Classical Corner Classical Music Corner

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by George P, May 29, 2015.

  1. hvbias

    hvbias Midrange magic

    Location:
    Northeast
    I've been listening/comparing these two recordings for the past week. I might post something more detailed when I've formed a more solid conclusion, this is best left for a breakdown between each fugue. In general I would say Koroliov takes a slightly more punctuated approach and Nikolayeva is a bit more fluid. In short two absolutely amazing performances, I don't think I would want to be without either one because each have their own interpretation, while similar on some are different on others (ie Contrapunctus 5 Koroliov takes a more propulsive approach whereas Nikolayeva is gentler, but then it won't hold true for another fugue where Nikolayeva will play it with more intensity) the tempi are also different and another area where no generalization can be made. Both of them are radically different from Gould (not a condemnation on Gould I wouldn't want to be without his either and wished he recorded it all on piano), both allow for space between the voices but without ever feeling labored. Also Nikolayeva and Koroliov play them completely straight with no added improvisations, something I appreciate. A nice bonus is the recording quality is superb on both. Actually wish Nikolayeva recorded more Bach for Hyperion as these recordings sound better than the Russian labels, I don't really find her interpretations that different between studio recordings (more variance live), though this is from years of listening and not direct comparisons.

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    Wes H likes this.
  2. RiRiIII

    RiRiIII Forum Resident

    Location:
    Athens, Greece
    The greatest Liszt recordings as Brendel said: Kempff/Decca/50s/ Eloquence


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  3. coopmv

    coopmv Newton 1/30/2001 - 8/31/2011

    Location:
    CT, USA
    I have owned both recordings for a long time but have never gone after any in-depth analysis of each performance. IIRC, I preferred the performance of Nikolayeva over that of Koroliov ...
     
  4. RiRiIII

    RiRiIII Forum Resident

    Location:
    Athens, Greece
  5. RiRiIII

    RiRiIII Forum Resident

    Location:
    Athens, Greece
  6. drh

    drh Talking Machine

    Is? Was, maybe, but on the whole I think history has not been especially kind to him. The consensus, I think, is that after languishig in the wilderness too long, he achieved too much fame before he was ready.
     
  7. drh

    drh Talking Machine

    Of course, he died only five years ago, and we all know no musician gets really good until he's been dead 20 years....
     
    fitzrik, ciderglider and Wes H like this.
  8. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    Thanks for posting! While I'm not very optimistic, I hope that the mastering / transfers are done well.
     
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  9. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    :laugh:
     
  10. coopmv

    coopmv Newton 1/30/2001 - 8/31/2011

    Location:
    CT, USA
    Not Antonio Salieri !
     
    RiRiIII likes this.
  11. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    [​IMG]

    Now enjoying this superb new release of three live recordings, taken from concerts that took place in 1967-1984.
     
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  12. Roland Stone

    Roland Stone Offending Member

    Wow, I crossed off a longstanding want list item with an unplayed copy of the very OOP Silverman Beethoven piano sonatas cycle on Orpheum Masters for $30 shipped.

    Then, while looking for something else, I also grabbed a complete Beethoven symphony cycle by von Dohnanyi/Cleveland on Telarc for $10 shipped.

    I still haven't listened through the Ashkenazy complete Beethoven piano sonatas set I received last week for $15 shipped. This is just crazy . . .

    I think we're witnessing a perfect storm of estate sales coupled with the death of physical media, accelerated by competing online sales and sites. The bottom is just falling out for all but the rarest collectibles.
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2018
  13. hvbias

    hvbias Midrange magic

    Location:
    Northeast
    Continue what you're doing and skip listening to it ;)
     
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  14. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    Agreed. It's one of the very few Beethoven sets that I've let go of.
     
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  15. drh

    drh Talking Machine

    Is that the set made with the computerized Bosendorfer?
     
    George P likes this.
  16. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    Indeed! It's also miked in a very odd way. It sounds as if you're quite far away from the piano, it sounds like it's down a long hallway and as a result the attack of the notes has very little impact.
     
  17. drh

    drh Talking Machine

    Gee, George, try not to make it sound so enticing! ;)
     
    George P likes this.
  18. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    Just calling it as I hear it.
     
  19. coopmv

    coopmv Newton 1/30/2001 - 8/31/2011

    Location:
    CT, USA
    Now playing CD1 from the following twofer for a second or maybe third listen ...

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    Last edited: May 12, 2018
    RiRiIII and George P like this.
  20. coopmv

    coopmv Newton 1/30/2001 - 8/31/2011

    Location:
    CT, USA
    Now playing the following CD for a second listen ...

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  21. coopmv

    coopmv Newton 1/30/2001 - 8/31/2011

    Location:
    CT, USA
    Now playing CD1 from the following box for a second listen ...

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    Mike burgess and George P like this.
  22. J.A.W.

    J.A.W. Music Addict

    Listening again (on Amazon) to this set with Backhaus' later (stereo) recordings of the Beethoven sonatas - except the Hammerklavier, which was taken from his earlier mono cycle because he had died before he could re-record it. I still can't get used to his playing style, with desynchronized hands and things like that; very old-fashioned.

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  23. panicproject

    panicproject VinylVinylVinylVinyl

    Location:
    London
    guys, I know nothing about classical music, but I do know I like this piece of music.
    Could you guys point me in the direction of other dark, sinister works like this?

     
  24. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    [​IMG]

    Still working through this set for the second time. I'm now up to the penultimate disc. Gorgeous, playful playing here. Still upset about the clicks/pops heard throughout.
     
  25. coopmv

    coopmv Newton 1/30/2001 - 8/31/2011

    Location:
    CT, USA
    I wonder if the clicks/pops have to do with a somewhat defective lot? I have quite a few Hanssler CD's and they are generally quite good ...
     

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