Some essentiel recordings

Bela Bartok, piano pieces and piano concerto no 3.

I am a fan of Zoltan Kocsis, the faboulos hungarian pianist. And his homework with Bela Bartoks music is a great thing to marvel.

From his complete Philips recordings I choose the vol. no 2 and 4, and the 3. pianoconcerto.

Ludwig van Beethoven, piano sonata "Hammerklavier" opus 106.

This version of climbing Mt. Everest at the piano, is a long time love. I like many other versions from Gilels, Schiff, Goode etc., but this is special and it is special in the good way. So as with many other recordings Richter is the man, never boring, draw attentions to the composer and the music. No circus, just Beethoven.

 

Joseph Haydn, Symphonies

Fresh as cool water, never ending in new ideas. Thats  how I hear Haydn, he often takes my best listening hours, and that is a never ending love.
This trio from Orpheus and Mackerras are from this planet, the playing and sounds is from heaven.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Modest Mussorgsky, Pictures of an exhibition

The piano version is my favourite version (but I do love the Ravel too). Two versions is for the time my "winners". The famous old Sofia recording Sviatoslav Richter, and 1989 recording by Nicolai Demidenko on the Hyperion label.
The Richter is still unsurpassed, and so it could be for many years to come. 

The Demidenko version is fanstastic in every way, it is a joy to walk the atelier and hear the pictures. Add - that the recording is phenomenal, bravo to Hyperion. The Prokofiev pieces is a splendid addition.

 

Robert Schumann, Piano Concerto A moll Opus 54.

This wonderfull concerto has a special place in my musicheart. There is many fine recordings of the work, but as time goes I will mension these 3, because they are the ones I play most often, they all have "that special"

Ivan Moravec and Chech Philharmonic/Vaclav Neumann  (Supraphon). The LP is very fine, but I hope it is availabale in CD format.The coupling is Cesar Francks Symphonic Variations, it is always a pleasure to listen to. Ivan Moravec is a pianist that plays the composers notes, and his understanding and performances is always second to none.

Evgeny Kissin and Bayerische RFO/Colin Davis (Sony)
This is a splendid record. Kissin is now a mature artist and have totally understanding of the work, he gets a good match from Davis and the orchestra. Add that the recording is splendid, you hear everything of Schumanns great writing in the orchestra, and the piano is in right place. Another add is the coupling of Mozart's C moll concerto (Figaro concerto),

Rudolf Serkin and Philadelphia Orch./Eugene Ormandy (Sony)
This is another great classic. A pianist who can do anything, sensible, romantic, power if needed in a great chess match with the Philadelphians and the warm robust Ormandy. Don't miss it. Could this be the best of all? I cant tell you, but it is hairraising, even if you know the concerto forward or backwards..