assume that the NIFC has released more than one set of the mazurkas, the above 'portmanteau' box, and the recommended complete set.

Is that right?

Anyone here listened tot he Harasiewicz set? No one above seems to have mentioned it (other than in #1), or expressed surprise at DON's recommendation.

I enjoyed the survey, although I don't think I shall be racing out for a complete set of these pieces.

Here's the Harasiewicz set ...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chopin-Mazurkas-Adam-Harasiewicz-NIFC/dp/B00830CVTM/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1337000862&sr=1-1

which is not part of The Real Chopin set, Caliban

Later: Ooops cross-posted with vints but we do not contrdict each other, just supplement the information - best of all worlds imho

[Nick Armstrong]

origynalle instromentes

Thanks to you and ammy for clearing that up.

Would you still plump for the "Real" thing? It didn't get a look in with DON unless I missed it...

[Don Petter]

Anyone here listened tot he Harasiewicz set? No one above seems to have mentioned it (other than in #1), or expressed surprise at DON's recommendation.

I've had the set for quite a while (got it this time last year as a download, I think). Need to get it out and listen again - All I have to do now is find it ...

[Pianorak]

Only just recovering from shock. I've always disliked A.H.'s Chopin Nocturnes for fairly petty and irrelevant reasons. I'm convinced (without any evidence) that Vladimir Ashkenazy received second prize at the 1955 Warsaw Competition and Harasiewicz first prize for purely political reasons.
However, listening to a selection of the Chopin Mazurkas this morning (while driving) I must admit they aren't too bad.

[amateur51]

Only just recovering from shock. I've always disliked A.H.'s Chopin Nocturnes for fairly petty and irrelevant reasons. I'm convinced (without any evidence) that Vladimir Ashkenazy received second prize at the 1955 Warsaw Competition and Harasiewicz first prize for purely political reasons.
However, listening to a selection of the Chopin Mazurkas this morning (while driving) I must admit they aren't too bad.

Bravo pianorak! Admissions such as this don't come easy I'm sure but they speak volumes about your honesty