Godowsky Strauss paraphrases - Die Fledermaus

[leonthewolf]

I am wondering what people think of the Die Fledermaus paraphrase by Godowsky. 

It seems like a great concert item.  I have a DVD of a German pianist, Burkard Schliessmann. playing it with considerable elan and reasonable accuracy (although he might have a slightly different edition to mine).

Does anyone recommend any other recorded performances - particularly on DVD? 

Just a query about the actual peformance.  I have the Cranz edition (are there others?).  On page 7, third bar, top line, Schliessmann takes the rapid notes in the right hand as a glissando yet a glissando could not possibly play the notes as written (at least, not the way I do glissando).  Is he just taking a liberty there?

How do people recommended performing repeated gliassandos without tearing one's skin back to the bone.  I notice Brendel wears Bandaids; is that a solution?

Leon

[thalbergmad]

I have the same DVD as you, but feel that he takes it too slow.

I have recordings by Janice Weber and Chercassky and they are both superior. I think I also have Earl Wild, but it might be one of the other Transcriptions.

Concerning the Gliss, i agree he must be taking liberties with the score. I personally never got as far as page 7 before i decided to learn something else.

[leonthewolf]

Thanks for the comment.

I also have the Janice Weber but not the Chercassky.  Weber is a remarkable pianist and gives a great rendition of all the Strauss paraphrases.  I also have a CD of her playing the Liszt transcendental studies which she plays, to my mind, superbly.

Since you have the Janice Weber I would like to ask you a question about it.  Have you played it recently?  It may be the htoter environment here in Australia but my Weber disc has changed colour and there are parts of it that no longer play.  I suspect it was made of that earlier CD material that degrades.

I have searched for a replacement copy on the internet but have never found one.  It is totally out of print.

I agree that Schliessmann plays the Die Fledermaus paraphrase slowly - certainly compared with Weber.  But he does bring out all the simultaneous melodies well which might be lost in a faster performance.  Also, when comparing the speed to performances of the opera itself most of his performance is of comparable speed.  His speed certainly does not relate to lack of technique which he appears to have in plenty.

I shall seek the Chercassky. 

What did you decide to learn instead of the Strauss paraphrase?

Leon

[thalbergmad]

My Janice weber is on a tape as I bought it about 20 years ago. She also recorded the 1838 version of the Liszt Studies.

I adore Strauss Transcriptions, but the Godowsky ones are of massive difficulty and sometimes he can have 2 or 3 themes occuring at the same time. This is too much for my ears and fingers.

I learnt the Friedman and Tausig instead.

[pianistimo]

melts. 

[brewtality]

Fiorentino owns this transcription, his style is perfectly suited to the lilting waltz. Hofmann learnt this one just by hearing Godowsky play it! It's too bad he never recorded it.

[kreso]

Fiorentino owns this transcription, his style is perfectly suited to the lilting waltz. Hofmann learnt this one just by hearing Godowsky play it! It's too bad he never recorded it.

Please, if You have, can you post Fiorentino?

[brewtality]

Please, if You have, can you post Fiorentino?

Here you go:
https://s11.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2QIL0OJ3TF1NH31UQV2EUFNVKW

Live in Freiburg '93. I have another one from Paderborn, stylistically they are similar but I like this one slightly better.

[kreso]

Here you go:
https://s11.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2QIL0OJ3TF1NH31UQV2EUFNVKW

Live in Freiburg '93. I have another one from Paderborn, stylistically they are similar but I like this one slightly better.

Thank you very much!
I have Cherkasky, but Fiorentino is better!

[dipetriantonio]

I think Piers Lane's recording of it is very good. I agree that Schleissman plays it way to slow. The cd that it's on is called Virtuoso Strauss transcriptions by Piers Lane. It also has him playing the superb Schulz-Evler transcription of "An der schönen blauen Donau".
Just brilliant!

Joel