BaL 30.11.13 - Chopin: 4 Ballades

[amateur51]

yes a tough challenge for the reviewer, only really listened to Perahia and very curious so anticipating eagerly [especially as it is not Britten ]

Zimerman is pretty damn' fine and he's 'live' on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJyBql7FUA0

I hope that she checks out the non-Steinway options too

[silvestrione]

Zimerman is pretty damn' fine and he's 'live' on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJyBql7FUA0

I hope that she checks out the non-Steinway options too

Zimerman was the winner last time, that's why it's on my shelves, I remember.

Curious, you would not want the same pianist in all four really, surely, as others have said. Michelangeli in 1, Samson Francois in 2, Rubinstein (1959) in 3, Richter in 4, for example.

[silvestrione]

And I've just noticed Samson Francois is missing from the list (his are in an Icon box as well), though I prefer his earlier, mono, recordings, which may not be available.

[Stanfordian]

I greatly admire the masterly 1959 accounts of the 4 Ballades and 4 Scherzi from Arthur Rubinstein on the wonderfully recorded Living Stereo, RCA on SACD. I have a number of other accounts but this Rubinstein recording wins every time for me.

Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chopin-Balla...tein%2C+chopin

[Acavus]

I greatly admire the masterly 1959 accounts of the 4 Ballades and 4 Scherzi from Arthur Rubinstein on the wonderfully recorded Living Stereo, RCA on SACD. I have a number of other accounts but this Rubinstein recording wins every time for me.

Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chopin-Balla...tein%2C+chopin

You beat me to it Stanfordian - a truly magnificent disc which sounds wonderful as either a CD or SACD. I have just been listening to the Schoonderwoerd recording on on Alpha, and whilst the pianism can't begin to compare with Rubinstein, the sound of the 1836 Pleyel is a delight.

[Bryn]

How about Nelson Goerner playing an 1848 Pleyel? They are on one of the Real Chopin CDs.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

How about Nelson Goerner playing an 1848 Pleyel? They are on one of the Real Chopin CDs.

List amended.

[richardfinegold]

I greatly admire the masterly 1959 accounts of the 4 Ballades and 4 Scherzi from Arthur Rubinstein on the wonderfully recorded Living Stereo, RCA on SACD. I have a number of other accounts but this Rubinstein recording wins every time for me.

Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chopin-Balla...tein%2C+chopin

That recording is my touchstone as well, and I have had it on lp, CD, and now the SACD. I completely agree that it sweeps the field, because Rubinstein's sense of rubato just seems so "right". 2 other recordings that I enjoy are Zimmerman and Garrick Ohlsson (who I see was not listed in Alpie's survey).

[Bryn]

List amended.

Listening to the Goerner/Pleyel disc right now. It would not be likely to appeal to the Steinwayphiles, but I love it.

[verismissimo]

What a very long list, with so many pianists I've never heard of!

63 recordings in 45 minutes means, er, 43 seconds each, words and music.

[LeMartinPecheur]

63 recordings in 45 minutes means, er, 43 seconds each, words and music.

Mmmm, 43 seconds eh? Should be just about within my attention span then!

[Barbirollians]

Rubinstein and Perahia .

[Sir Velo]

Listening to the Goerner/Pleyel disc right now. It would not be likely to appeal to the Steinwayphiles, but I love it.

Seconded. Playing of real brio and insight.

[BBMmk2]

Cortot(1929); Richter(196); Zimmerman(1988). I do rather like Richter and Zimmermann, so these were rather a good choice.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Loved the Richter