What are you listening to now?

[Michael]

Just caught the last movement of the "Waldstein" on radio, played by Barry Douglas. He took it quite slowly and didn't display any fireworks until the middle section of the rondo, and again towards the end. I must say it worked very well and makes a change from those pianists who feel they have to show off in this work. I wonder how the opening and middle movements went.

[Peter]

The gorgeous Chopin Impromptu no.2 in F# which I'm learning at present!

[atserriotserri]

Furtwangler's 2nd symphony, played by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra directed by Daniel Barenboim. Quite a beautiful detail on the cd is that it is included the picture (dated 1954) of the moment young Barenboim and his parents first met Furtwangler in Salzburg.

I'm curious about Furtwangler's compositions and more after having listened this symphony. Is any member of the forum familiar with his music?

[Peter]

Furtwangler's 2nd symphony, played by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra directed by Daniel Barenboim. Quite a beautiful detail on the cd is that it is included the picture (dated 1954) of the moment young Barenboim and his parents first met Furtwangler in Salzburg.

I'm curious about Furtwangler's compositions and more after having listened this symphony. Is any member of the forum familiar with his music?

Not at all! That's interesting - what did you make of the symphony?

[Michael]

Beethoven's third piano sonata (or, if you want to be pedantic, his sixth)
Opus 2, No. 3 played by (who else) Alfred Brendel.

[atserriotserri]

Not at all! That's interesting - what did you make of the symphony?

In the shop where I regularly buy classical music they have a 3cd box of his chamber music and also a piano concerto recording and I hear them calling me...

I have just been able to listen to the symphony 2 times while studying a case at work, which is not a proper listening, but I'll try to express my impressions:

The reference tro Bruckner is obliged for its dimension: 80 min with a 4th movement spanning 30 min. it is grandiloquent and I would not (and this is my personal impression) define it as "tragic", but as thoughtful. The cronology indicates that the symphony was composed between 1944 and 1948, therefore in what allegedly was Furtwangler's most difficult moment (as stated on the liner notes), with his reputation attacked, scape to Switzerland, etc... One of the aspects that arose my interest is the tension between reflexive, sad, affected, passionate or even dramatic passages and quieter or ligher and more optimistic ones, that's why I would not describe the simphony as "tragic" but it is a personal sensitivity matter.

I find it by no means a simple work; its thoughtful nature implies long developments of melodies, and the orchestration is majestuous. A very compelling work.

[Peter]

Ravel's Piano concerto in G - shades of Gershwin I think in this remarkable piece, or was the influence the other way round?

[DavidO]

Ravel's Piano concerto in G - shades of Gershwin I think in this remarkable piece, or was the influence the other way round?

I've always detected Gershwin in that piece, as well as some other mid- & late-period Ravel. As I recall, Harold Schonberg (in The Lives of the Great Composers) considered the influence as Gershwin's on Ravel.

Who was performing in the recording you heard? Argerich?

[Peter]

I've always detected Gershwin in that piece, as well as some other mid- & late-period Ravel. As I recall, Harold Schonberg (in The Lives of the Great Composers) considered the influence as Gershwin's on Ravel.

Who was performing in the recording you heard? Argerich?

Yes I think it more likely the influence was coming from Gershwin. The pianist is Francois-Joel Thiollier on the Naxos label

[Preston]

Listening to Greig's A-minor piano concerto. Not sure which movement it is? It is quite a powerful movement.

If you have high-speed internet, here is the link to the movement:
http://media.soundsonline.com/ip/mp3...osendorfer.mp3

[Joy]

This morning on radio was Beethoven's King Stephen. Upon our symphony's return in September they will be performing Beethoven's 9th symphony.

[Preston]

Listening to Chopin's Op. 25 Etude #11, . It starts off so simple in the first three bars and then bang, it starts going wild. Has anyone else heard this piece- and if anyone knows more about the etudes, please tell?

http://vsl.co.at/downloader.asp?file...11_distant.mp3

[Hofrat]

Beethoven's string quintet in C opus 29, a work not heard enough IMHO. BTW, the Norwegian National Collection has but one Beethoven manuscript and that is a half-page of the above mentioned quintet, and I held it in my hands without gloves!

[Peter]

Listening to Chopin's Op. 25 Etude #11, . It starts off so simple in the first three bars and then bang, it starts going wild. Has anyone else heard this piece- and if anyone knows more about the etudes, please tell?

http://vsl.co.at/downloader.asp?file...11_distant.mp3

Yes Preston, this is one that I've played - a terrific showpiece! Chopin's etudes are very challenging to play but extremely rewarding not only technically but also musically which is in contrast to the many sets of studies written before. The two sets of studies contain a huge varitey of pieces designed to aid in the development of the pianist. Some are formidable like the study in thirds or the one in octaves. Believe it or not but the virtuoso pianist Godowsky considered them too easy and rearranged them making them twice as difficult!

[Preston]

Thank you for the reply and information Peter. So the etudes are something of a set of studies, correct?

That must be a great enjoyment, to sit down and play the piano- good. How long have you been playing? I hope to be able to do that one day.

I read some on Godowsky. I had never heard of him- "the pianist of pianists". He must have been great. I found an image on Wikipedia of one of his arrangements of a Chopin etude (Op. 25 #1)- a lot of notes for both hands, at a very fast speed!

Also, I have read that when Beethoven was in his prime as a pianist, that it would be hard to match him- concerning pianist past, present, and future. Is this true?