Trio Nota Bene: Raff, Bloch, Honegger, Martin Assorted trios and nocturnes from Swiss composers. Claves Records; recorded 2009.
Now enjoying the great Schubert D959 from the above 2CD set. I didn't notice the first time through this set, but unfortunately the sound was very rolled off in the upper frequencies when they mastered this set from the original LPs.
Listening to two French pianists (Genevieve Joy and Jacqueline Robin-Bonneau) perform works for Two Pianos by French composers Darius Milhaud and Francis Poulenc. Musical Heritage Society LP (originally recorded & released in France by Erato). Probably issued by MHS in 1968, based on the catalog number. Typical eye-catching, colorful, imaginative cover by MHS... but I have to give them credit for releasing European recordings here in the U.S. that were generally unknown & unattainable to us at the time.
Switching over here. After a few movements with the Jansons set, I think I can remember why I have neglected it. The miking is somewhat artificial and the playing lacks warmth, especially in the slow movement. This set is working a lot better for me. The climaxes are both beautiful and powerful. The orchestra sounds huge. This is more like it!
I got to see Mariss conduct the Shostakovich 10th with Philadelphia Orchestra in March 1994, a real treat!
The power of coincidence! Last night, as I was grinding away at work, I listened to Mozart pno. cti., too, and one of the same ones. In my case, the recording was of nos. 12, 21, and 23 played by Fazil Say with the Zurich Chamber Or. under Howard Griffiths, Naive 4992. Say plays his own cadenzas in no. 21, and as usual they're "different" but lots of fun. Well, at least, the one for the 1st mvt. is ("different," that is; the one for the last is more straightforward). Oh, and no. 23 is my favorite, too.
As to no. 23, I should have added that although Artur Rubinstein's isn't the first name that generally springs to mind for Mozart, I've always liked his way with that work. He recorded it three times that I know: in 1931 with Barbirolli, on mono LP with Golschmann, and in stereo with Wallenstein. I have the center one, but the first and last are the ones with which I can claim to be really familiar; haven't paid as much attention to the mono LP.
Now enjoying PC 23 from the above CD. As this CD is part of a 3CD Say set, I had forgotten about it. Thanks for the reminder, @drh!
Hi, George! That's the one. I have the disc as a single; what else is in the set? (I have a few other single discs by Say; not impossible taken together they would cover the set contents.) I have the impression you tend to wax hot and cold about him. I think he's quite possibly the most interesting active pianist I've heard, a bit of a throwback to the old days when performers weren't afraid to take a few liberties. Not that I've heard *that* much, but what I *have* heard I've liked.
I'm mostly a fan, I like his old school subjectivity and his exciting energy. The set has a Haydn disc and a Beethoven disc, also on Naive. Seems to be OOP now, the set anyway. The Beethoven disc has some of the most fun, wild and crazy Beethoven I've heard. Unfortunately, for his more recent complete set of the LvB sonatas on Warner, he has toned things down considerably.
Thanks, George! I hope "toned down" is just a transient phase; I'm with you about liking old school--something I hardly need to tell you. Have you heard his account of Mussorgsky's Pictures? He does a bit of "inside the piano" in it. Only Fazil Say!
Absolutely. I have that recording, but I rarely play it, as I am not really a fan of the work. I pulled it out, though, for the next time inspiration strikes.
Now I'm on a little Mozart kick! Listening to Clarinet Concerto in A K 622 and Clarinet Quintet in A K 581. It's a budget CD I found years ago with no info on the performers. The performance is excellent though. Regards, Dave
