Forums - Classical Music Thread

CAJames

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Re: Classical Music Thread
Reply #1250 - 03/25/26 at 04:10:04

Much like Mozart, Prokofiev did some of his best work for piano and orchestra. And it seems like critics are catching up to what I though the first time I heard Prokofiev's 2nd piano concerto: that is certainly the greatest piano concerto since Beethoven's, and one of the finest concertos of any kind ever written.

On CD

The key to Yefim Bronfman and Zubin Metha's performance is the virtuosity is in the service of Prokofiev's musical ideas, not the point of the piece.

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CAJames

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Re: Classical Music Thread
Reply #1251 - 03/26/26 at 18:52:50

And Beethoven's Fifth. This time I went with Leonard Bernstein's New York Phil recording, which in this reporters opinion is one of the best. Like much of Lenny's work in New York it is both dramatic and nuanced, and has that subtle rhythmic "swing" that never draws attention to itself, but keeps the music moving. Unlike many Columbia/CBS/Sony recordings of the 60s the sound is pretty good.

On CD.

Bernstein also recorded a famous lecture about the piece, which I find to be one of the best bits of "music appreciation" I've ever heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_iRyNsOtMQ

FYI/FWIW

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CAJames

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Re: Classical Music Thread
Reply #1252 - 03/27/26 at 21:28:07

Muzio Clementi was a contemporary of Mozart and Beethoven. And a pianist of (almost) equal virtuosity. Also an important composer who was an influence on Chopin and Liszt among others. But his music was mostly unknown in the late 20th century until Maria Tipo started playing, and recording, it. And it is pretty amazing.

On CD

Clementi was by born in Italy, but moved to England as a teenager and (mostly) lived there the rest of his life. So while they call Clementi Tipo's countryman, it is just barely correct.

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CAJames Seasoned Member "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 3161	Re: Classical Music Thread Reply #1253 - 03/28/26 at 16:39:28 How good is your system? Esa-Pekka Solonen's CBS recording is both a great performance and a sonic tour de force. If you can play both the sotto voce opening and the final apotheosis without adjusting the volume you can play pretty much anything. On CD
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CAJames Seasoned Member "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 3161	Re: Classical Music Thread Reply #1254 - Yesterday at 21:31:36 BWV 140 is on the short list of the Bach's Greatest Cantatas, and it is easy to hear why. Bach didn't write operas, he wrote church music, but this church music is certainly operatic, in the best possible way. It also has one of the catchiest tunes Bach ever wrote. On CD from the Rilling/Bach Box
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CAJames

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red light on memory
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Posts: 3161

Re: Classical Music Thread
Reply #1255 - Today at 03:09:06

Does evil dissolve in art? Walter Gieseking and Herbert von Karajan were two towering figures in 20th century music. They were also enthusiastic Nazis. Their status as the former is amply demonstrated by their 1951 recording of Beethoven's 4th and 5th Piano Concertos. How the latter fits in is up to the reader.

On CD from the Gieseking Complete Columbia box.

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Donnie Seasoned Member Why does it hurt when I pee? Posts: 2476	Re: Classical Music Thread Reply #1256 - Today at 03:35:51 When I asked AI what Classical recording I should listen to, this popped up. The same Nazi guy CAJames was just listening to. Not my usual cup of tea, but I listened to the whole thing. No kidding, I really listened to the whole thing.
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CAJames Seasoned Member "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 3161	Re: Classical Music Thread Reply #1257 - Today at 15:00:16 Hum, Symphonie Fantastique isn't my usual cupa' either. Did you do something to piss off your AI? Apologies to any Berlioz fans.
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CAJames

Seasoned Member

"I've run every
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Posts: 3161

Re: Classical Music Thread
Reply #1258 - Today at 16:09:04

Alfred Cortot is not well known today, but he was a very big deal in the first half of the 20th century and widely admired by pianists of the post WWII generation. He also held an important position in the Vichy government, if you're keeping score.

His recordings are pretty amazing, my recent listen was Chopin Ballads and Impromptus. The performances are simultaneously wildly romantic and dry-eyed unsentimental. Intensely intellectual and passionately poetic. And based on the sound from the Abby Road Studio you'd never guess the recordings were 90+ years old.

On CD from the Cortot/Warner box.

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