On Mon, 22 Jul 2024 11:20:24 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

I have not listened to Chopin's 2nd piano concerto
in quite some time, and I feel like revisiting it.

Suggestions and recommendations much appreciated,
especially of more recent performances, preferably
live -- say post 1980.

TIA!

Roger Woodward, original version for piano and string quartet.

Fumiko Shiraga, version adapted for piano and string quintet.

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On Tue, 23 Jul 2024 6:37:56 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

On Tue, 23 Jul 2024 2:38:11 +0000, Rachmaninoff wrote:

On Mon, 22 Jul 2024 11:20:24 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

I have not listened to Chopin's 2nd piano concerto
in quite some time, and I feel like revisiting it.

Suggestions and recommendations much appreciated,
especially of more recent performances, preferably
live -- say post 1980.

TIA!

Roger Woodward, original version for piano and string quartet.

Fumiko Shiraga, version adapted for piano and string quintet.

Thanks!

Is there a version for piano solo? ;-)

Not by anyone I am familiar with! But there is a Katsaris version for
two pianos, and assorted solo arrangements of the Largo.

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On Wed, 24 Jul 2024 4:48:35 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

On Tue, 23 Jul 2024 2:38:11 +0000, Rachmaninoff wrote:

On Mon, 22 Jul 2024 11:20:24 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

I have not listened to Chopin's 2nd piano concerto
in quite some time, and I feel like revisiting it.

Suggestions and recommendations much appreciated,
especially of more recent performances, preferably
live -- say post 1980.

TIA!

Roger Woodward, original version for piano and string quartet.

Fumiko Shiraga, version adapted for piano and string quintet.

I liked the latter. The former sounds rather meh.

Thanks!

No problem! I figured I'd mention a couple of non-standard performances
since you've probably heard most of the famous recordings already. But I
agree, Shiraga is better. Her entire recorded output is recommendable,
she breathes life into the Mozart concertos as chamber pieces arranged
by Hummel.

For the regular version of the concerto, I haven't heard anything
post-1980 that comes close to matching much older performances.

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On Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:31:56 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

On Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:27:06 +0000, Rachmaninoff wrote:

On Wed, 24 Jul 2024 4:48:35 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

On Tue, 23 Jul 2024 2:38:11 +0000, Rachmaninoff wrote:

Roger Woodward, original version for piano and string quartet.

Fumiko Shiraga, version adapted for piano and string quintet.

I liked the latter. The former sounds rather meh.

Thanks!

No problem! I figured I'd mention a couple of non-standard performances
since you've probably heard most of the famous recordings already. But I
agree, Shiraga is better. Her entire recorded output is recommendable,
she breathes life into the Mozart concertos as chamber pieces arranged
by Hummel.

For the regular version of the concerto, I haven't heard anything
post-1980 that comes close to matching much older performances.

How about Konrad Skolarski?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpXd11YFFrQ

This is a live performance from 2017.

Thx

This is a new one to me, I will check it out, thanks!

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On Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:58:52 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

On Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:45:35 +0000, Rachmaninoff wrote:

On Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:31:56 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

How about Konrad Skolarski?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpXd11YFFrQ

This is a live performance from 2017.

This is a new one to me, I will check it out, thanks!

Thanks for listening. Have you heard any
other Skolarski performances? There are
a few on YouTube.

Cheers!

I liked the Skolarski performance a lot, thanks for recommending him.
He's different, varying the phrasing, dynamics, and tempo a lot more
than most other pianists today. He reminds me a bit of Babayan. He is
new to me, this is my first hearing of him. I will check out his other performances.

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On Thu, 25 Jul 2024 5:58:07 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

On Thu, 25 Jul 2024 4:59:15 +0000, Rachmaninoff wrote:

On Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:58:52 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

On Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:45:35 +0000, Rachmaninoff wrote:

On Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:31:56 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

How about Konrad Skolarski?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpXd11YFFrQ

This is a live performance from 2017.

This is a new one to me, I will check it out, thanks!

Thanks for listening. Have you heard any
other Skolarski performances? There are
a few on YouTube.

Cheers!

I liked the Skolarski performance a lot,
thanks for recommending him. He's different,
varying the phrasing, dynamics, and tempo a
lot more than most other pianists today.

Glad you liked it!

He reminds me a bit of Babayan.

Indeed.

He is new to me, this is my first hearing of
him. I will check out his other performances.

He plays your works wonderfully! ;-)

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=skolarski+rachmaninov

including one of the top 2nd sonatas on record:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY8y2sbAui4

and a topnotch 2nd concerto:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdUKkC3QGbY

Enjoy!

Thanks!

Here is Chopin's solo arrangement played by Katsaris (it's not on
youtube).

https://open.spotify.com/album/5ryU7SbyAgM4gIwPvpVpFD

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On Mon, 29 Jul 2024 3:09:48 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

On Sun, 28 Jul 2024 6:29:30 +0000, Rachmaninoff wrote:

On Thu, 25 Jul 2024 5:58:07 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

On Thu, 25 Jul 2024 4:59:15 +0000, Rachmaninoff wrote:

On Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:58:52 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

On Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:45:35 +0000, Rachmaninoff wrote:

On Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:31:56 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

How about Konrad Skolarski?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpXd11YFFrQ

This is a live performance from 2017.

This is a new one to me, I will check it out, thanks!

Thanks for listening. Have you heard any
other Skolarski performances? There are
a few on YouTube.

Cheers!

I liked the Skolarski performance a lot,
thanks for recommending him. He's different,
varying the phrasing, dynamics, and tempo a
lot more than most other pianists today.

Glad you liked it!

He reminds me a bit of Babayan.

Indeed.

He is new to me, this is my first hearing of
him. I will check out his other performances.

He plays your works wonderfully! ;-)

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=skolarski+rachmaninov

including one of the top 2nd sonatas on record:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY8y2sbAui4

and a topnotch 2nd concerto:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdUKkC3QGbY

Here is Chopin's solo arrangement played by
Katsaris (it's not on youtube).

https://open.spotify.com/album/5ryU7SbyAgM4gIwPvpVpFD

What do you think of Pletnev?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni9qb10nbVo

or his arrangement of the concerto?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTstrIAWyWM
(performed by Trifonov, conducted by Pletnev)

Cheers!

I like Pletnev's performance from his peak period of the late 90s/early
00s, when he combined awesome technique with great freedom, spontaneity,
and imagination, though I don't think this concerto performance is quite
as exalted as some of his other interpretations from this period.

As for Pletnev's arrangement, I like the Russian sound, I think it's
compatible with Chopin, though I think he overdoes it in several places.
I'm not a purist with this stuff, I find Chopin's orchestration
perfectly adequate, but I am open to playing around with it. I like
Trifonov but I am not crazy about his Chopin. I mean it's fine, but
nothing special.

Have you heard the new Rachmaninoff two-piano album with Trifonov and
Babayan? The playing is electric.

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On Mon, 29 Jul 2024 4:58:26 +0000, DeepBlue wrote:

On Mon, 29 Jul 2024 4:48:57 +0000, Rachmaninoff wrote:

Have you heard the new Rachmaninoff two-piano album
with Trifonov and Babayan? The playing is electric.

Yes, but I don't like Treif. There is no shortage
of superb 2 piano Rachy performances on the market.

Cheers!

Ignore Trifonov and just focus on Babayan's playing!

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