CD Recommendations

[abe]

Ok, its that time of year again where I have an excuse to buy myself some music CDs, so I would like to solicit help from all you experts. I want to broaden my musical library, particularly with early 20th century music. So here are some items I need recommendations on ( i know it's a lot to ask):

1. Marc-Andre Hamelin: I've heard some of his music and read lots about him, but have none of his discography. I'm looking especially at his recording of the Chopin/Godowsky etudes, but that's a tad expensive. Are there any other disks of his that are especially superb, both in the music and the playing of it?

2. Sciabin/Medtner/ other less known Russian composers of early 20th century. I've had my share of Rachmaninov, and want a disk or two of some great Scriabin especially (piano sonatas, preludes, etudes, concerto, etc). Any suberb discs to reccomend?

3. Ravel: I own nothing of his except Bolero and his G-major PC, and I have heard Gaspard and liked it. I don't know much about his music, but would like to learn more and give him a chance.


Those are very broad topics, but any help at all would be much appreciated. I'm only going to buy 2-3 cds, but I want to make sure they are top quality, and that's where I'll use any recommendations you guys have for any of the above. Thanks a lot!

[kreso]

1.For Hamelin I recomend Iberia by Albeniz wich is excelent. Chopin-Godowsky and Complete Medtner Sonatas are also superb, but the prize is huge.. (Hyperion)

2.Kissin plays Scirabin (5 preludes op.16, Sonata no.3) Medtner (Sonata Reminiscenza) and Stravinski (Petruschka) (RCA Victor Read Seal)
   Berezovsky plays Musorgsky-Tchernov (Night on the bare mountain), Rachmaninov (4 Etudes-tableaux op.39) some Liadov and Medtner (Fairy tales) and one of the best performance of that piece-Islamey by Balakiriev! (Teldec)

3.For Ravel I suggest you to buy cd of Monique Hass with Ravel's works-Pavana, Jeaux, Gaspard, Sonatine, Le trombe de Couprein-it is Erato record very cheep (about 4 pounds) and she plays amazing.

[cherub_rocker1979]

Hamelin: Kaleidoscope or The Composer-Pianists, these CDs have recording of his etudes.

Scriabin: Vladimir Ashkenazy/Sonatas 1-10, Alexander Paley/Complete Etudes, Stephen Coombs/The Early Scriabin, Elena Kuschnerova/Etudes and Preludes

Ravel: Abbey Simon/Complete Piano Music

[donjuan]

Usually, I only buy CD's when I cant find the CD at the local library.  Anyways,

Scriabin: Vladimir Ashkenazy/Sonatas 1-10,

yes, I also recommend that one!  I listen to it all the time.

If you want a truly AMAZING recording of Scriabin's Op.20 Concerto, check out Nikolai Demidenko playing it on Hyperion.  On the same disc, he also plays Tchaikovsky's piano concerto no. 1

Hamelin:
In my opinion, Hamelin is not a very musical pianist, but one thing he does well is Alkan, because of his incredible technique.  Definitely be sure to hear him play the Symphony for Solo piano and Le Festin de Aesop.  I can't remember the exact disc, but I remember that both pieces are on the same one, along with some other stuff.

Ravel: Don't "give him a chance" by going out and spending money, getting to know him.  Are you sure that your library does not have anything for you to borrow and burn?

donjuan

[quantum]

I highly recommend Messiaen - Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus, performed by Stephen Osborne. 

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/details/67351.asp

[ted]

I'll trot out my usual three when people ask this question.

The works of Chaminade (3CD set - Peter Jacobs, Hyperion)

The works of Frank Bridge (3CD set - Peter Jacobs, Continuum)

The works of John Ireland (2CDs - John Lenehan, Naxos)

[abe]

Alas, if only my public library's classical music sectoin was more comprehensive. As it is, it really only contains mainstream classical music (i.e. chopin, liszt, beethoven, etc), which I mostly already have.

I purchased the complete solo works of Ravel played by Jean-Phillipe Collard...I hope this was a good choice. And I couldn't resist buying a very inexpensive 4-cd set of Tchiakovsky/Pletnev music (I was lacking the PC's, and the other peices looked interesting too). Anyway, thanks for the suggestions, I'll look into the Ashkenazy-Scriabin disc. Perhaps I'll hold off on buying any Hamelin just yet, Hyperion's prices are a bit too high for me.

Now I'm undecided as whether or not to purchase the complete Beethoven String Quartets for my brother...

[brewtality]

You know there are Hamelin cds that weren't recorded for Hyperion. He made a very good Liszt cd for Music and Arts which can be purchased on their website for only 10 bucks. He also recorded the Alkan Concerto for them.