Chopin Etudes Recordings

[akonow]

Who is your favorite performer of Chopin's etudes? Annnd... why?

[michel dvorsky]

Friedman. Superior skill + 19th century inspiration = timeless.

[opus10no2]

Cziffra, although the recording quality does not do justice to his tone.

[gyzzzmo]

Lugansky

[Kassaa]

Cortot.

[mike_lang]

Sokolov (op. 25)

[general disarray]

Sokolov (op. 25)

Seconded!  Also, Lugansky and John Browning.  Perahia is no slouch either.

Oh, and part 2 of the question, "why?," is that these performances are technically secure, musically distinctive and characterized by beautiful tone production. 

[welltemperedpianist]

I haven't heard too many but Garrick Ohlsson's recording is excellent 

[dnephi]

Ashkenazy, Young.  Don't remember which one, I'm thinking 1961.  The one with the Mephisto Waltz from Carnegie Hall which has leaps at relativistic velocities...

[cloches_de_geneve]

Cortot, Geza Anda, Pollini.

[piano_ant]

PERAHIA, Cortot, Ohlsson!!

[akonow]

Okay so...
Friedman: 1
Cziffra: 1
Lugansky: 2
Cortot: 3
Sokolov: 2
Browning: 1
Perahia: 2
Ohlsson: 2
Ashkenazy: 1
Young: 1
Anda: 1
Pollini: 1

[rasteen]

Gina Bachauer...not a well known recording.  Doubt that it is even available on any sort of reissue, CD, etc. It was probably on a small label.  Her performances were stellar, crystal clear technique, absolute control of the musical line, and a profound depth of musical understanding.  I heard them as a young conservatory student in the 1970's and am still moved and amazed by them today.

This is not to discredit any more recent performances; there are many excellent ones mentioned here.  But this is the one that affected me in a singular way and I heatily recommend it if you can find it.

[michel dvorsky]

Friedman. Friedman. Friedman.

Ok, now Friedman is ahead with 4.

[chopininov]

Perahia

[camstrings]

Gavrilov plays both sets in an authoritative manner. By that I mean one is aware of a strong physicality in the playing. For me the poetry of the music survives....just about.

[Kassaa]

Add one for Cziffra and remove one from Perahia!

Jake I want to hear the Friedman plx .

[retrouvailles]

Ashkenazy: 1
Young: 1

He meant young Ashkenazy, not Ashkenazy and some guy named Young. Fix your post.

My votes go to young Ashkenazy, Pollini, and Orozco.

[187benji]

I vote for Alfred Cortot and Andrei Gavrilov.
The first for supreme musicality, and the other for dazzling virtuosity...

[akonow]

Oops haha, sorry

Friedman: 2 (Sorry, you don't get three votes for the same person )
Cziffra: 2
Lugansky: 2
Cortot: 4
Sokolov: 2
Browning: 1
Perahia: 3
Ohlsson: 2
"Young" Ashkenazy: 3 (I added my vote )
Anda: 1
Pollini: 2
Bachauer: 1
Gavrilov: 2
Orozco: 1

[rhapsody4]

As individual recordings, most great pianists seem to have recorded some fine Chopin etudes. However, as a complete set, having always had the Ashkenazy CD, for me that is the definitive recording which I always come back to.

Friedman: 2
Cziffra: 2
Lugansky: 2
Cortot: 4
Sokolov: 2
Browning: 1
Perahia: 3
Ohlsson: 2
"Young" Ashkenazy: 4
Anda: 1
Pollini: 2
Bachauer: 1
Gavrilov: 2
Orozco: 1

[russda_man]

Who is your favorite performer of Chopin's etudes? Annnd... why?

I have a vynil of Ludwig Hoffman playing a few etudes (quite old), and he plays them better than anyone else I've heard. (I like his authenticity, I always believe in this way of playing for any composer).
Russell.

[mephisto]

Friedman. Friedman. Friedman.

Ok, now Friedman is ahead with 4.

Hey, how many did he really record? I'm guessing around 5, so what are your favourite complete set?

Pollini played 10,7 faster than Friedman when he was 14 years old

[Barbosa-piano]

I think Guiomar Novaes' interpretations of the Etudes are quite attractive; she has a very personal sound.

Richter is stunning when it comes to technique. Cortot has a very Chopinesque aproach.

[m]

Pollini played 10,7 faster than Friedman when he was 14 years old

Does faster mean "better"? 

In whole my life I can remember only 5 times leaving concerts before they ended. First, was a student concert. Second, I had to go to the airport, so unfortunately I had to leave Shura Cherkasski recital in Moscow right before encores. Third... I don't remember. Fourth/fifth--goes to Pollini's recitals, when twice I left after the first half.

On the other hand, if I ever had a chance I'd be kneeling for hours behind the closed doors, just to catch a few notes of Maestro Friedman practicing...

Best, M

[mike_lang]

Oh....and Pletnev (!) for the three that he has recorded.

[mephisto]

Does faster mean "better"? 

In whole my life I can remember only 5 times leaving concerts before they ended. First, was a student concert. Second, I had to go to the airport, so unfortunately I had to leave Shura Cherkasski recital in Moscow right before encores. Third... I don't remember. Fourth/fifth--goes to Pollini's recitals, when twice I left after the first half.

On the other hand, if I ever had a chance I'd be kneeling for hours behind the closed doors, just to catch a few notes of Maestro Friedman practicing...

Best, M

No, no I don't belive faster means better. I just mentioned it to Dvorsky because he would probably brag about how fast Friedman plays. And he is an idiot...

Friedman is definetly one of my top 5 pianists of all time

[ahkow]

i think vasary's ain't that bad

[michel dvorsky]

Pollini played 10,7 faster than Friedman when he was 14 years old Cheesy

I have that Pollini recording.  It's certainly impressive for a 14 year-old.  But thats about it.

Friedman's 10/7 is actually faster.  It's also more accurate, better articulated, and  rhythmically controlled. 

I don't know how you could have even made such a frivolous statement in the first place since it is so patently false. 

No, no I don't belive faster means better. I just mentioned it to Dvorsky because he would probably brag about how fast Friedman plays. And he is an idiot...

Friedman is definetly one of my top 5 pianists of all time

Who's the one acting like a fool here?

In terms of virtuoso studies like 10/7, speed is a necessary quality but is, in itself, completely insufficient. 

You're obviously right that Friedman only recorded a few Chopin Etudes. They're my favorite recordings of Chopin etudes, so Friedman is naturally my favorite performer of Chopin's etudes.  For complete sets, my favorites are Ashkenazy's Melodiya set and Orozco's.

[aewanko]

Alfred Cortot and maybe Sviatoslav Richter.

[mikey6]

Lhevinne for his op.25 no.6 - no more needed! (although it would have been amazing to hear the complete set!)

[mephisto]

I have that Pollini recording.  It's certainly impressive for a 14 year-old.  But thats about it.

Friedman's 10/7 is actually faster.  It's also more accurate, better articulated, and  rhythmically controlled. 

I don't know how you could have even made such a frivolous statement in the first place since it is so patently false. 

Who's the one acting like a fool here?

In terms of virtuoso studies like 10/7, speed is a necessary quality but is, in itself, completely insufficient. 

Obviously speed is never sufficient alone.

If I say Pollini's  10.7 is more accurate, better articulated, and  rhythmically controlled than Friedmans how will you prove that I am wrong?

I may be wrong about the speed, but can you give me the timings since I don't have Friedmans recording with me right now? 

Pollini's recording is ca. 1.13.

[qkim]

Any opinions on Arrau Berezovsky and Bachaus?

[enderw20]

Ashkenazy for Etudes, but those Ashkenazy's only Chopin recordings  that I prefer.

[m]

Ashkenazy for Etudes, but those Ashkenazy's only Chopin recordings  that I prefer.

Lucky you! You still have so much to discover!!!

Best, M

[thracozaag]

Saperton, Cortot, Bachaus, young pollini, Cziffra (complete)
Friedmann (excerpts)

[187benji]

Saperton, Cortot, Bachaus, young pollini, Cziffra (complete)
Friedmann (excerpts)

Yeah, Friedmans revulotionary is absolute awesome....

[shingo]

Sviatoslav Richter.

[jaypiano]

Not well-known, but stellar recording dating from the 60s by Augustin Anievas.  Absolutely stunning technique, musicianship, sound. 

[jinfiesto]

I think Perahia's recording is dazzling. I have Cortot's and Arrau's as well. I don't like Arrau's very much, however Cortot's is amazing as well. I personall prefer Perahia's.

[187benji]

Okay, heard some more recordings...

Lugansky, Pollini, Perahia they are all very good. It's hard to judge, you know, they don't have very differen't interpretations.

[thracozaag]

Forgot to mention Robert Goldsand and Bolet (op. 25) in live performances.

[mukubella]

.

[sharon_f]

I second Anievas and would also like to add Abbey Simon.

[hunkyhong]

i would choose lugansky over all, because he combines the technique with the musicality. He is able to take those exercise and studies, and work at not only mastering the speed, but ear as well.

[mikey6]

I came across an old record of Lhevinne's etudes about 10 years ago.  It was AMAZING!  Impossible to find now but wow, it was the best performance of the etudes I have ever heard. 

His complete recordings are available on Naxos historial - quite easy to find!

[imbetter]

perahia

[thierry13]

His complete recordings are available on Naxos historial - quite easy to find!

I actually have that CD  It includes duo-piano with his wife rosina lhevinne also! Those are all amazing recordings 

[cherub_rocker1979]

And who is Juana Zayas, chop suey?

[arensky]

I second Anievas and would also like to add Abbey Simon.

I third Anievas, but don't know the Simon. Other complete sets I like are young Ashkenazy    and Louis Lortie.


And Juana Zayas certainly isn't chop suey; I heard her her play them all live a few years ago; tremendous technique, color and temperament. Also heard Kuerti but the best complete live performance was Youri Egorov in 1979, on the heels of his silver or bronze medal in the Van Cliburn comp. A couple of months ago I heard Walter Cosand of Arizona State University play them all in recital.