Best ballade 4 performer

[franzliszt2]

Who recording of Chopins 4th ballade do people prefer? I like murray perahia's, and richters.

[holberg]

vladimir ashkenazy

[g_s_223]

Kristian Zimmermann

[kreso]

Kristian Zimmermann

Of course, but I also like Cziffra, Emanuel Ax, Richter and Rubinstein.

[arensky]

Rubinstein (1960) Horowitz (1981, live)

[tibi]

vote for vladimir ashkenazy

[AvoidedCadence]

Horowitz is the best for sheer poetry and drama - the essence of the ballade.  Also check out Rubinstein and Cortot.  I enjoy Moiseiwitsch as well, although he is unfaithful to the score.

Although I admire Richter greatly, he is not really "on form" in the Ballade... while there are many interesting ideas, the piece as a whole comes out sounding fragmented.  To me it sounds really "long" when he plays it .... if that makes any sense.  Also, he is not technically on top of the coda for some reason... in the thirds section of the coda he sounds like he is having trouble, and certainly can't equal Horowitz in this section, or for understanding of the piece in general.  Maybe just a bad day - Richter apparently played it a lot when he was younger, programming it on his "first" recital.

[quantum]

Zimerman

[tompilk]

Richter? I have a vid of the last minute or so... breathtaking... ill upload at weekend.. im limited for up/download by Tiscali... argh

[noesis]

Pollini. Easily.

[I Love Xenakis]

Ashkenazy

[tocca]

Rubenstein is my favourite for all Chopin Ballades.

[maxy]

Horowitz is the best for sheer poetry and drama - the essence of the ballade.  Also check out Rubinstein and Cortot.  I enjoy Moiseiwitsch as well, although he is unfaithful to the score.

Although I admire Richter greatly, he is not really "on form" in the Ballade... while there are many interesting ideas, the piece as a whole comes out sounding fragmented.  To me it sounds really "long" when he plays it .... if that makes any sense.  Also, he is not technically on top of the coda for some reason... in the thirds section of the coda he sounds like he is having trouble, and certainly can't equal Horowitz in this section, or for understanding of the piece in general.  Maybe just a bad day - Richter apparently played it a lot when he was younger, programming it on his "first" recital.

not technically on top for the coda?  Richter?  which rec did you listen to?  many different performances can be found by him.

Anyhow, I disagree with all you say about Richter's playing.   

But I will second your  recommendations of Cortot and Rubinstein. 

[AvoidedCadence]

not technically on top for the coda?  Richter?  which rec did you listen to?  many different performances can be found by him.

Anyhow, I disagree with all you say about Richter's playing.   

But I will second your  recommendations of Cortot and Rubinstein. 

The one here:

https://classic.chubrik.ru/Chopin/Ballade_Richter_4.html

Listen to the part about 40 seconds from the end, or about 10:25 from the beginning - it sounds scrambled.  Or, at least, the right hand practically disappears, which doesn't really make sense, as the left hand is really just accompaniment there.  Although he is playing the thirds very fast, he's not going into the keys - creating a bizarre effect.  The final descending figuration also sounds like he is just rushing, and the drama is lost.  Also, from 9:30 to the coda doesn't make musical sense - it's just like a race, and far too savage - it loses all its passion.  Check out Horowitz for that part - breathtaking. 

Like I said earlier, probably just a bad day.

Don't get me wrong, I think Richter is one of the handful of very greatest pianists who ever lived - but this particular recording can't really compete with my other favourites - which is really what this topic is about, not how great Richter is.  And, sadly, I haven't listened to any of his other recordings of this piece.  Ultimately, though, I don't think he was a GREAT Chopin player - he has too much forcefulness, which works well in pretty much everything else BUT Chopin that he played.  (Of course, his etude Op 10 No 4 is completely unrivalled.)

[Waldszenen]

Zimerman and Moiseiwitsch

[dinosaurtales]

Kristian Zimmermann

Me, too.  he's coming to Seattle in April btw.

[demented cow]

My three equal favorites:
Zimmerman, Barere (sic.), Ashkenazy
A pity the start of the Barere recording is missing. I find it overwhelming and unique. A poet with a chainsaw.
Then Horowitz & Katsaris. (Otherwise I only know Biret & Kissin, so can't judge any others.)

[e60m5]

Zimerman and Hofmann.

[theodopolis]

Glad to see a vote for Josef Hofmann's Fourth. Absolutely incredible rendition.

However my top vote must be for Samson Francois whose Fourth must be the most outstanding performance on record in terms. The colour he coaxes out of the piano (I'm assuming it is a Pleyel) is beyond superlatives.

Iterestingly, the performance which seems to influence Francois' Fourth is not Cortot's as one might expect, but Hofmann's. The spontanaiety which pervades all Hofmann's live recordings is present in Samson Francois' technique whether or not he ever heard Hofmann.

If you haven't heard Francois' Ballade No.4, I implore you to seek it out and hear it through. I think we may be of the same mind once you do.

Theodopolis

[mr. art]

Zimerman.

[sauergrandson]

Kissin. Bolet.

[musicsdarkangel]

Yo Yo Ma

[countchocula]

Rubinstein

Definitely

[maul]

Yundi Li, Kissin

[alejo_90]

Yo Yo Ma

  I thought he was a cellist...Whatever, how about Claudio Arrau, he plays it beautifully.

[crazy for ivan moravec]

now i have the chance to say this:

i'm crazy for ivan moravec because of his ballade 4 (and barcarolle).



- crazy for ivan moravec