Paderewski PC & Martucci PC2

[Alan Howe]

A powerful coupling from pianist Nelson Goerner:
https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/piano-concertos/hnum/8536900

[eschiss1]

Ah, from the NIFC inhouse label (see chopin.nifc.pl and http://chopin.nifc.pl/festival.) Couldn't quite make that out even from the magnified CD label, but a bit of Googling helped. Nice coupling (and I'm happy to see another recording of the Martucci from a good pianist!)

[Alan Howe]

My copy arrived today and I can honestly say that I've never heard a performance of the Martucci that comes anywhere near the stature of this one. The coda of the first movement, for example, is simply hair-raising in its intensity. Quite extraordinary. And isn't the piece itself one of the stars in the unsung firmament? Surely it's a masterpiece...

[Revilod]

I was going to get this disc but the new "Gramophone" makes some harsh criticisms of the orchestral playing, in Paderewski's concerto in particular. If you've heard this disc, how much of a worry is this?

[Alan Howe]

I haven't listened to the Paderewski yet. I bought the CD for the Martucci. Both are live performances, of course, so some allowances may have to be made for this - and both recordings (made on two separate occasions) are rather 'splashy', so they're not the ultimate in clarity, although they have terrific impact. I can't say I found anything in the orchestral accompaniments distractingly bad, but perhaps I'm not the best judge. Nevertheless, Nelson Goerner is a titan in both works. I'd still recommend the disc - urgently.

[petershott@btinternet.com]

Independently of whether or not the comments in the Gramophone are justified, I would hope that the sniping of one particular critic does not undermine the success of this especially welcome release. Both concertos gained significant praise following their first performances but then fell into woeful and undeserved neglect in later years. If this release tends to resurrect them then the disc deserves to be celebrated (and purchased!).

And surely worth remembering a most obvious point: 99% of the concerts we attend contain some 'blemish' or a feature that gets you thinking 'it might have been better if.....' But that's no reason not to go to concerts for you'd be the real loser in that case. Same with a recorded performance surely. We don't live in a world where everything comes along neatly parcelled into pieces of sheer perfection, and if it did then, as Schopenhauer suggested, we'd quickly get bored with it!

[musiclover]

Personally I think that there are pluses and minuses for live recordings and they should stand as a testament of exactly that; live recordings.
If I think of live recordings of Leonard Bernstein for instance, his were always much more spontaneous than his studio recordings as interpretations, however many are "blemished" by some spontaneous orchestral playing. They don't compare in perfection terms with his studio recordings. I think in the case of many live recordings if an orchestra simply isn't up to the job then they are not worth having unless they show us what a previously unheard work actually sounds like and they come across as merely vanity. When one is dealing with great orchestras playing at the top of their game then IMHO they are worth having, but they are in their own category of "live recordings". It sounds in this particular case that the orchestra did not not match the artistry of the soloist. That brings up another issue; namely if we want to hear a great soloist and the only recording is with a less than consistent orchestra.....it could go on and on this!

[Alan Howe]

In this particular case, the CD is definitely worth buying.

[Alan Howe]

It's a disc containing two fabulous performances. Just checking out my original opinion...

[Febct]

Do you know the Caramiello performance of the Martucci concerto on ASV?  I haven't listened in some time so - how, if at all, does it stand up to Goerner?

And I've been happy with my copy of Piers Lane's Paderewski on Hyperion.

Does the Martucci alone make this worth buying?  Your effusive comments lead me to think so.

[Alan Howe]

The performances are live - that's probably what makes them special. But I've bought multiple recordings of the Martucci because I really rate it and the Paderewski turned out to be a bonus (and an equally exciting performance). Another plus point is the pianist, Nelson Goerner. He is just tremendous. So, if you have the funds in these difficult times...

Actually, you can find both performances on YouTube, so you can judge for yourself.

[Febct]

Comments: appreciated.  Funding: not a problem.

Thanks - it's on my shopping list.

[Alan Howe]

Here's the Martucci: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvx4jTn_CZc

And here's the Paderewski:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vECCTyW8-rY  (i)
                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn5rt-GzwEg   (ii)
                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjAcTfyrr2M   (iii)

[Febct]

Here's the Martucci: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvx4jTn_CZc

And here's the Paderewski:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vECCTyW8-rY  (i)
                                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn5rt-GzwEg  (ii)
                                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjAcTfyrr2M  (iii)

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