Comments on: Chopin

By: The Other Chuck

The Other Chuck — Wed, 11 May 2016 21:31:55 +0000

Llwddythlw, de Pachmann took more than a few liberties. (Sounds like my playing, late at night after too many drinks.) Horowitz did the same, but never to that extreme. Genius is allowed, ah, certain latitude.

By: Geoffrey Britain

Geoffrey Britain — Wed, 11 May 2016 20:02:12 +0000

The classical piece that moves my soul like no other is Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade”, especially the 1958 Fritz Reiner – Chicago Symphony Orchestra version on RCA Victor’s “Living Stereo”.

I know that many classical music aficionados are at best lukewarm to it. But for me no other music even comes close. Like Martin Luther, “Here I stand, I can do no other”

By: Llwddythlw

Llwddythlw — Wed, 11 May 2016 16:00:08 +0000

Here’s an old recording of Vladimir de Pachmann, the “Chopinzee” and great eccentric playing the minute waltz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STPrWpl3UZo

By: The Other Chuck

The Other Chuck — Wed, 11 May 2016 14:23:54 +0000

Beverly, Rubinstein’s ’59 recording of the G minor Ballade is exquisite! My usual reaction to his playing is to notice his economy in the use of pedal but at the same time relish the clarity. With this recording the balance is perfect.

By: brdavis9

brdavis9 — Wed, 11 May 2016 07:13:53 +0000

@bdh "Long after this current political disaster is a historical footnote, Chopin will be quite relevant. Or so I pray." ...from your words to G-d's ears.

By: bdh

bdh — Wed, 11 May 2016 06:26:35 +0000

I have a plebian taste in Chopin; I like what I like, I can tell when it is overdone, but have no ability to say how one is better than the other really. Valdimir Ashkenazy always seems about right to me in his interpretations. Here is his Ballade in G version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXZ70ykfDn0
And thank you Neo for posting something of lasting cultural value to cleanse the continuing bad taste of Trump. Long after this current political disaster is a historical footnote, Chopin will be quite relevant. Or so I pray.

By: Beverly

Beverly — Wed, 11 May 2016 05:11:38 +0000

Feast on this, then: Arthur Rubinstein teaching the Ballade in G Minor (my favorite Chopin, especially as played by Rubinstein) in a master class:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlBmdNm3uhc

Here is the master’s rendition, recorded in 1959:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6VxVmt6UOA

He made a point of not overdubbing mistakes: he wanted his performances whole.

By: The Other Chuck

The Other Chuck — Wed, 11 May 2016 02:46:15 +0000

A less performed piece that he composed at 18 is the Rondo “Krakiowak” here played by Claudio Arrau with the London Philharmonic. Joyous and uplifting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOyTFZ3gkVY

By: chuck

chuck — Tue, 10 May 2016 22:38:33 +0000

> Her rhythm is far more even

She came on the scene somewhat later. Even so, I think she was famous for precision of rhythm. I listened her recording of the E minor concerto while following the piano score and even in the most intense and dramatic passages every d*mn note got its precise value. It was sort of mind boggling.

By: Llwddythlw

Llwddythlw — Tue, 10 May 2016 20:11:44 +0000

Here’s an interesting article about playing Chopin from The New York Times, a former newspaper (to quote Andrew Klavan).

http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/12/arts/classical-view-how-to-play-chopin-cortot-had-answers.html