BaL 13.04.13 - Liszt's Piano Concerto no. 2

[Richard Tarleton]

Chris de Souza makes you work harder than some BAL presenters - not a bad thing - likes to play you bits, or even two or three bits, before telling you who it is, or what he thinks. Almost a tantalising approach - you can't simply wallow in the presenter's erudition the way you can with, say, David Owen Norris. Some would tell you to listen out for that dodgy oboe sound, he points it out afterwards (I got it the second time). Saying that the Richter recording was worth getting for the Prommers' applause was, well, an odd thing to say, as was saying he couldn't get rid of the idea Beroff/Masur had done their set "because it was there to be done" - how does that manifest itself, exactly?

I don't think I'll be adding to my 2 versions.

[Flosshilde]

the idea Beroff/Masur had done their set "because it was there to be done" - how does that manifest itself, exactly?

I took it to mean that there was a lack of enthusiasm or interest in their performance - that they did it because it was there, not because they wanted to (perhaps the record company thought they should?). Argerich, as pastoralguy points out, has 'gaps' in her repertoire perhaps because she doesn't feel any affinity for those works, & therefore doesn't feel the need to perform/record them? (somebody is going to tell me that she perfroms them regularly in concerts )

[ostuni]

I only listened in a slightly distracted way while I was getting ready for this morning's shopping trip - will listen again later in the weekend. But the one stand-out moment for me was Stephen Hough's extraordinary glissandi in the finale - wonderful!

[BBMmk2]

I quite like my Beroff recording, even though he was rather dismissive about it!

[visualnickmos]

Lasar Baerman (excuse spelling) didn't get a mention.... a tad surprising

[Black Swan]

Although Argerich is a wonderful pianist and musician there are large gaps in her discography such as Both the Brahms concertos and the 'Emperor' to name but three. Such a shame.

I totally agree, as a huge Argerich fan, I have often wondered at the omission of Beethoven 4, 5 and Brahms 1, 2 from her discography. And agree it is a great shame.

[Black Swan]

Well I find myself owning the recommended recording. I have pulled it out to listen to later. As I previously stated in the thread, Liszt's concerto's have not been on my high list of must haves/listening.

J

[BBMmk2]

How very trrue, and very odd?

[Barbirollians]

In an interview with Gramophone - well more a record of a discussion with Stephen Kovacevich she said she was scared of the Beethoven G Major - Kovacevich told her it was made for her - yet she has always stuck to early Beethoven .

Also she took up the Rachmaninov 3 for only a short period of time - there is that spectacular live recording with Chailly but then never played it again - The Rachmaninov 2 she has never played as far as I can tell although she is so dazzling in the two piano arrangement of the Symphonic Dances .

[BBMmk2]

In an interview with Gramophone - well more a record of a discussion with Stephen Kovacevich she said she was scared of the Beethoven G Major - Kovacevich told her it was made for her - yet she has always stuck to early Beethoven .

Also she took up the Rachmaninov 3 for only a short period of time - there is that spectacular live recording with Chailly but then never played it again - The Rachmaninov 2 she has never played as far as I can tell although she is so dazzling in the two piano arrangement of the Symphonic Dances .

Barbs, i have the Argerich/Chailly and the Rach Symph Dances. Both works seem to fit quite comfortably wioth her style of playing.

[Black Swan]

I to have the Argerich/Chailly and the Symphonic Dances as well as all of the Argerich from Lugano series. She is fantastic in the Rachmaninov works. My fantasy recordings would be Argerich playing Beethoven 4 and or 5 and the Brahms 2. Well one can always dream.

[amateur51]

In an interview with Gramophone - well more a record of a discussion with Stephen Kovacevich she said she was scared of the Beethoven G Major - Kovacevich told her it was made for her - yet she has always stuck to early Beethoven .

Also she took up the Rachmaninov 3 for only a short period of time - there is that spectacular live recording with Chailly but then never played it again - The Rachmaninov 2 she has never played as far as I can tell although she is so dazzling in the two piano arrangement of the Symphonic Dances .

Treasured Memory Dept:

I attended a concert at London's Royal Festival Hall in which the Philharmonia Orchestra under Ozawa accompanied Argerich in Rachmaninov piano concerto no 3. It was wonderful, every bit as exciting as the recording.

The second half was Tchaikovsky symphony no 5 of which I have no memory

[Nick Armstrong]

The second half was Tchaikovsky symphony no 5 of which I have no memory

Maybe the sound didn't quite reach the bar...?

I'm not sure I'd have gone back in after that first half!

That's the second time you've turned me green in as many days - first Brendel-Tennstedt-Brahms.... now this...

[Nick Armstrong]

I listened to this BAL with optimism, hoping to discover a hidden gem...

Sadly, with each extract, I found the modulations, the cadences, the melodic and harmonic material, and the overall argument or expression of the piece devoid of meaning for me, banal to the point of being annoying. I really tried, promise. It's not the 'flashy'/'brash' thing either - that's not the point.... It's just the emptiness. It's expressing nothing, to me.

I thought it interesting that, even with such a range of top performers to choose from (yes, I know the argument - if Brendel, Richter et all devote time to playing it, there must be something to it... )... but even with that range of interpreters, and a relatively unfamiliar piece, this BAL set some sort of a record for brevity, barely 38 minutes I think.

[Sir Velo]

One man's meat...