Krystian Zimerman: what are his best recordings?

[dr...@andadv.com]

An assortment of Zimerman CDs showed up at a local shop. I have some
Liszt and some Chopin by him and am fairly impressed by what I've
heard. However, I haven't had reason--until now--to delve into other
repertoire by this pianist. What recordings of his should I stay alert
for?

Dirk

[makropulos]

If the Debussy Préludes are there, or his Ravel concertos with Boulez,
then either would be well worth trying.

[Paul Ilechko]

makropulos wrote:
> If the Debussy Préludes are there, or his Ravel concertos with Boulez,
> then either would be well worth trying.

I like his Liszt Sonata, but I'm guessing the OP already has that. How
does Zimerman's Ravel compare with Kocsis, my current favorite in the
concertos?

[makropulos]

Kocsis is very good indeed, but I marginally prefer Zimerman, partly
because of the sheer imaginative flair of his playing (though Kocsis
has plenty of that too), its range of colours, and also because of
Boulez and the orchestra who strike me as more alert-sounding and a bit
more characterful than Kocsis's partners.

[gperkins151]

I second the Debussy preludes, for the second time today! ; )

G e o r g e

[Paul Ilechko]

makropulos wrote:
> Kocsis is very good indeed, but I marginally prefer Zimerman, partly
> because of the sheer imaginative flair of his playing (though Kocsis
> has plenty of that too), its range of colours, and also because of
> Boulez and the orchestra who strike me as more alert-sounding and a bit
> more characterful than Kocsis's partners.

Thanks.

[ne...@thump.org]

On 1 Dec 2006 13:59:13 -0800, dr...@andadv.com wrote:

>Liszt and some Chopin by him and am fairly impressed by what I've
>heard. However, I haven't had reason--until now--to delve into other
>repertoire by this pianist. What recordings of his should I stay alert
>for?

- Chopin Concertos

- Ravel Concertos (with Boulez's x-ray conducting!)

- Debussy Preludes

- Liszt Sonata (combination of bravura and brains that adds an extra
dimension to this piece)

- Schubert Impromtus (though having heard Lupu ....)

- Rachy 1 & 2

- Brahms 1st Concerto (its very impressive but not as distinctive as
some. Lacks risk!)

- Zimmerman's catalogue is as close to immaculate perfection as any
artist I can think of. He is a remarkable musician and one of the most
exciting performers around.

[jrs...@aol.com]

True, but I have trouble reconciling the "immaculate" with the
"exciting". I admire his Debussy but like others better. However, I
have fond memories of his pristine clarity and unwavering sense of
direction in two of the Brahms sonatas on DG, and in various Chopin. I
haven't heard these discs in far too long.

--Jeff

[her...@yahoo.com]

I'd recommend his first recording of the Chopin concertos (though, of
course, it is rather curious Zimerman did not see fit in the
intervening years to record more substantial Chopin works, choosing
instead to make another, slightly inferior recording of the same
concertos.

His Debussy preludes are technically immaculate, but ultimately
lifeless.

Herman

[Gerard]

I was expecting everybody should mention his recording of the Liszt concertos
(DG, with Ozawa). So I thought it should not be necessary to write this.
But it is necessary now.

[Henk van Tuijl]

<her...@yahoo.com> schreef in bericht
news:1165050552.1...@16g2000cwy.googlegroups.com...

Seconded! Zimerman's first recording of
the first Chopin concerto is
outstanding! Later recordings are too
mannered for my taste.

Henk

[Michael Schaffer]

On Dec 1, 5:18 pm, "makropulos" <makropu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Kocsis is very good indeed, but I marginally prefer Zimerman, partly
> because of the sheer imaginative flair of his playing (though Kocsis
> has plenty of that too), its range of colours, and also because of
> Boulez and the orchestra who strike me as more alert-sounding and a bit
> more characterful than Kocsis's partners.

I really like the Bartók recordings with Kocsis, especially because he
is rhythmically so expressive and has a much warmer tone than many
people who play Bartók and think the secret to playing that composer's
music is to bang the notes out of the keyboard. So I would like to hear
the Ravel recordings. Especially the concerto for the left hand!
I see these are available in an attractively priced box with Debussy
piano works (4 CDs). What about those?

[Steve de Mena]

Chopin Ballades, and the two Piano Concerti
(latter recording with him conducting also).

Steve

[Paul Ilechko]

Michael Schaffer wrote:

> I really like the Bartók recordings with Kocsis, especially because he
> is rhythmically so expressive and has a much warmer tone than many
> people who play Bartók and think the secret to playing that composer's
> music is to bang the notes out of the keyboard. So I would like to hear
> the Ravel recordings. Especially the concerto for the left hand!
> I see these are available in an attractively priced box with Debussy
> piano works (4 CDs). What about those?
>

Highly recommended. His Images, while certainly not bad, may not be the
best (I prefer Michelangeli, Moravec and, believe it or not, Aimard),
but the Preludes and Estampes are very good, as are the lesser works.
And the Ravel is superb! For the price you can't go wrong.

[makropulos]

Agreed, with enthusiasm. I've constantly returned to this set since
getting it. Kocsis's playing has real poetry too, as well as plenty of
power where it's called for.

[Steve Emerson]

In article <1165010353.6...@n67g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>,
dr...@andadv.com wrote:

Lutoslawski's concerto, in which his playing has vitality and none of
the manneredness that mars it in many other instances. Of course, if you
haven't got this already it probably means you aren't interested in the
work; IIRC there's only one other recording (Crossley's).

SE.

[Paul Ilechko]

I quite liked Crossley's recording, but didn't like anything else on
that disc ... I'll have to look out for the Zimerman

[jrs...@aol.com]

There's one on Naxos (a pianist named Paleczny) and two different
recordings by pianists named Ewa...I think I may have heard the one by
Kupiec.

Anyway, the Lutoslawski is an essential Zimerman recording, not just
because it's a great piece. But I've never really compared it to other
recordings.

--Jeff

[Michael Schaffer]

On Dec 2, 5:47 am, Paul Ilechko <pilec...@patmedia.net> wrote:
> Michael Schaffer wrote:
> > I really like the Bartók recordings with Kocsis, especially because he
> > is rhythmically so expressive and has a much warmer tone than many
> > people who play Bartók and think the secret to playing that composer's
> > music is to bang the notes out of the keyboard. So I would like to hear
> > the Ravel recordings. Especially the concerto for the left hand!
> > I see these are available in an attractively priced box with Debussy

> > piano works (4 CDs). What about those?Highly recommended. His Images, while certainly not bad, may not be the

> best (I prefer Michelangeli, Moravec and, believe it or not, Aimard),
> but the Preludes and Estampes are very good, as are the lesser works.
> And the Ravel is superb! For the price you can't go wrong.

I already have the Michelangeli recordings, and I could imagine Aimard
to be very interesting (he plays really well in the Beethoven concertos
with Harnoncourt, and I heard him in a number of 20th century pieces),
but I will get the Kocsis box first. I already have Zimerman's Ravel
concertos.

[John_H...@msn.com]

for Zimerman I second the last recording of him conducting and playing
the 2 Chopin concerti; incredible! Hauser

[Michael Schaffer]

On Dec 2, 5:33 pm, John_Hause...@msn.com wrote:

> jrsn...@aol.com wrote:
> > Steve Emerson wrote:

> > > In article <1165010353.678533.300...@n67g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>,

> > > d...@andadv.com wrote:
>
> > > > An assortment of Zimerman CDs showed up at a local shop. I have some
> > > > Liszt and some Chopin by him and am fairly impressed by what I've
> > > > heard. However, I haven't had reason--until now--to delve into other
> > > > repertoire by this pianist. What recordings of his should I stay alert
> > > > for?
>
> > > Lutoslawski's concerto, in which his playing has vitality and none of
> > > the manneredness that mars it in many other instances. Of course, if you
> > > haven't got this already it probably means you aren't interested in the
> > > work; IIRC there's only one other recording (Crossley's).
>
> > > SE.
>
> > There's one on Naxos (a pianist named Paleczny) and two different
> > recordings by pianists named Ewa...I think I may have heard the one by
> > Kupiec.
>
> > Anyway, the Lutoslawski is an essential Zimerman recording, not just
> > because it's a great piece. But I've never really compared it to other
> > recordings.
>

> > --Jefffor Zimerman I second the last recording of him conducting and playing

> the 2 Chopin concerti; incredible! Hauser

Yes, I wanted to ask about that in comparison to his recording with
Giulini. More info please.

[Steve de Mena]

Not much of a comparison. The performances are a
little eccentric, I get the feeling Zimerman
really studied these concerti and felt he had
something today, unlike some pianists who will
play and conduct a Mozart concerto, for example,
and not really impart much of themselves on the
orchestral accompaniment. I hope you can check
it out. I usually pull out this CD, or the
Giulini/LA Phil one, when I want to hear the PC
No.1. (I don't care as much for #2).

Steve

[Richard Schultz]

In article <1165010353.6...@n67g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>, dr...@andadv.com wrote:

: What recordings of his should I stay alert for?

4' 33"

-----
Richard Schultz sch...@mail.biu.ac.il
Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
Opinions expressed are mine alone, and not those of Bar-Ilan University
-----
It's a bird, it's a plane -- no, it's Mozart. . .

[her...@yahoo.com]

>
> Yes, I wanted to ask about that in comparison to his recording with
> Giulini. More info please.

The second recording is inferior. Yes, Zimerman evidently thought
through what he wanted to say; but what he's doing is giving an
unwarranted "depth" to these pieces, making them sluggish in
comparison. When you go back to Giulini you notice there's a vitality
and energy that's rather lacking in the later recording. It's not a bad
performance; it's just not as good as the first one.

Herman

[Gerard]

I don't agree here.
The Giulini recording is good, of course, but yet an "old wise man" recording.
Zimerman shows in his second recording that these concertos are juvenile works.
So for both approaches there is A Zimerman.

[ne...@thump.org]

On 1 Dec 2006 21:38:22 -0800, jrs...@aol.com wrote:

>> - Zimmerman's catalogue is as close to immaculate perfection as any
>> artist I can think of. He is a remarkable musician and one of the most
>> exciting performers around.
>
>True, but I have trouble reconciling the "immaculate" with the
>"exciting".

The Liszt sonata marries spontaneous with immaculate execution I
thought.

[John_H...@msn.com]

Absolute nonsense - Zimerman gives complete passion and thought to the
performances; you hear all the chromatic harmonies in the Chopin - each
note carressed with the others, especially in the slow movements. The
phrasing of Chopin's melodic line is clearer in the later recording.
[I do not discount that fact that both recordings furnish a neat
comparison of interpretations - just that I really prefer the latter
ones]. Hauser

[Paul Ilechko]

How does "I prefer" relate to "absolute nonsense" ?

[Ralph]

Has anyone heard the Beethoven Piano Concertos with Zimerman and
Bernstein on DG? The Beethoven Symphony cycle conducted by Bernstein
with the VPO on DG is one of my favorites, so I would be curious about
this release.

Ralph

[makropulos]

Is this the set where Zimerman himself directs Nos. 1 and 2, and does
Nos. 3-5 with Bernstein conducting? I have the live versions of DVD and
like them very much - also the Brahms Concertos also with the VPO.
Zimerman's partnership with Bernstein seemed to bring out the best of
both of them.

[her...@yahoo.com]

John_H...@msn.com wrote:
> her...@yahoo.com wrote:
> > >
> > > Yes, I wanted to ask about that in comparison to his recording with
> > > Giulini. More info please.
> >
> > The second recording is inferior. Yes, Zimerman evidently thought
> > through what he wanted to say; but what he's doing is giving an
> > unwarranted "depth" to these pieces, making them sluggish in
> > comparison. When you go back to Giulini you notice there's a vitality
> > and energy that's rather lacking in the later recording. It's not a bad
> > performance; it's just not as good as the first one.
> >
> > Herman
> Absolute nonsense - Zimerman gives complete passion and thought to the
> performances; you hear all the chromatic harmonies in the Chopin - each
> note carressed with the others, especially in the slow movements.

That's part of what I meant: a thousand details doesn't necessarily add
up to a thrilling and energetic performance. That's why I prefer the
concertos with Giulini. And, of course, I really prefer other
recordings of the concertos.

Herman

[JohnGavin]

That was my feeling on hearing parts of the 2nd recording by Zimerman -
he's a very refined player who seems sometimes to dangerously fall into
the trap of sounding too precious.

I do like his Brahms Piano Sonatas and his Chopin Ballades work for me
- the Fantasy falls flat but the Barcarolle is quite beautiful.

[Ralph]

makropulos wrote:
> Is this the set where Zimerman himself directs Nos. 1 and 2, and does
> Nos. 3-5 with Bernstein conducting?

Yes

I have the live versions of DVD and
> like them very much - also the Brahms Concertos also with the VPO.
> Zimerman's partnership with Bernstein seemed to bring out the best of
> both of them.
>

Good to hear that the Beethoven is on DVD too.

Ralph

[makropulos]

Ralph - the Emperor in particular is a superb performance, I think.
With any luck these will come out in Europe/US as part of the Unitel
deal with DG and/or Euroarts.

[Huib Huiver]

makropulos schreef:

Zimerman/Bernstein is indeed a great team doing the Emperor but
Zimerman/von Karajan 1982 DG recordings of the Grieg and Schumann piano
concerto's are among my favourites.

I hope Zimerman will sometime do Rach 3 but I doubt he will.

Huib

[Michael Schaffer]

On Dec 3, 9:18 am, "makropulos" <makropu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Is this the set where Zimerman himself directs Nos. 1 and 2, and does
> Nos. 3-5 with Bernstein conducting? I have the live versions of DVD and
> like them very much - also the Brahms Concertos also with the VPO.
> Zimerman's partnership with Bernstein seemed to bring out the best of
> both of them.

I heard Bernstein and Zimerman with the WP play the 2nd Brahms concerto
live in Berlin in 1986. It was great, rather slow but intensely
musical.
The day before, they had been in East Berlin and there Bernstein pulled
this stunt: they had scheduled a brief warming up rehearsal in the
afternoon. There were already a lot of people waiting outside who hoped
to somehow get in. Bernstein was told that it was nearly impossible to
get tickets because these had all been monopolized by party officials.
So he told them that since he and the orchestra didn't know the hall
(the Schauspielhaus or Konzerthaus, as it now called, had just been
completely renovated and rebuilt inside), he needed an impression of
the acoustics with people in it, so he forced them to let the people in
who waited outside, and people were also sent across the street to the
music academy (which literally right across the street behind the hall)
to get as many music students as they could collect. Once the hall was
reasonably filled, Bernstein then proceeded to play the *entire*
program for that audience. Then in the evening, it was found there were
a lot of open seats because many of the party officials who had the
tickets had elected not to come, so Bernstein forced them again to let
people waiting outside in until the seats were filled.
I imagine GDR party officials were not pleased, but they couldn't
really do anything. They didn't want bad press...

[Ralph]

Michael Schaffer wrote:

> I heard Bernstein and Zimerman with the WP play the 2nd Brahms concerto
> live in Berlin in 1986. It was great, rather slow but intensely
> musical.
> The day before, they had been in East Berlin and there Bernstein pulled
> this stunt: they had scheduled a brief warming up rehearsal in the
> afternoon. There were already a lot of people waiting outside who hoped
> to somehow get in. Bernstein was told that it was nearly impossible to
> get tickets because these had all been monopolized by party officials.
> So he told them that since he and the orchestra didn't know the hall
> (the Schauspielhaus or Konzerthaus, as it now called, had just been
> completely renovated and rebuilt inside), he needed an impression of
> the acoustics with people in it, so he forced them to let the people in
> who waited outside, and people were also sent across the street to the
> music academy (which literally right across the street behind the hall)
> to get as many music students as they could collect. Once the hall was
> reasonably filled, Bernstein then proceeded to play the *entire*
> program for that audience. Then in the evening, it was found there were
> a lot of open seats because many of the party officials who had the
> tickets had elected not to come, so Bernstein forced them again to let
> people waiting outside in until the seats were filled.
> I imagine GDR party officials were not pleased, but they couldn't
> really do anything. They didn't want bad press...
>

Great story. You gotta love, Lenny.

[Alex]

"Richard Schultz" <sch...@mail.biu.ack.il> wrote in message
news:ektp16$rci$1...@news.iucc.ac.il...

> In article <1165010353.6...@n67g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>,
dr...@andadv.com wrote:
>
> : What recordings of his should I stay alert for?

Liszt Sonata
Liszt Concertos
Debussy Preludes
Franck Violin Sonata with Dancowska
Brahms Concerto 1 with Rattle
Rachmaninov Concerto 1
Chopin Ballades
Chopin Andante Spianato & Grande Valse

[Richard Schultz]

In article <_eOdnavt44b...@eclipse.net.uk>, Alex <alex138...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
:
: "Richard Schultz" <sch...@mail.biu.ack.il> wrote in message

: news:ektp16$rci$1...@news.iucc.ac.il...
:> In article <1165010353.6...@n67g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>,
: dr...@andadv.com wrote:
:>
:> : What recordings of his should I stay alert for?
:
: Liszt Sonata

[etc.]

Please be careful in your attributions. I did not write any text that
you quoted. Heaven knows that I have better things to do with my time
than to think of a recording by Krystian Zimerman that I'd recommend
to someone who wasn't a sworn enemy.

[gggg...@gmail.com]

On Friday, December 1, 2006 3:33:21 PM UTC-10, gperkins151 wrote:
> makropulos wrote:
> > If the Debussy Préludes are there, or his Ravel concertos with Boulez,
> > then either would be well worth trying.

> >
> > wrote:
> > > An assortment of Zimerman CDs showed up at a local shop. I have some
> > > Liszt and some Chopin by him and am fairly impressed by what I've
> > > heard. However, I haven't had reason--until now--to delve into other

> > > repertoire by this pianist. What recordings of his should I stay alert
> > > for?
> > >
> > > Dirk
>
>
> I second the Debussy preludes, for the second time today! ; )
>
> G e o r g e

The following praises his Debussy Preludes:

http://www.1000recordings.com/music/preludes-krystian-zimerman/

[westover]

בתאריך יום שבת, 2 בדצמבר 2006 14:56:03 UTC+2, מאת Steve de Mena:
> Gerard wrote:

> > dadv.com wrote:
> >> An assortment of Zimerman CDs showed up at a local shop. I have some
> >> Liszt and some Chopin by him and am fairly impressed by what I've
> >> heard. However, I haven't had reason--until now--to delve into other
> >> repertoire by this pianist. What recordings of his should I stay alert
> >> for?
> >>
> >

> > I was expecting everybody should mention his recording of the Liszt concertos
> > (DG, with Ozawa). So I thought it should not be necessary to write this.
> > But it is necessary now.
>
> Chopin Ballades, and the two Piano Concerti
> (latter recording with him conducting also).
>
> Steve

Yes the Ballades are special

Mike

[Herman]

As I recall there was a fair amount of criticism when the Debussy came out, for Zimerman being to clinical / analytical with this music, an impression that was perhaps boosted by the cold DG engineering.

[sunn...@gmail.com]

His Schubert Impromptus. My favorite.