Hello all. My first time here. Glad to see Die Mister' starting as I mean to go on- talking with other pianophiles. Don't know where to start. Glad to hear a recomendation for Hamelin's Reger, as it's on my to-get-list. Have you heard his Medtner cycle? That's pretty special to. Wondered if any of you have heard his Schumann CD's coz' I'm undecided over getting it? There's only so much schumann I'm able to listen to (though I'm only familiar with around 12 or so of his works), but I was tempted by Hamelin's as I often find schumann's writting a little unpianistic (sure you've heard of the phrase) and so hoped his flawless playing would iron out the awkward writting. Anyone got any of the Hyperion Bach Transcription volumes (or similar recomendations)?
Thought I'd recommend my most played purchases of recent in case anyones interested, hope you'd do the same: Pletnev's Carnegie Hall Recital (the bach-busoni is awesome, and I can play both discs through without skipping a track), Rubinsteins Schubert- last sonataD960, Wanderer Fantasie, Impromtus 3 & 4, D899 (highly musical and touching disc, recorded when he was in his late 70's!, still a Penguin Rosette winner), Richter's Rachmaninoff-Etude Tableaux & preludes recital on Regis label (sound isn't perfect but it would be hard to better some of these performances, ever. See the Penguin review. Wonderful sellection & very cheap CD!) Ashkenazy's Rachmaninoff- Corelli variations & Etude Tableaux op.39 (I haven't heard the E'T's bettered, this was his 2nd, and much better recording of the Corelli Variations), Perahia & Lupu- Mozart, Mozart/Busoni, Schubert music for 2 pianos (a classic disc, wonderful playing, Mozart's most accomplished piano writting and V. CHEAP), Louis Keltner, Lyapunov Transcendental Etudes (an old classic, now quite rare. Unbelievable piano sound for a 50's recording, a most rewarding disc, virtuosity and poetry, legendary performances, wonderful material). More Schubert recommendations please. Any romantic piano concerto gems outside of the main repetoire? I'd really recommend Rimsky Korsakov (Binns, Hyperion), Medtner no.s 1-3(Demidenko or Scherbakov), and Scharwenka (either Hough, p.c. no.4, or Hamelin p.c. no.1).
Any good book recomendations such as pianist biographies or historical overviews? Harold Schonberg's (Pulitzer Prize winning critic, Senior Music critic of the New York Times) "The Great Pianists" book is facinating. I'd like a good Rachmaninoff biography, suggestions? Anyone found any good DVD's? Anyone know how to get good of footage of Hamelin? Does anyone else think Argerich's Rach 3 is hugely overated? I've got 10 or more different artists playing it and it's my least favourite.
Know I've ranted on, just thought I've leave enough to stimulate some chat. I'm off to bed now, but keen to get back and hear your recomendations and views.
Rachmaninoff & Moiseiwitsch rule. Hamelin, Hofmann & Hough , incredible. Lipatti, Rubinstein & Perahia, musially impecable. Ashkenazy, Pletnev & Gilels,- strength, intelligence, beautiful sound. Richter, playing speaks for itself. Andsnes, think he might be Rubinstein & Richter's secret love-child (nice aspects of the two). Gould,- genius, mad. Horowitz, devil-maker. Myelene Klass (of HearSay)- rubbish.
