BaL 12.05.12 Chopin's Mazurkas

[silvestrione]

Thanks for that link Ferneyhough...still not sure if they are the final stereo recordings, or the one before, though. Late 1950s means..?

(AH, worked it out now, these are the first RCA set, not the final set)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Thanks for that link Ferneyhough...still not sure if they are the final stereo recordings, or the one before, though. Late 1950s means..?

(AH, worked it out now, these are the first RCA set, not the final set)

The first RCA "Living Stereo" LPs were issued in 1958 (stereo recordings had been issued on reel-to-reel tape since 1955), so it's possible that some of the items in this box might be in Stereo, but most will be Mono.

[Barbirollians]

I only have the stereo Rubinstein . I have some played by Ashkenazy as his Chopin was originally released in recital form.

[VodkaDilc]

Has anyone mentioned Primakov, recorded in 2009 on Bridge?

[silvestrione]

Not to be too gnomic, I hope (but I have had two glasses of wine): in the mazurkas, Ashkenazy is to Rubinstein as Kovacevich is to Pollinii in Beethoven.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Not to be too gnomic, I hope (but I have had two glasses of wine): in the mazurkas, Ashkenazy is to Rubinstein as Kovacevich is to Pollinii in Beethoven.

But, after two glasses of wine, can you say the above sentence?

[silvestrione]

But, after two glasses of wine, can you say the above sentence?

[verismissimo]

That's interesting. Say some more about all that, silvestrione.

[silvestrione]

Well, Rubinstein goes for structure and overall character, marked rhythm, strongly shaped phrases, clearly contrasted sections. Ashkenazy is more of an interpreter, lots of interpretive ideas, wider poetic and dynamic range, with the danger of a sense of there being more imposed on the music. Similar to Kovacevich in Beethoven (though perhaps a better example is his Schubert D 960, compared with Pollini's).

That, in the sober light of day, is what I think I meant!

[Barbirollians]

Did Argerich record them all ? I have quite a few played by her but not a whole set ?

[verismissimo]

Rubinstein goes for structure and overall character, marked rhythm, strongly shaped phrases, clearly contrasted sections.

Thanks, silves. That must be why I'm so much enjoying listening to his 1965-66 set. Going on to a Michelangeli selection soon.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

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.

[aeolium]

BaL seems to be going off the boil a little with these grouped topics rather than comparisons of individual works.

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.

[BBMmk2]

I dor athe like DON's way of presenting these mazurkas.

[verismissimo]

I dor athe like DON's way of presenting these mazurkas.

Rather think words failed there, BBM.