BaL 30.11.13 - Chopin: 4 Ballades

[amateur51]

I enjoyed this BaL and congratulate Jessica Duchen for making a very decent stab at what I thought was a near-impossible task within the allotted time.

I'm tempted by the Moravec & Richter - I have the Cortot and Zimerman and sundry others

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

I enjoyed this BaL and congratulate Jessica Duchen for making a very decent stab at what I thought was a near-impossible task within the allotted time.

I'm tempted by the Moravec & Richter - I have the Cortot and Zimerman and sundry others

Cortot Zimmerman and Richter are destined for my shelves .... this edition was so focused upon the piece[s] it was a fine lesson in appreciation for me and re-persuaded me of the benefits on many recordings of great works not just 'one' ... excellent; more please!

[umslopogaas]

I listened fairly carefully and not only did she not choose Rubinstein, I dont think she even acknowledged his existence. She has every right to reject any interpreter, but given Rubinstein's stature - his version is recommended in the 2010 Penguin Guide, apart from anything else - I think we should at least have been given a reason for rejecting him. Its like selecting a version of Wagner's Ring and not mentioning Solti.

[Barbirollians]

The Richter sounded like an essential purchase . I was reminded of his marvellous Melodiya Chopin Scherzi which appeared on HMV Concert Classics many moons ago . I think they are around on Regis now for a song and won BAL a few years back .

One thing I liked about her BAL albeit I only caught the last half and wondered where Perahia had gone - was her acceptance that with performances at this level of excellence it is a matter of taste .

[HighlandDougie]

I listened fairly carefully and not only did she not choose Rubinstein, I dont think she even acknowledged his existence.

Not so. And she played an extract (from, if I remember, the third ballade), commenting very favourably on him in that one but feeling that he was perhaps a little too detached in the first two.

[Bryn]

I listened fairly carefully and not only did she not choose Rubinstein, I dont think she even acknowledged his existence. She has every right to reject any interpreter, but given Rubinstein's stature - his version is recommended in the 2010 Penguin Guide, apart from anything else - I think we should at least have been given a reason for rejecting him. Its like selecting a version of Wagner's Ring and not mentioning Solti.

Your listening on this occasion was clearly not careful enough. She not only discussed Rubenstein but played at least one example from his recording. It was the recording quality which she found most wanting. I am all too happy to put up with its defects in order to hear the great man's playing.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

one must deduce that she found Rubinstein too hammering and Perahia underwhelming ... no matter since we can tell each other about them ...

[umslopogaas]

Ah ... thanks HD, my attention must have wandered.

[Thropplenoggin]

Works I have struggled to engage with. I caught the final ten minutes of this BaL, which I thought was handled admirably. These works remain the aural equivalent of a poorly made Béarnaise sauce: cloying. Chords like overcooked cauliflower florets, quite isufferable to these ears. Perhaps it's the form. The only Ballades I care for a Brahms's.

[ostuni]

A Béarnaise sauce with cauliflower florets within would certainly count as poorly made, in my book...

[Thropplenoggin]

A Béarnaise sauce with cauliflower florets within would certainly count as poorly made, in my book...

à chacun son roux*...

*Pedants, the use of 'roux' is for punning purposes only.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

One thing I liked about her BAL albeit I only caught the last half and wondered where Perahia had gone - was her acceptance that with performances at this level of excellence it is a matter of taste .

Perahia wasn't to hers - he featured early on: "focuses on the structure first and foremost" lacking (for her) a degree of "emotional involvement" and not enough differentiation (for her) between the characterization of the four pieces. But, she played an excerpt which I thought disproved what she was claiming - and then followed the Perahia with a clip which suggested that her idea of "emotional involvement" is very different from mine. Chacun a son gout, of course, but it's Perahia who (for me) played these works the most eloquently of the excerpts we heard.

[Barbirollians]

Perahia wasn't to hers - he featured early on: "focuses on the structure first and foremost" lacking (for her) a degree of "emotional involvement" and not enough differentiation (for her) between the characterization of the four pieces. But, she played an excerpt which I thought disproved what she was claiming - and then followed the Perahia with a clip which suggested that her idea of "emotional involvement" is very different from mine. Chacun a son gout, of course, but it's Perahia who (for me) played these works the most eloquently of the excerpts we heard.

She criticised Rubinstein for the same reason in the first two Ballades. They have always seemed pretty involving to me.

[Karafan]

Which recording was the Richter please, anyone?

[amateur51]

Which recording was the Richter please, anyone?

Prague 1960 - I hope that is definitive, Karafan