Classical Corner Classical Music Corner (thread #54)

Ludwig Van Beethoven – Concerti for Piano and Orchestra No.1 Op.15, No.2 Op.19
— Murray Perahia — Concertgebouw Orchestra — Bernard Haitink (Sony Classics)

 

Now Listening To

Rampal. Works for Flute and Piano: Debussy, Poulenc, Prokofiev, Bartok. Erato Italy

The title is not quite accurate since Syrinx is for solo flute. Despite his frequent forays into Baroque music, I think Rampal was much better with modern or at least post Baroque music. Expressive playing here and very interesting works.

 

They sure didn't Photoshop this one. which is fine with me

 

Now listening to CD 5, various preludes/fugues 531, 533, 532, 550, 539, 551, 574 and 579 from "Bach - The Organ Works" performed by Helmut Walcha on Archiv.

 

I've seen Denk performing chamber music several times, but never solo recitals. I expect to see him next season.

 

Nice program (except for the Bartok, which I don't know). I had an Odyssey LP of Rampal performing the Prokofiev, Debussy and Poulenc (IIRC) which gave me much pleasure in the 70's.

 

The Bartok Sonata is based on folktunes and is more obviously tuneful than much other Bartok.

 

I suppose, that in the CD's booklet size the grain etc. are not so obvious. I agree though that it is a nicely natural and "untouched" photo.

 

He's a fantastic writer...he did a great piece in the New Yorker about the process of recording the Ives "Concord" Sonata, sadly behind a paywall: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/02/06/120206fa_fact_denk

 

I'm wrong. I hear Denk play Ives at this recital.



His rendition of Beethoven's 32nd sonata at the recital was excellent. (I got confused having heard Peter Serkin's "Diabelli Variations" in the same hall around the same time.)

Last year Denk won a MacArthur Award.

 

Now listening to CD 3, Haydn Piano Concertos in D and G/Schumann Carnaval, from "Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli - The Master Pianist" box set on EMI.

 

I love it when new Lute CD's are found, especially from composers I had never heard of. In this case Michelangelo Galilei (younger brother of Galileo Galilei :tresbon:.

 

Now listening to CD5, Schubert Sonata D 537/Chopin Mazurkas, Prelude Op.45, Ballade Op.23, Scherzo Op.31 from "Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli - Collector Edition" DG box set.

 

How do you like Michelangeli, bluemooze?

 

Now listening to "Schumann Piano Concerto" performed by Rudolf Serkin with the Philadelphia Orchestra led by Eugene Ormandy on CBS vinyl.

 

I enjoyed listening to him very much. Thought he made the Chopin works sound beautiful. Still on a first-listen basis - haven't heard the entire DG box yet. I bought a ton of box sets before I retired and am now getting to go through them at my leisure.

 

Serkin is great!

 

Now listening to "Souvenir Russe" by Baiba Skride and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra led by Andris Nelsons. All Tchaikovsky works - Violin Concerto Op.35/souvenir d'un lieu cher Op.42/Pas d'action and Danse Russe both from Swan Lake Op. 20.

 

That's a later incarnation of the same Schumann performance that I mentioned as coming coupled with the Mendelssohn ones in my "first time" twofer LP set.

Yes, indeed.

 

Denk's Goldbergs come with a DVD explaining this masterpiece of Western music.

 

Indeed it is. I don't have the Mendelssohn though.

 

Now listening to "Machaut - Le Jugement du Roi de Navarre" by Ensemble Giles Binchois on Cantus.

 

I will need to pick up a used CD since I do not have this recording and it is OOP ...

 

An outstanding organist and I have this set as well ...

 

I got this one on the cheap in a box with two other recordings ...