Dutilleux: Choral et Variations from Sonata

[prongated]

Had a recording session a few days ago, and this is one of the better takes (gasp ). Piano is a very good recently restored NY Steinway D, probably from the 1930s. The recording quality...hmm...I hired someone to do it, but...

Comments are very welcome!

[furtwaengler]

I love this sonata, and your account is absolutely gorgeous. I've heard different performances emphasizing many aspects of this piece, but I don't know that I've ever heard one that is just outright beautiful as yours is. And this is at no loss of power and majesty...just tremendously subtle, beautiful playing. Also the virtuoso aspect...you've arrived at a certain level of detail where the beauty, the power, and the majesty are so in focus that the technique to produce the sounds is almost hidden. It's real virtuosity. Bravo!

With these thoughts in mind...do you play the rest of the sonata? I'm betting your 2nd movement would stop the world!

Thanks for posting it.  

[rachfan]

Hi prongated,

I've listened to your rich rendition of this Dutilleux sonata three times.  I'm blown away by it!  You bring out the expressionism of this composer ever so well, and, like the music of Berg, you also allow a tinge of late romanticism into your playing of the lyrical sections, thereby creating a lush sound. Superb!

[birba]

nothing to add to the foregoing comments.  so many pianists overpedal this masterpiece.  your parsimonious use of the pedal really helps to accentuate the "bare" structure of the variations.  i've always wanted to tackle this masterpiece.  you've inspired me to MAYBE try!

[prongated]

I love this sonata, and your account is absolutely gorgeous. I've heard different performances emphasizing many aspects of this piece, but I don't know that I've ever heard one that is just outright beautiful as yours is. And this is at no loss of power and majesty...just tremendously subtle, beautiful playing. Also the virtuoso aspect...you've arrived at a certain level of detail where the beauty, the power, and the majesty are so in focus that the technique to produce the sounds is almost hidden. It's real virtuosity. Bravo!

With these thoughts in mind...do you play the rest of the sonata? I'm betting your 2nd movement would stop the world!

Thanks for posting it. 

Pleasure! And in fact, just honored and glad that someone who really can play Beethoven's op. 111 enjoyed it

No, I haven't touched the other 2 movements since 2 years ago. But the last time I checked, I'm pretty sure the world kept revolving while I played it Haha but yeah, I know what you mean about that 2nd movt...it is amazing how eerily and chillingly gorgeous that ghastly lied is!

you've inspired me to MAYBE try!

...honestly, unless you absolutely love the piece to death, or if you have tons of time, don't. I had to learn it for a competition in 2 months' time, and it was easily the most depressing 2 months of my life, ever! Such a great piece, but so ridiculously difficult to learn the notes of! I mean, to think that this movement is actually the easiest of the entire piece...!!!

Hi prongated,

I've listened to your rich rendition of this Dutilleux sonata three times.  I'm blown away by it!  You bring out the expressionism of this composer ever so well, and, like the music of Berg, you also allow a tinge of late romanticism into your playing of the lyrical sections, thereby creating a lush sound. Superb!

Well, glad to have you back from being blown away and 3 times? Usually I'd be lucky if my family wants to listen to me play something more than once [although they did bear the brunt of me learning them sometimes at ridiculous hours at night!] Anyway, am honored and glad you like it that much!

[storyseller]

Speechless

I was surfing the site and just spent 5 minutes trying to remember the password for my account to login so that I could post a big BRAVO fot this!

Great work!

[pianowolfi]

Yes, bravo! I have listened to it a while ago, but didn't comment yet. Very good!

[john11inc]

A few slips here and there in the trickier sections that didn't really effect anything much.  Could use more attention paid to the contrapuntal aspects of some of the variations.

These complaints are, however, fairly insignificant to those I have about most professional recordings of this piece.  In other words, good job.  I'd buy it.

[prongated]

Speechless

I was surfing the site and just spent 5 minutes trying to remember the password for my account to login so that I could post a big BRAVO fot this!

Great work!

No kidding you did! Thank you!

Yes, bravo! I have listened to it a while ago, but didn't comment yet. Very good!

Thank you

A few slips here and there in the trickier sections that didn't really effect anything much.  Could use more attention paid to the contrapuntal aspects of some of the variations.

These complaints are, however, fairly insignificant to those I have about most professional recordings of this piece.  In other words, good job.  I'd buy it.

Thanks for the suggestions! In the meantime, I have upgraded my technique (heh, is that really how you do it??) so I hope those slips will be next to completely gone next time.

And thanks! Glad to know I have a potential future customer