Busoni concerto

[franzliszt2]

Today I started learning this amazing concerto....has anyone here played it?

What are peoples general opinions on this work? What recordings do you like etc..?

I like the Hamelin recording, it's perfect for his style of playing, and I think this is Hamelin's greatest achievment, and one hell of an achievment!

[ctrastevere]

Wow, I'm impressed! It's quite a piece indeed, and probably my favorite concerto.

I personally prefer Ohlsson's recording. Just everything about it is exactly the way I like it.

[ctrastevere]

An additional note: when I first heard this piece, I wasn't a fan of it. As a matter of fact, I didn't really like it that much at all. But I found it exceptionally fascinating in a way I couldn't exactly describe. After listening to it about two more times, I discovered the ways Busoni used his themes, and weaves them in and out of the movements in the most creative of places, often in ways that one will not notice unless they have a great deal of familiarity with the piece. Since then, I've listened to the entire piece many times and I am still discovering little things about it that I hadn't noticed before. This is largely part of the enjoyment I get out of the piece.

Have others had a similar experience?

[general disarray]

I prefer the Volker Banfield performance on CPO.  Much more drama and passion than Hamelin and Ohlsson bring to it.  By comparison, their performances are downright cool and detached.

[tompilk]

An additional note: when I first heard this piece, I wasn't a fan of it. As a matter of fact, I didn't really like it that much at all. But I found it exceptionally fascinating in a way I couldn't exactly describe. After listening to it about two more times, I discovered the ways Busoni used his themes, and weaves them in and out of the movements in the most creative of places, often in ways that one will not notice unless they have a great deal of familiarity with the piece. Since then, I've listened to the entire piece many times and I am still discovering little things about it that I hadn't noticed before. This is largely part of the enjoyment I get out of the piece.

Have others had a similar experience?

that's exactly the same as me. I had it and never really listened for about half a year before i fell in love with it. Now it's my favourite concerto... and Hamelin's playing just does it for me... especially the version of the cadenza he uses. he just seems to get straight through the tricky passages without slowing down, and i think the main thing that spoils nearly all the other versions is either changing to tempo when it gets difficult or by taking a too slow tempo to begin with. i really dont like Banfield's interp... it sounds too superficial... and with ogdon's playing, i always get the impression in big works like this that he is just sight reading it (which he probably is) but that he hasn't spent enough time with it to play it as convincingly as i would like... it sounds a bit sort of "rusty" and that he isn't really "getting into it"... I know that last bit probably sounded like a load of pretentious rubbish but i hope you know what i mean...
I wish there was a complete recording of petri's performance. Donohoe's recording is a little slow for my liking.
I'm hoping to go from UK to Switzerland to see hamelin performing this in July... but i still need to persuade my parents.
Anyway, good luck with it. It sounds terribly difficult. The 4th movt. cadenza sounds fun. I don't think many pianists have the stamina to play this well!!!
Post a video on youtube when you have some of it ready. It's a shame that they don't do MMOs of all the concertos. It's the only way most pianists would get to perform this concerto!
Just my thoughts...

[franzliszt2]

It took me a looong time to get to grips with it. It's such a complex work, and can't be digested in under 6 hearings. And a score is essential.

After a days work on it, I can say it isn't as bad as I imagined...Busoni was of course an amazing pianist, and really knew how to write for it, so it fits perfectly under the hand. It's just so complicated you have to sped ages working it all out.

I think the orchestral playing in the Hamelin recording is fantastic, it's so clean. The live video of Hamelin playing it on "it's all about the music (cough fingers)" dvd is to fast, and sounds  a little messy...but I think thats the orchestra's fault more than Hamelin's.

[tompilk]

It took me a looong time to get to grips with it. It's such a complex work, and can't be digested in under 6 hearings. And a score is essential.

After a days work on it, I can say it isn't as bad as I imagined...Busoni was of course an amazing pianist, and really knew how to write for it, so it fits perfectly under the hand. It's just so complicated you have to sped ages working it all out.

I think the orchestral playing in the Hamelin recording is fantastic, it's so clean. The live video of Hamelin playing it on "it's all about the music (cough fingers)" dvd is to fast, and sounds  a little messy...but I think thats the orchestra's fault more than Hamelin's.

i still think hamelin goes for it and gives it a really good stomping through...

[franzliszt2]

I wouldn't exactly say he gives it a bit of a stomping, I think it's a great performance.

[thalbergmad]

Yes, this is one Concerto that Mr Midi does play exceedingly well.

Shame he did not do the same for Rubinstein 4.

Thal

[tompilk]

Yes, this is one Concerto that Mr Midi does play exceedingly well.

Shame he did not do the same for Rubinstein 4.

Thal

yes i agree...