HELP NEEDED (recordings)

[abe]

Ok, it is christmas time, and I need to buy some cd's for my brother as a gift. I don't know that much about famous pianists or their discography, so help me out by giving some recommended recordings of the following:

1) Beethoven last 5 piano sonatas (I was looking at Kempff's but there were some bad reviews)

2) Chopin complete preludes (all 26, not just op. 28)

3) Rachmaninoff PC #2 (preferably w/ some other Rach. pieces on the same cd)

4) Chopin complete etudes (I have Ashkenazy's, but not completely satisfied)

5) Liszt anything (I don't have much Liszt, and am not sure where to start)

6) Brahms piano concertos (are these good concertos?)



Ok, one last question. If I have to choose, should I get Beethoven's late sonatas or Chopin's complete preludes? I love both composers, but which would you recommend?


Happy Holidays!
--Abe

 

[SteinwayTony]

1.  Brendel or Goode

2. Argerich or Rubinstein

3. I love the Philips Duo set "The Best of Rachmaninoff."  I usually hate anthologies like this but this one's very good.  Rafael Orozco plays PC #2 and the Paganini Rhapsody, and a few other Rach favorites and not-so-favorites, like the C# minor prelude, Rach's transcription of Kreisler's Liebeslied (Played by Kocsis), the G minor prelude Op. 23 No. 5, etc.  The second CD has Symphony #2 and The Isle of the Dead.  Lots of bang for your buck.

4. Cziffra, hands down.  The sound quality and technical merit of Perahia's etudes got him a Grammy for it, so that may be worth checking out too.  Also see about getting Cortot's.

5. That would depend if you want solo piano music, orchestral works, piano-orchestra, etc.  For solo piano music there is always the Hyperion sampler of the Complete Liszt Edition put out by Howard.  Problem is I've never seen a Hyperion CD retail for under $19.  His one-movement Piano Concerto in E-flat major is interesting, but not one of my favorites (get the Argerich).  Liszt arranged the Schubert Wanderer Fantasy for piano and orchestra, and if you like the original Schubert, you'll love the transcription.  I have it played by Brendel.  Totentanz is cool, too (but you must get the Zimmerman recording).  In terms of just orchestral works most people like Les Preludes (get BPO/Karajan), and I like the orchestral versions of the Hungarian Rhapsodies (again, BPO/Karajan). 

6.  Brahms piano concertos are two of my favorites and it seems like whichever one I listen to, I prefer that one over the other...until I play the other.  I generally lean toward the B-flat, Op. 83, though many people say the D minor, Op. 15, is the greatest piano concerto in existence.  For the B-flat, I would go with the Pollini recording with Abbado conducting.  You will hear every note of that concerto, and trust me, that's no simple task.  I find the B-flat more difficult than the D minor.  For the D minor my preferred recording is Arrau with the Concertgebouw. 

Last question)  If you have to choose, I would say go with the Beethoven.  Eventually your recipient will move beyond the etudes and into epic, emotionally (and physically) taxing works like the late sonatas.  To not own Brendel's Hammerklavier is a crime.

[abe]

Thanks alot, that is SO helpful!

Is there a cd that has both Brahm's PC's on it that are good solid performances? If not I may just have to buy them seperately, but it's always convenient (and cheaper) to get them in one set.

Also, in general is buying online cheaper, or should I shop around cd stores?

Thanks alot, and any more input would be welcome!

[kempff]

For Beethoven go for Brendel. But who ever said that Kempff is not good, is an idiot. Those people who diss Kempff should be burnt in hell

 

[pianiststrongbad]

I agree that Kempff is a very good performer, and whoever said that should be burnt in hell.

[SteinwayTony]

Thanks alot, that is SO helpful!

Is there a cd that has both Brahm's PC's on it that are good solid performances? If not I may just have to buy them seperately, but it's always convenient (and cheaper) to get them in one set.

Also, in general is buying online cheaper, or should I shop around cd stores?

Thanks alot, and any more input would be welcome!

If you haven't heard of www.arkivmusic.com yet, try there.  I consider it the "amazon.com" of classical music sites, meaning if it's available in the US, they'll get it for you.  They only ship to US & Canada.  Problem with them is, their prices are standard retail and rarely ever go down.  I'd say don't buy from Arkiv unless it's like a rare import or something...unless they give you a deal.  Just use it as a resource...to see if the disc you want exists.  Then shop around online or go to a used CD store. 

About your question pertaining to online vs. CD store, that will depend on where you live.  I live in New York City and there is a place about eight blocks from me that buys used and new classical CDs...it's just an amazing resource.  Last week I scored a brand new shrink-wrapped copy of the Liszt New Discoveries II, which is a just-released supplement to the Complete Liszt Edition, for $9 (retail is $19).  I don't like places like Barnes & Noble and Borders because prices are always too high and the selection is very limited.  If you want to shop in person, go to a Tower or Virgin store if one is near you.  Be careful about shopping online.  You may think you're getting a good deal but if you have to pay $5 shipping per disc, what's the point?  eBay is an excellent resource.  I always get CDs for literally $0.01...shipping is usually ridiculous, like $4 a disc, but hey, it's $4.01 a disc in total, so it's worth it. 

So to answer your question, I'm not specifically either (online or store) one. 

About your Brahms PC question, check out the Philips Duo set of Brahms complete piano concerti.  You get both PCs, plus the orchestral version of the Haydn Variations Op. 56a, the Tragic Overture Op. 81, and Academic Festival Overture Op. 80.  The PCs are played by Arrau so they're a little on the slow side but I think they're good performances for a great value.

Happy hunting!

[zemos]

1. Brendel definitely. amazing!! (a "must"!)
2. One of the few things I like played by Rubinstein is the preludes.
3. Ashkenazy. Great recording with the 2nd, poor recording with the 3rd...
4. Really? I have Ashkenazy also and I couldn't be more satisfied with it. Perhaps we have diffrent recordings?
5. All I can add to what Tony said is that you DO must get a recording of the instrumental Wanderer Fantasy (I'll recommend Brendel). It's great.
6. Well, I don't want to sound boring, but I have a double cd of Ashkenazy playing the two concertos (which btw are in my "top 10" concertos list) including Hendel and Haydn Variations. Great!!!

Anyhow, these are all MY favorite recordings. I always believe that you should follow your ear in these things. When I want to buy a disc, I take ALL the recordings in the shop of the specific piece and ask the seller to play it randomly without telling me what is it. When I find the cd I liked HEARING the most, I simply buy it! (:

Good luck!

[chopin_girl]

As for Chopin recordings, my advice is to find Arthur Rubinstein recordings.
I have his whole collection, every single Chopin piece, etude, you name it that he has ever recorded and comparing to others...he is the best.

[abe]

Thanks a lot guys. I ordered the Beethoven played by Brendel, and the Rachmaninoff played by Orozco. I think I will physically go to the cd store to see about the Brahm's.

In regards to a previous post about the Ashkenazy recording of the etudes: I have the later recording of his with London/Decca. I actually am satisfied with it: the musicality and notes sound great. But having listened to snippets of the etudes played by others (ie Pollini, Brown, etc), Ashkenazy just can't match their speed. Yes, i know musicality should count more than speed, but for most of these etudes, increased speed brings increased excitement and energy, imo. But I've decided not to buy a new recording of the set anyway, i don't think it would be worth it.

However, I may consider buying a recording of the Godowsky transcriptions for the etudes. Does Hamelin play them well?


Happy Holidays!
--Abe

[dmk]

I didn't own much Liszt myself until the other day when I bought a double CD (Phillips) with Arrau playing the Transcendental Etudes, 3 Concert Etudes S.144 and 2 Concert Etudes S.145 .  It also

I am a big Arrau fan and I really like these recordings.  I find them very clear ie not too much clouding of the notes with the pedal. They came highly recommended to me and they didn't dissapoint.

[musicsdarkangel]

Ok, it is christmas time, and I need to buy some cd's for my brother as a gift. I don't know that much about famous pianists or their discography, so help me out by giving some recommended recordings of the following:

1) Beethoven last 5 piano sonatas (I was looking at Kempff's but there were some bad reviews)

2) Chopin complete preludes (all 26, not just op. 28)

3) Rachmaninoff PC #2 (preferably w/ some other Rach. pieces on the same cd)

4) Chopin complete etudes (I have Ashkenazy's, but not completely satisfied)

5) Liszt anything (I don't have much Liszt, and am not sure where to start)

6) Brahms piano concertos (are these good concertos?)



Ok, one last question. If I have to choose, should I get Beethoven's late sonatas or Chopin's complete preludes? I love both composers, but which would you recommend?


Happy Holidays!
--Abe

 

1.  I'd HIGHLY recommend Brendel or Goode (these 2 are amazing)
2.  Argerich is a fabulous Chopin player
3.  Orozco does a wonderful job, as well as Rubenstein and Rachmaninoff himself.  For Rachmaninoff in gerenal, I love the playing of Dmitri Alexeyev.  His preludes are unbeatable.  See if he has a Rach 2 recording
4.  Cziffra for technique, it blows my mind, but for technique and musicality, Garrick Ohlssohn (truely incredible)
5.  Liszt Pagannini etudes by Andre Watts (fluid, musical, speedy).  Claudio Arrau is also phenominal........get this I just found it - https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000041NE/qid=1103589188/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/104-1736100-4447925  Claudio Arrau doing the full etudes.  That should be great

[dmk]

5. Liszt Pagannini etudes by Andre Watts (fluid, musical, speedy). Claudio Arrau is also phenominal........get this I just found it - https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000041NE/qid=1103589188/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/104-1736100-4447925 Claudio Arrau doing the full etudes. That should be great

This is a link to the CD I referred to in my earlier post!!! Thanks musicsdarkangel, this should make it easier for Abe to find

[musicsdarkangel]

This is a link to the CD I referred to in my earlier post!!! Thanks musicsdarkangel, this should make it easier for Abe to find

haha funny, I didn't notice that.

No problem