Grieg's Lyric Pieces

[worov]

Hi everyone !

I have lately discovered Grieg's Lyric Pieces. I listened to Gilels playing selections of them (DG). I thought these were wonderful. I'm thinking of getting a complete set of these. But I don't see many complete set sets :

 - Aldo Ciccolini (Cascavelle). I know the pianist. I like his Satie recordings.

 - Håkon Austbø (Brilliant). I never heard his recordings. I know he's specializes in Grieg's music and Messiaen's music.

 - Einar Steen-Nökleberg (Naxos). He has played Grieg's complete piano works, so the the Lyric Pieces must be included. He seems to be another Grieg specialist.


Any advice on which set to by ? Have you heard any of these ?

Why are these pieces so underplayed ?

[worov]

Anybody ?

[williampiano]

I wouldn't get the Håkon Austbø, only because you can listen to all of his lyric piece recordings on YouTube. Start here:

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The rest you will find in the related videos or something.
(Other than that, his recordings of them are very good!)

I'm not too familiar with the other two, though it seems you can find some of Einar Steen-Nökleberg's lyric piece recordings on Youtube also.

If you really want to buy a full disc of them, out of the three you mentioned, Håkon Austbø seems to be the best interpreter of them.
I've never heard of Aldo Ciccolini before, but I looked him up and he seems to be a good pianist also, so I'm sure his recordings of the lyric pieces will also be very good.

I hope this was somewhat helpful.

-Will

[mariasmith]

I am a huge fan of Edvard Grieg, and espescially the lyric pieces. I'm norwegian myself, and of course the pieces are quite known here. I've played them since as long as I can remember.

Have you heard Leif Ove Andsnes' recordings of the pieces as well? I like Nøkleberg's interpretations. He tends to use less pedal than Andsnes, and it sounds "real", if you know what I mean. But then again Andsnes' album is recorded on the very grand piano previously owned by Grieg, standing at Troldhaugen where he lived. And he does have that, i don't know, bold norwegian touch..(i'm shockingly an andsnes fan too My dad was invited to play on Grieg's grand piano this summer and he describes it as the best piano he has ever played on.
Here's an example of "Weddingday at Troldhaugen" played by Andsnes.

I've got many favourites, but I think Butterfly, vanished days, canon and summer evening are my top 4's. Do you have any favourites yet??

[worov]

Hi, william and maria !

Good to know that Austbø's set is on Youtube. I can also get it at a public library near me. I have listened to some On Youtube and I like it. I may borrow it at the library.

The library doesn't have Nøkleberg's recording though. I'll have to buy that one if want to listen to it besides some Youtube selections.


mariasmith, I know Leif Ove Andsnes' recording of the Grieg Concerto and enjoy it very much. However I have not heard him in the piano solo pieces. Are you sure he recorded a complete set ? I can only find some selections of it.

I'm not familiar eough with these pieces to have favourite. I have not yet memorized the names of pieces too. I love everyone of the Gilels recording.

Thank both of you for your time.