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Favorite Interpretations/Recordings? |
Ashkenazy |
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18% |
[ 2 ] |
Kissin |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
Pollini |
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9% |
[ 1 ] |
Rubinstein |
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9% |
[ 1 ] |
Zimerman |
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27% |
[ 3 ] |
Other |
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36% |
[ 4 ] |
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Total Votes : 11 |
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PianistSk8er
Infatuated Artiste

Age: 16
Joined: 25 Aug 2004
Posts: 1032
Location: Wainwright, Alberta, Canada
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 1:37 am Post subject: The Chopin Ballades/Scherzos |
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Okay, this could be quite arguable.. which are your favorite interpretations/recordings of these pieces?
For me, I would have to say..
- Zimerman for poetic 'in-touch-with-Chopin' interpretations
- Ashkenazy for VERY interesting interpretations and very neat use of staccato in places I would never have imagined (instead of legato)
- Rubinstein.. gotta love that guy
Your opinions?
(let me know if I should add to the poll)
PS
Last edited by PianistSk8er on Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:36 am; edited 1 time in total |
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aout4
miss small hands rachopininoff lover
Joined: 26 Aug 2004
Posts: 257
Location: besides the piano
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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I haven't heard much of those, but my ears are more familiar with Ashkenazy's Ballades cos I got a cd by him...
same for Scherzo, I got Yundi Li's new cd recently and the interpretation seems good (sorry I don't know how to describe like the way you guys did, so it's "good") |
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Scriabinist
Registered User
Age: 18
Joined: 27 Aug 2004
Posts: 237
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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I kind of like Pogorelich and Bolet for Scherzi. Pogo for da FURY and Bolo for da SPEED. Haha, kidding. I like Rubinstein.
For Ballades, I don't really know. Maybe Zimerman or Pollini but that would be just too common choice. >_> |
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Max
Registered User
Age: 17
Joined: 18 Sep 2004
Posts: 463
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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I like Pollini for the Ballades, Hough for the Scherzi - in fact, Hough for both (except Pollinis exceptional no.2, the only recording I've heard that has the whole picture of the piece) |
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krittyot
Registered User
Joined: 20 Sep 2004
Posts: 35
Location: Asia Continent
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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the 4 ballades by Zimerman really command respect from us, don't you peeps think? |
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PianistSk8er
Infatuated Artiste

Age: 16
Joined: 25 Aug 2004
Posts: 1032
Location: Wainwright, Alberta, Canada
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2005 2:56 am Post subject: |
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Ever hear Horowitz's Ballades? It pains me to say that I'm less than impressed. =S
Opinions? |
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Goldberg
Incorrigible Failure
Age: 17
Joined: 26 Aug 2004
Posts: 815
Location: Cygnus X-1
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:06 am Post subject: |
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Rubinstein. I have ALWAYS been partial to Rubinstein's recordings for Chopin, and have listened to a good deal of them (including, obviously, the Ballades and Scherzi). As I've related several times, he was really the first "real" pianist I ever listened to, and at one point I thought that he was like the ONLY pianist in the world, ever (sorry, Cziffra!). Heh, I was very ignorant for about a year after my lessons....and during that time I really only bothered buying Rubinstein's Chopin discs. Now almost anyone else I listen to Chopin--except for a few individual pieces (and the ones Rubinstein didn't record)--seems to irritate me with "odd" rubato, say, or different tempi, phrasing, ornamentation, etc.
I know it's not a good idea to be so close-minded (and really I'm not entirely closed about it), but that's just how it happened, that I have such a developed affinity to Rubinstein! |
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Helling
Registered User
Joined: 14 Jan 2005
Posts: 135
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:09 am Post subject: |
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Well my anti-Horowitz sentiments are rather known and often give rise to discussions, but in any case I must say that Rubinstein is among my favourites for the ballades.
Incidentally, I cannot really bring to mind many really "legendary" pianists having performed the ballades. I know Rachmaninov recorded the third (and it is not my favourite recording of his but it has more to do with the piece than his playing). Also Paderewski recorded the third and fourth, but his interpretations are often looked upon in a rather negative fashion. There is only a piano roll of the former, and a seriously "beyond prime" radio recording of the latter.
No recording from one of my favourites (Rosenthal) either. Not sure about Friedmann but I think he recorded some. And actually I am not completely updated on Cortot - for some reason I cannot recall exactly which ones he has recorded.
Pollini is not bad for a modern Chopin performer, but I always find his interpretations strangely unsatisfying, as if he does not really bring out everything inherent in pieces. But maybe it is just some subconcious discrimination of contemporary pianists. |
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Goldberg
Incorrigible Failure
Age: 17
Joined: 26 Aug 2004
Posts: 815
Location: Cygnus X-1
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:46 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, I think I know what you mean...
As far as anti-Horowitz sentiments, I think I can sympathise with them in general, and more particularly, I've never been very fond of his Chopin. I'm not sure how deep your sentiments go, however, but I assume I'm probably more fond of him than you are--*although* I don't really listen to him much, except really for Russian music, Beethoven (niether of which I care much for) and Liszt, for whom I have Cziffra...
Anyway, Horowitz's Chopin is just "weird" in my book, but I suppose you can have stranger... |
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Sightreader
Registered User
Joined: 05 Mar 2005
Posts: 43
Location: USA
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2005 6:00 am Post subject: |
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Arrau's Chopin recordings always amaze me. Of course I also like Rubinstein and Ashkenazy, and haven't listened to the others but will have to do so. |
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Brewtality
Registered User
Age: 19
Joined: 26 Aug 2004
Posts: 271
Location: Australia
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2005 10:19 am Post subject: |
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Kissin is on the poll but Cortot isn't? not impressed.
I agree with whats been said about Rubinstein's ballades. I actually prefer his ballade 1 to Hofmann's which had been my favourite until recently. Hofmann's ballade 4 is great, and yeah im a huge Horowitz fan and i like his Chopin.  |
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