[QUOTE=gradus;438779]So often piano sound is ill-served by recording engineers and the instrument fails to sound as we might like it to. Occasionally though piano recordings can sound magnificent and almost give the impression of the instrument being in the room with you. Of course there is no necessary connection between great piano sound and a great performance but occasionally they coincide although disappointingly, they often don't.
This train of thought was occasioned by listening to a magnificent piano recording by Helene Grimaud of the Brahms third sonata streamed over Spotify, a recording that dates from 1992 but isto my ears utterly extraordinary for the immediacy, power and natural sound of the piano - a fine performance too.
Any other nominations for fine recorded piano sound?
I think I have tha that Grimaud recording, burned to a HD. Will have to listen to it again.
I agree with others that the Piano is a difficult instrument to record. To close and one can feel like one is overwhelmed, but cold an detached doesn't work either. Room reverberations should also be captured as well as the clacking noises one hears in a concert hall.
I was listening to the Ingrid Flier Chopin Concerto disc yesterday. Great performances but a strange acoustic, as if the Piano is coming from a different space as the Orchestra.
I think the RCA recordings of Artur Rubinstein from the 60s and 70s got it just right. It was harder to appreciate this thru the original noisy lps and initial poor CD transfers but subsequent remasterings have shown how fine the original recordings were.
This train of thought was occasioned by listening to a magnificent piano recording by Helene Grimaud of the Brahms third sonata streamed over Spotify, a recording that dates from 1992 but isto my ears utterly extraordinary for the immediacy, power and natural sound of the piano - a fine performance too.
Any other nominations for fine recorded piano sound?
I think I have tha that Grimaud recording, burned to a HD. Will have to listen to it again.
I agree with others that the Piano is a difficult instrument to record. To close and one can feel like one is overwhelmed, but cold an detached doesn't work either. Room reverberations should also be captured as well as the clacking noises one hears in a concert hall.
I was listening to the Ingrid Flier Chopin Concerto disc yesterday. Great performances but a strange acoustic, as if the Piano is coming from a different space as the Orchestra.
I think the RCA recordings of Artur Rubinstein from the 60s and 70s got it just right. It was harder to appreciate this thru the original noisy lps and initial poor CD transfers but subsequent remasterings have shown how fine the original recordings were.
Comment