Now playing: Ludwig van Beethoven – Quartet for Strings No.14 in C sharp minor Op.131 — Sandy Wilson (cello), Paul Yarbrough (viola), Frederick Lifsitz (violin), Ge-Fang Yang (violin) – Alexander String Quartet (Arte Nova—Sony Music GmbH)
I was fortunate to see Pogorelich twice during his prime and once about 12 years ago. The difference was terrifying, mostly due to glacial tempos and bizarre phrasing and accents in the 2004 concert. But oh my, those two 1980s concerts were magical. I don't recall the combinations now, but I got to hear him play Beethoven Op.111, Bach English Suite No.3, Ravel's "Gaspard de la nuit," and Rachmaninov's Sonata No.2 (original version). He played Balakirev's "Islamey" as an encore the night of the Rachmaninov! As good as his studio version is, "Gaspard" was even more electrifying live. It's really sad to see and hear how he has deteriorated over the years due to the death of his wife and father.
Now playing, CD 18: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Symphony No.5 in E minor Op.64 Modest Mussorgsky – Khovanshchina: Act 1 Prelude "Dawn on the Moscow River" (orch. Shostakovich) – A Night on the Bare Mountain (arr. Rimsky-Korsakov) – Sorochintsy fair: Gopak (orch. Anatoly Lyadov) Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra – Valery Gergiev (Philips)
I have that box set as well. Gergiev's recordings of this and Stravinsky's Sacre du Printemps are among the set's highlights.
I do not care for the misinformation from WarnerMusic since the recording was not originally made by Warner ...
The good aspect is if someone posts that image, recommending the performances, then someone else can know what the in print version looks like.
I have the Gergiev's Tchaikovsky Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 with VPO and also have many other versions by other conductors, including those by Mravinsky on different labels and all versions by Karajan. Personally, I would not say these are my go-to recordings ...
Playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No.4, with Gould/Bernstein and the NY Philharmonic. This was recorded in March, 1961, at Columbia's 30th Street Studio, NYC. This particular LP is a Columbia 6-eye blue label, pressed in Canada in 1961. It is also mono, which sometimes I prefer for piano/orchestra balance achieved. Admittedly, Gould's interpretation is not my #1 favorite of this concerto, but I play it on occasion when I want to hear an alternative to the "standard."
Based on a forum recommendation I tracked down an original Philips CD of Ozawa and the BSO Holst The Planets. After owning 4 other well regarded versions of Planets by Dutoit, Solti, Levine, and Karajan I found the Ozawa to best them all with excellent performance and sonics for my taste.
I'm currently listening to the new Harmonia Mundi CD of Prokofiev Piano Sonatas 2, 6,and 8 by Alexander Melnikov. Amazing playing!
When the company that owns a recording has never had the right to use the name of the original label, there's not much else they can do.
