BaL 1.02.14 - Grieg: Piano Concerto in A Minor

[LeMartinPecheur]

Heard Ogdon play it with LSO/Previn in 1972. He was standing in at a few hours notice for an indisposed Gina Bachauer - I reckon we got a pretty good deal. We were sitting near Mia Farrow - John Williams (who played the Rodrigo) came and sat with her to listen to Ogdon. I've never actually got round to owning a recording, happy just to hear it whenever someone plays it.

Sadly, I definitely wouldn't recommend the Ogdon/ Berglund recording, even though both of them usually light my fire.

This disc seems to have been a big, big off-day. I was given a copy by a neighbour whose late father collected recordings of this work. I've kept it as an awful warning

[Barbirollians]

The reviewer will no doubt give us a fascinating and scholarly traversal through the work and then choose a bizarre version - as is usual .

Mustonen perhaps !

I have a few - Lipatti is hors concours, Michelangeli white hot on BBC Legends , Perahia just shades SBK of mainstream versions . Both Andnses are good - I have a soft spot for the Zimerman/Karajan as it was my first recording of the piece and would never want to be without Solomon and Menges.

[amateur51]

The reviewer will no doubt give us a fascinating and scholarly traversal through the work and then choose a bizarre version - as is usual .

Mustonen perhaps !

I have a few - Lipatti is hors concours, Michelangeli white hot on BBC Legends , Perahia just shades SBK of mainstream versions . Both Andnses are good - I have a soft spot for the Zimerman/Karajan as it was my first recording of the piece and would never want to be without Solomon and Menges.

I agree with all the above but my favourite is still my first - Cziffra with Philharmonia/Andre Vandernoot. Cziffra recorded the piece at least four times

[BBMmk2]

Don't like it. 'Nuff said!

[Barbirollians]

Don't like it. 'Nuff said!

What ! It's not Mozart . I suggest you try and hear Lipatti - he could convert anyone to the piece .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDLI4wp-akk&list=PL3C49C490902C4F94

[mikealdren]

I suggest you try and hear Lipatti - he could convert anyone to the piece .

Couldn't agree mode, I've got several recordings: Andsnes, O'Hora, Michelangeli and Ousset but Lipaati shines through the dim sound and gets to the heart of the work like no one else I have ever heard. The way his playing builds the cadenza and the stillness of the slow movement are magical.

Mike

[amateur51]

My money is on one of the Percy Grainger recordings getting a mention under the HIPP heading - he was a great pal of Grieg and played the concerto all over the world. This would appeal to DON I'm sure.

[silvestrione]

The reviewer will no doubt give us a fascinating and scholarly traversal through the work and then choose a bizarre version - as is usual .

Mustonen perhaps !

I have a few - Lipatti is hors concours, Michelangeli white hot on BBC Legends , Perahia just shades SBK of mainstream versions . Both Andnses are good - I have a soft spot for the Zimerman/Karajan as it was my first recording of the piece and would never want to be without Solomon and Menges.

Agree with all that, but would add Richter with the Monte Carlo Orchestra.

I think the only live concert performance I've ever been at was from Gina Bachauer, in Bournemouth years ago. I used to love her performances, which were performances in every sense: she had terrific presence, and even setting out the handkerchief ready, and using it at some points, was done regally. There was also power and poetry in her playing. Surprised in a way there's no CD of her playing it.

[visualnickmos]

Is Clifford Curzon's recording highly-rated? Seems tempting...

[Gordon]

My money's on Winifred Atwell. Not listed Kingsway Hall December 1954 in Stereo but not issued!! See Pristine PASC 027

[MickyD]

My money is on one of the Percy Grainger recordings getting a mention under the HIPP heading - he was a great pal of Grieg and played the concerto all over the world. This would appeal to DON I'm sure.

Yes, I have a Da Capo recording using one of Percy Grainger's piano rolls, which I find quite eerie to think about when listening! But surely with so much other core repertoire having been recorded by the HIP movement, it is surprising that this old favourite still hasn't been done on period instruments. Although Leif Ove Andnes did record some of the solo pieces on Grieg's own piano..

[Petrushka]

Agree with all that, but would add Richter with the Monte Carlo Orchestra.

I think the only live concert performance I've ever been at was from Gina Bachauer, in Bournemouth years ago. I used to love her performances, which were performances in every sense: she had terrific presence, and even setting out the handkerchief ready, and using it at some points, was done regally. There was also power and poetry in her playing. Surprised in a way there's no CD of her playing it.

You might like to try and get hold of a BBC Music Magazine CD from August 1998 Vol VI no 12 which features Gina Bachauer playing the Greig PC at the 1961 Last Night of the Proms with the BBCSO and Basil Cameron.

[silvestrione]

You might like to try and get hold of a BBC Music Magazine CD from August 1998 Vol VI no 12 which features Gina Bachauer playing the Greig PC at the 1961 Last Night of the Proms with the BBCSO and Basil Cameron.

Oh gosh! How did I miss that...I presume these CDs can be found on the web somewhere?

[CallMePaul]

Are all these CD's readily available? One never sees more than a handful in even the best-stocked shops, and while I have not looked at this work, even Amazon cannot offer them all? Also, am I alone in feeling that only CD's should be included? The programme is not called Download Review and some of us do not have IPods or similar to play them (anyway, people playing loud pop music on the bus to/ from work annoy me!). mp3 is not high quality sound and the formats that do play CD quality or better definition sound are not widely available, nor is the equipment to listen to them. More than once a top recommendation has been download only and reviewers and programme producers should realise that most lovers of classical music just don't do downloads!!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

They do sometimes recommend versions that are download only; not that I'm happy about this.