Anyone interested in Chamber Music?
Thu, Oct 25 2012, 10:45PM
#2
RE: Anyone interested in Chamber Music?
Chris, I remind you, if I have not informed you so far, that there is a superb (as it is expected) recording, in SACD as usual, with the Prazak Quartet, on Praga. With all due respect to the undoubtedly great performance by the Vegh, I believe this is an all-round superlative recording of Schubert's G major String Quartet by Schubert.
As for the "desert island" lists, I have expressed, on another thread, my serious doubts how they can possibly work. For sure, you are going to miss a lot you shouldn't. Of course, as an exercise of mind, it might be a sort of fun, since we all know there is no "desert island" situation. If things go wrong, there is only the...desert!..
Parla
Fri, Oct 26 2012, 1:20PM
#3
RE: Anyone interested in Chamber Music?
Thanks Parla. I had not forgotten about the Prazak Quartet recording. It was very expensive when I found it with difficulty before. I just looked again today and have found it at a reasonable price! In fact I can buy both the Prazak and the Vegh versions for less than the previous asking price for the one.
The Prazak recording of the Quintet that you recommended is superb but everything I've heard from the Veghs has been wonderful too so I suppose I shall have to buy both!!
Glad I will not have to go to a desert island to hear them.
Chris
Mon, Nov 5 2012, 9:38AM
#4
RE: Anyone interested in Chamber Music?
Another Schoenberg chamber music piece is his Serenade. I have a marvellous performance of this piece on my site by the Vesuvius Ensemble broadcast 40 odd years ago. It is much less immediately appealing than Verklerte Nacht but if you adopt the "unfamiliar music" regime of playing it through several times, specifically not paying much attention, when you come to sit down and give it your full attention you may be pleasantly surprised. This might also work for Bloch's piano quartet, another unusual composition, which is in the section of classical 78s. My mother bought this as a gift for my father, I think she might have had Bruch in mind.
Back to the more familiar : Ravel's Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet and String Quartet is one of the peaks of the chamber music repertoire.
I was present at a performance of this wonderful work in the Abbey of St. Michel near Prades during the Annual Casals Festival. It was being recorded for French Radio. Toward the end the harpist broke a string with clearly audible results so the whole performance had to be rerecorded! Bliss.
Sat, Dec 22 2012, 6:14PM
#5
RE: Anyone interested in Chamber Music?
Just started loking at the forums and discovered that yes, there are chamber music aficionados about. I am in awe of the 20K CD collection with double digit versions of the major chamber works collected by Parla. I agree wholeheartedly with a previous post stating that there is less argument about choosing the greatest version in chamber music, because its about the composition and the intimate interaction between the players. It is truly a small group effort as oposed to the conductors vision and ability to get what he wants from the orchestra.
Of course interpretations vary over time and I find it refreshes my interest for the old chestnuts, Beethoven, Schubert Mozart and Haydn quartets, and many others (of which I know every note and can even whistle or vocalize) to hear the many different ways to approach these masterpieces. To me chamber music is the ultimate in the economical use of means. With just a few parts (even solo) a great composer can convey all the counterpoint, harmony and emotion that he can with the huge orchestra, if not all the timbre. That is why, after reveling in the great orchestral works, I go for the cerebral attraction of chamber music, where every note is critical to the whole, and it is easier to actually hear each part seperately and see how the artists decide to emphasize one aspect or another. What effect are they attempting to achieve? How do they elucidate aspects of the work you had not heared before? How does the performance make you feel?
That is why I can honestly say I like many different versions of the same pieces, for different reasons. I agree wholeheartedly about the Vegh Beethovens. I treasure my vinyl version. But I also listen to the Berg, Emerson, and Italians. I will never stop getting different versions because I always hear something new.
I wonder if, like me, chamber music entusiasts tend to like small group jazz, as there are many aspects that are similar.
Re: Lieder, I finally got the Diskeau version of the complete Schubert lieder. What musicianship. Truly great chamber works.
I will comb over this now longish topic to glean suggestions for new purchases, and new music I have never heard. Maybe I even have a few the majority have not heard. I'll be back. Thanks for starting this thread.
David
Houston, Texas
Sat, Dec 22 2012, 11:36PM
#6
RE: Anyone interested in Chamber Music?
Hi, David. Thank you for appreciating that much Chamber Music and comprehending some of the reasons I initiated this thread.
Responding to some of your points of your post:
- Try Beethoven's String Quartets with at least the Talich (now, in La Dolce Volta) and the Prazak (in Praga, on SACD).
- I listen to Jazz Trios or Quartets and Quintets but only by some very musical jazz artists (Jarrett, Corea, Marsalis, Haden, Peacock, Motian etc). However, there is no comparison with Classical Chamber Music. There are some nice, sometimes great performances in jazz.
- For some unknown or let's say rare Chamber works, you may give a shot to the Piano Trios by Friedrich Kiel or Hans Pfitzner (or in 20th century, by Gaspar Cassado or Frank Martin or even Villa-Lobos). Liszt's Chamber Music has enough interest and some surprises, particularly the Music for Violin and Piano. Korngold's superb Piano Quintet, the intriguing String Quartet by Magnard, Nino Rota's lovely Clarinet Trio, Weinberg's great String Quartets, the often overlooked but lovely String Quartets by Ariaga or the neglected but charming and almost sublime Violin Sonata in G by Lekeu or the magnificent Piano Quartet by Chausson.
There are much more, but let's stop here. If you're interested, more may follow.
Parla
Sun, Dec 23 2012, 4:14PM
#7
RE: Anyone interested in Chamber Music?
The best chamber recording I have heard this year is the great Soviet string trio of Kogan,Barshai,and Rostropovich playing Beethoven,Trio no1,op3.
Through sheer artistry they make a minor work of LVB sound like a masterpiece.All three were great musicians in their own right,you can feel from the MK recording they are giving Beethoven their all and not treating the work lightly.
Such a shame that Leonid Kogan and Mstisav Rostropovich could not stand the sight of each other,and had continual heated arguments about politics.This animosity led to the break up of not only the String Trio group,but also the famous Piano Trio with Emil Gillels.Yet when they made music,they were as one.
Mon, Dec 31 2012, 10:51AM
#8
RE: Anyone interested in Chamber Music?
After attending about a dozen chamber music concerts last week, both frontstage and backstage, I'd definitely answer the question of this thread with yes. I was espeically blown away by yesterday's performance of this piece, by Janine Jansen, Boris Brovtsyn, Maxim Rysanov, Torleif Thedéen and Martin Fröst.
Tue, Jan 1 2013, 1:14PM
#9
RE: Anyone interested in Chamber Music?
Brumas, if this subtle but magnificent work of Chamber Music (Brahms' Clarinet Quintet) gave some good thrills, I trust you will have plenty to admire in his quite prolific production of Chamber Works. I just mention few "must" listening gems:
- String Quintet in G, op.111
- The String Quartets
- The Piano Quintet in f minor
- The Piano Quartets (at least the First and Third are striking examples in the medium).
And then, there are some interesting to wonderful Piano Trios, Violin or Cello Sonatas, etc.
Happy New Year, Brumas.
Parla
Wed, Jan 9 2013, 5:28PM
#10
RE: Anyone interested in Chamber Music?
Parla,
Thanks for the suggestions. Just received the Talich Beethovens and am comparing to the Emersons. First Impressions of the Op. 18: The Talich are more intimate, more relaxed, warmer than the Emersons. The recordings are superb with excellent ambience and absolutely clear individual parts, with excellent detail. I can hear the friction of the rosined bow on the string! The tempi are more relaxed. I realize many have criticized the Emersons for their (blazingly) fast tempi. Yet I think they conceive of the quartets in a more dramatic (strum and drang) fashion. Its not just showing off their "technique to burn." Having attended many of their performances and spoken to their (now ex) cellist, David Finckel this is clear to me. So for me, I love the Talich but there are different moods to satisfy and sometimes a bold approach hits the spot. Same goes for my Vegh set...love them all, keeps the Beethovens fresh going back and forth between versions. I would be interested in your comments.
Also, got some Weinberg and wondered how I had missed these. Fantastic ... melodic, rhythmic, diverse, and Russian, clearly in the same general concept as Shostakovich, but definitely his own compositional style. Only got one disk, and am now ordering the rest to be complete. Any favorites of yours? I looked in my collection and I have Weinberg Cello Sonatas, Clarinet and Flute Concerti - need to re-listen to them. I understand he wrote 22 symphonies, piano sonatas, etc. Do you have suggestions for his symphonies, violin & piano music. etc. What about his soundtracks?
Chausson, Rota and Mangard on the way from Amazon!
Thanks so much for the suggestions so far. Parla, from where do you hail?
David
Wed, Jan 9 2013, 6:20PM
#11
RE: Anyone interested in Chamber Music?
Parla, from where do you hail?
Ever read Dante's Inferno?
Wed, Jan 9 2013, 11:47PM
#12
RE: Anyone interested in Chamber Music?
Jane, although you try very hard, you fail to be bad. You get more charming and entertaining all the time. Thanks a lot.
David, thanks for your interest in Chamber Music. I will reply to your questions tomorrow, as it's getting darker and darker in the infinite Inferno, where my shadow dwells.
Best wishes,
Parla
Thu, Jan 10 2013, 11:15PM
#13
RE: Anyone interested in Chamber Music?
So, David, trying to answer most of your questions or queries:
- For Beethoven's String Quartets, any (or almost any) recording has something to offer. Some are more prominent, favourite, popular and technically superb, but almost any recording with different Quartets is interesting. The Vegh is a "must", as the first "modern" view of the works vis a vis a very Classic/traditional one such as the sublime Hungarian Quartet. More recently, The Prazak recorded in SACD the whole series, on Praga Digitals, in a superb performances and brilliant recordings. Likewise, the Tokyo Quartet has recorded a new, almost all SACD, recording for HM. Very impressive, full of musicianship, bright recordings and thoughtful performances. The list can go on with various other groups (e.g. the Cleveland Quartet, the Lindsays, The Borodin Quartet, the Taneyev Quartet and so on).
- Weinberg was a well kept secret, which slowly comes out of the shell. You may follow the excellent, if not brilliant, recordings of Chandos on his orchestral music (the Cello Concerto along with Symphony No.20 is a wonderful SACD). His Piano Music is quite interesting. There are marvelous recordings on Grand Piano and the Divine Art labels. For the Cello music, you should buy the Praga recording with the two Cello/Piano Sonatas, the first Solo Cello Sonata and the String Trio. Stunning all the way and in every aspect. For the String Quarets, you should follow the excellent series of CPO with the complete works for the medium, with Quatuor Danel, in fine recordings. Finally, for his Violin Concerto, try the Naxos recording, along with the also intriguing Violin Concerto of Miaskovsky.
From the Russians, try also Taneyev and Glazunov, at least. Schnittke needs good nerves and solid health. Otherwise...Shchredrin is another well kept secret. Great musicianship, very creative compositions. However, not that productive in Chamber Music.
All the best, David, in your quest in Chamber Music. At your disposal (from wherever I may be found), anytime (as long as my shadow lasts).
Parla
Ganymede, I didn't know there was a recording of the Schubert G major quartet by the Vegh. Thanks for that!
And thank YOU for your kind words, also regarding Sibelius a while back!
The recording is on Orfeo, see http://www.mdt.co.uk/bartok-streichquartett-no-3-sz-d-887-vegh-quartett-orfeo.html
Enjoy it! :-)