Joyce Hatto

[ramseytheii]

Has anyone heard of the British pianist Joyce Hatto?  I was flipping through some old Gramophones and saw a page-long blurb of her and her apparently underground recordings by pianophile Jeremy Nicholas.
He writes;
"I have no hesitation in saying that Joyce Hatto is one of the greatest pianists I have ever heard."
"Just when one has heard her in Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert... and decided, 'yes, that is exactly how I play those pieces in my dreams,' one has a similar reaction to her Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff."
:Not a bar of music is less than lovely."

I've never heard of this pianist, but apparently she has recorded "the complete Beethoven sonatas (and 27 Bagatelles), the complete piano works of Brahms and Mozart, 12 volumes of Chopin, seven each of Liszt and Rachmaninoff, six of Schubert, four each of SChumann and Scarlatti, and the complete Prokofiev sonatas.  Perhaps the most unexpected is the Chopin-Godowsky Studies." (which she apparently recorded at age 76).

Has anybody heard this pianist, or can share any other information?

Walter Ramsey

[iumonito]

Yep,

She's fabulous.  If you don't have the Godowsky studies, I would suggest get hers rather than Hamelin's or Sherbakov's.

[ahinton]

She died a few weeks ago.

Best,

Alistair

[kreso]

I remember that I red in Grammophone magazine a critic from her collection. Apparently she recorded so much (I think about 90 cds!!) during her life, because she didn't gave a lot of concerts (don't know why). I especialy remember that critics praise her Chopin-Godowsky Etudes and she is first women (and first ever) who recorded complete set..

[ahinton]

She gave up giving concerts some 30 years ago because she was afflicted with cancer; somehow, this far from trivial condition didn;t stop her from continuing to make recordings. The fact that she put down the complete Chopin / Godowskys at all in that condition - let alone in her 70s - is remarkable almost beyond belief. She was not at all well known in UK for most of her life; she was evidently extremely averse to the kind of publicity and marketing machine that afflicts so many performers, but that didn't stop her getting on with what she wanted to do. She didn't play any contemporary music, as far as I know, but her repertoire was nevertheless quite substantial.

Best,

Alistair

[mephisto]

She didn't play any contemporary music, as far as I know, but her repertoire was nevertheless quite substantial.

Best,

Alistair

Shouldn't Messiaen count as a contemporary composer for her?

[mikebechstein]

I have also read about how fantastic Joyce Hatto was.

Afterwards I went to try and hear some samples on the net. I managed to find a couple of CDs (although that was not easy) but none on sites with samples available so I gave up. After reading about how wonderful she is it would be lovely to hear something by her (before buying any CDs).

Does anybody know how I could do this?

[pianalex]

I think her husband made many of the recordings, may be even at home(?), and that he worked in the industry.  Not sure who distributes them.  Heard some on cd review a few months ago - sounded rather wonderful.

[pianolist]

If you want to obtain Joyce Hatto's CDs, visit:

http://www.concertartistrecordings.com

There is full information on the site on how to order CDs, with lists of recommended dealers, including those who deal with mail order for countries other than the UK.

Joyce Hatto's husband, William Barrington-Coupe, runs the record company from his home in Cambridge, and was involved with a number of budget LP companies many years ago.

Beware of their CD of Busoni on Duo-Art, however. Busoni's rolls of the Chopin Preludes are amongst the worst Duo-Art classical rolls ever produced, for reasons too complex to go into here. They give a false impression of Busoni's playing, and I question the wisdom of anyone who is prepared to issue them on CD.

[cmg]

Mr. Ramsey, I have been meaning to get you this link, but time and attention-span got away from me.  The American pianist, Ivan Davis, has a website and he discusses Hatto's playing at length.  Ivan is no slouch, believe me.  Friends of mine studied with him in Miami.  He competed in international competitions with many pianists who are well-known artists today, two of which, Argerich and Freire, remain close friends.  He's rather well known for appearing on The Metropolitan Opera Broadcasts as a commentator and quiz participant.  Well-rounded musician whose opinion is highly regarded.

He has almost single-handedly brought Hatto's colossal pianism to the attention of US pianists.  He's in close contact with her widower and has become a great promoter of her CDs.  She is, indeed, phenomenal.  I've never heard better playing by anyone.  Ever.

Check out Ivan's website for more info:  http://ivandavis.com/

Best,

Michael

[ramseytheii]

Mr. Ramsey, I have been meaning to get you this link, but time and attention-span got away from me.  The American pianist, Ivan Davis, has a website and he discusses Hatto's playing at length.  Ivan is no slouch, believe me.  Friends of mine studied with him in Miami.  He competed in international competitions with many pianists who are well-known artists today, two of which, Argerich and Freire, remain close friends.  He's rather well known for appearing on The Metropolitan Opera Broadcasts as a commentator and quiz participant.  Well-rounded musician whose opinion is highly regarded.

He has almost single-handedly brought Hatto's colossal pianism to the attention of US pianists.  He's in close contact with her widower and has become a great promoter of her CDs.  She is, indeed, phenomenal.  I've never heard better playing by anyone.  Ever.

Check out Ivan's website for more info:  http://ivandavis.com/

Best,

Michael

Many thanks for the links!  I wonder if there is any place where I might hear her play, none of the CDs on the label for which she recorded seem to have samples on the internet.

Walter Ramsey

[cmg]

I know, that's a real drawback, but I can't tell you how amazing she is.  If you love the Prokoviev War Sonatas, then please order that.  Or, the 75th Anniversary recording of the Chopin Etudes.  It's her second recording of these works not long before her death.  They are transcendental.  I promise you, regarding the Prokofiev especially, you will not only be NOT disappointed, but you will hear these pieces for the first time.  I mean that.  Even Richter pales, and I admire the man beyond all reason.

--Michael

[jakev2.0]

Can someone upload some MP3s?

[daniel patschan]

I own a few of her CDs since four days (including the Godowsky studies - which she recorded at the age of 76 !!!) and i must say i think she is among the 5 greatest pianists in history.

Here are my reasons:

1. One of the biggest repertoirs imagineable - complete piano music of the following composers: Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Haydn, Schumann, Brahms, Chopin, Rachmaninov, Ravel

2. lots of additional stuff, including the Liszt-Beethoven transcriptions, the three sets of the transcendental studies, the Paganini studies, more and more and more Liszt ... Debussy...Prokofiev...Balakirev...

3. And here comes the most important point: such a musical grace and elegance, such a technical control - in the Godowsky studies she is completely head by head with Hamelin, she doesn´t show any sign of fatigue, any sign of difficulty (as oposed to Carlo Grante, Ian Hobson and yes, as oposed to Berezovsky). So much natural elegance and sensibility in the Chopin studies, mindblowing Paganini variations by Brahms !!!

What do we have to learn from the fact that an artist like her, at the same level (if not above) with Richter, Horowitz and ABM, was almost completely unknown ? I can´t believe it.

[ramseytheii]

3. And here comes the most important point: such a musical grace and elegance, such a technical control - in the Godowsky studies she is completely head by head with Hamelin, she doesn´t show any sign of fatigue, any sign of difficulty (as oposed to Carlo Grante, Ian Hobson and yes, as oposed to Berezovsky). So much natural elegance and sensibility in the Chopin studies, mindblowing Paganini variations by Brahms !!!

Yikes!  I don't want to go against your evaluation of Joyce Hatto because I never heard her, but where in Chopin-Godowksy etudes does Berezovsky have trouble?  I heard him play several live (more than he recorded), and I've heard his recorded version several times.  It sounds pretty effortless and brilliant to me!  And much better than the Hamelin

Walter Ramsey

[daniel patschan]

No no, you are right, it was a little bit misunderstanding. I once read an interview with him and he confessed that he had really some trouble to learn the ones he played. He furthermore told the interviewer that he greatly admired Hamelin for being able to play them all. That´s the way it was meant.

[jakev2.0]

Berezovsky is easily better than Hatto and Hamelin for Chopin-Godowsky. He actually plays them contrapuntally.

[jre58591]

get out. we've been over this a thousand times.

[jakev2.0]

Your blind Hamelin idolatry prevents you from hearing properly. Take off those rose colored ear-muffs. 

[jre58591]

Your blind Hamelin idolatry prevents you from hearing properly. Take off your rose colored ear-muffs. 

it isnt idolatry. i actually dont like a handful of hamelin recordings. i dont like eevery single ounce of his output. i just appreciate him much more than the average person, mostly because of all the research and listening i have done. yes, he does have faults, but the chopin-godowsky studies are certainly not one of them. anyone who listens to berezovsky's chopgods and then hamelin's will agree that hamelin nails them. contrapuntally, berezovsky's are one big pedaled mess. check ignis fatuus for the biggest exhibit of evidence. nuff said.

btw, sorry guys for hijacking the thread.

[jakev2.0]

Hamelin's playing lacks bite and often sounds quite murky (listen to his frankly DISGUSTING Alkan on Youtube); I can assure you that this is not the way to play contrapuntal music. Berezovsky makes excellent use of the pedal in his Godowsky. It is for textural and tonal effects - not to cover anything up. If you listen to Godowsky's own recordings of his Schubert transcriptions you'll notice how obsessive he is about voicing and tone. Berezovsky does this superbly. I'm totally won over by his sensitivity to the lines in the musi. It's clear that Berezovsky has prepared the pieces very well ...hell, the album is a live concert that was distributed internationally. Hamelin should be lauded for playing obscure music that would sit on the shelf otherwise...but his performances of the Godowsky are perfunctory in character.

[jre58591]

i wont even bother replying to all that. youre impossible.

[jakev2.0]

Just keep an open mind to new pianists.

[jre58591]

Just keep an open mind to new pianists.

ask any of my closer friends on this forum about how open my mind is to new pianists.

and actually, that statement should be redirected to you. you need to watch out for new pianists. youre too caught up in pianists from the so called "golden age" (yes, i know you have a few exceptions).

[ramseytheii]

. check ignis fatuus for the biggest exhibit of evidence. nuff said.

btw, sorry guys for hijacking the thread.

I'm actually shocked, his recording of Ignis fatuus is one of my favorite on his whole disc (also have it bootlegged from live recital, before he recorded it).  You can hear every note.  I will listen to Hamelin's again to compare them, but I've enjoyed every second of Berezovsky's playing of these etudes.

Walter Ramsey

[jre58591]

well, i havent listened to the bootleg (i have it), actually, but the studio one is a bit muddy compared to hamelin, hatto, or grante. i cant hear that bottom voice in the left hand as clear either. in all fairness, i will reconsider and listen to the bootleg and studio recs in depth.

[ramseytheii]

well, i havent listened to the bootleg (i have it), actually, but the studio one is a bit muddy compared to hamelin, hatto, or grante. i cant hear that bottom voice in the left hand as clear either. in all fairness, i will reconsider and listen to the bootleg and studio recs in depth.

But do we have the same bootleg?  Mine is from Darmstadt, in 2004 or 2005 I cant remember.

Walter Ramsey

[jakev2.0]

Hi. Ramsey, can I trouble you to Sendspace-me the Berezovsky bootleg?

[jre58591]

seconded! i dont have the darmstadt one. id appreciate it very much and can offer you something in return if you wish.

[etudes]

Just keep an open mind to new pianists.

you should open your mind for upcoming greatest pianist ever...Ingolf Wunder 

[opus10no2]

you should open your mind for upcoming greatest pianist ever...Ingolf Wunder 

He sure tickles those chromatics! 

[pianowelsh]

EXCUSE ME! I thought this was a Joyce Hatto appreciation thread.  Its a bit bad mannered to steal the womans glory by discussing these wanabes in her thread. The woman was mistreated by the musical establishment during her lifetime and didnt recieve anything like the attention she deserved. At least give her the honour of your attention here. She was stunning in the classics. In my mind easily the equal of Haskil who was also cut off with a debilitating disease.  Though no competition named after Hatto. At least yet!

[daniel patschan]

EXCUSE ME! I thought this was a Joyce Hatto appreciation thread.  Its a bit bad mannered to steal the womans glory by discussing these wanabes in her thread. The woman was mistreated by the musical establishment during her lifetime and didnt recieve anything like the attention she deserved. At least give her the honour of your attention here. She was stunning in the classics. In my mind easily the equal of Haskil who was also cut off with a debilitating disease.  Though no competition named after Hatto. At least yet!

Thank you !!!

Really guys, if you seriously listened to Joyce Hatto you would immediately recognize that she sticks little Wunder boy in her right pocket while playing some Godowsky studies with her left hand.

[Goldberg]

In light of several of the above statements, this link is going to make an exceedingly amusing impact, I think:

http://www.pristineclassical.com/HattoHoax.html

Apologies if it's already been posted here (I got it off PW); here's the second link:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/newsMainTemplate.asp?storyID=2759&newssectionID=1

It's the real deal: Hatto was a hoax. I know that it won't mean anything right now since it's been exposed for all to see, but I personally have always been slightly suspicious of her recordings...not to mention uninspired by them...turns out, "her" Chopin-Godowsky recordings are actually Carlo Grante's, albeit sonically modified. It reminds me of that one guy who "plays" Alkan--Nanasakov, the REAL computer player...

[chromatickler]

Though no competition named after Hatto. At least yet!

ahahahah it's true. i can't wait for the skepto/thierry/araeth barber/busoni/finnisy concerto finals showdown 

[ramseytheii]

Fascinating!  I love it.  But, if she recorded concertos, surely the orchestra is credited.  Why doesn't somebody just ask someone who was in whatever orchestra?  There must be a conductor.  And how would her husband have engineered the concerto recordings?  It takes more than one person for such a task.

Walter Ramsey

[daniel patschan]

I am speechless !!! That´s a story ! If this is true, i apologize !