Forgotten Performers

JohnGavin

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 10:00:48 AM12/24/21

to

Christmas Eve somehow seems like a good time to remember musicians who have been largely forgotten. In many cases their recordings have gone into oblivion with the advent of CDs.

If nobody chooses to contribute, there are so many forgotten performers that I’ll the thread going for a while.

Sylvia Marlowe

Harpsichordist active around 1945 - 1980. She commissioned many 20th century composers and enriched the modern harpsichord repertoire greatly.

My favorites of her discography are a Purcell LP

https://youtu.be/pjVqIiQN0N8

Also her Couperin LPs are excellent. They’re on YouTube as well.

The playing in the above recordings are inspired, lively and most important - colorful. She played on a modern instrument with 4, 8, 16 foot stops along with nasals and lute stops.

Message has been deleted

Andy Evans

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 11:37:07 AM12/24/21

to

I'd be thinking of the older Russian School of pianists....

Feinberg, Sofronitsky, Cherkassky, Flier, Ginsburg, Igumnov, Neuhaus, Postnikova, Davidovich, Ervy-Novitskaya, Leonskaya, Pachman, Zak, Virsaladze, Yudina, Nikolayeva......

Frank Berger

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 1:19:06 PM12/24/21

to

On 12/24/2021 11:37 AM, Andy Evans wrote:
> I'd be thinking of the older Russian School of pianists....
>
> Feinberg, Sofronitsky, Cherkassky, Flier, Ginsburg, Igumnov, Neuhaus, Postnikova, Davidovich, Ervy-Novitskaya, Leonskaya, Pachman, Zak, Virsaladze, Yudina, Nikolayeva......

Why do you say they are forgotten? By people who never heard of them in the first place?

Andy Evans

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 1:44:06 PM12/24/21

to

That's a very good question. Some like Igumnov and Ervy-Novitskaya are more unlikely to have broken through to contemporary listeners. Others might have been listened to years ago and forgotten. I had to look up Virsaladze because although I remember her playing I'd forgotten her name. Whichever way you look at it, these are mostly names out of the usual currency with the probable exceptions of Sofronitsky and Cherkassky. I'm sure many of you would know most of them, and I'd expect Dan to know them all pretty well.

Frank Berger

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 1:54:12 PM12/24/21

to

I have recordings by every one of these. In some cases virtually everything they recorded (at least what has made it to CD or someone has transferred to CD-R). I'm not sure I can tell you why, but I particularly seek out recordings by Ervy-Novitskaya and Virsaladze. Maybe not so much Yudina, and Nikoleyeva.

Mandryka

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 1:57:23 PM12/24/21

to

I’ll tell you a forgotten pianist who I remembered a few months ago and enjoyed hearing - Harold Bauer.

And another one who I remembered and, when I listened again, I concluded was best forgotten: Nyiregyházi.

Andy Evans

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 2:01:27 PM12/24/21

to

On Friday, 24 December 2021 at 18:54:12 UTC, Frank Berger wrote:
> I have recordings by every one of these. In some cases virtually everything they recorded (at least what has made it to CD or someone has transferred to CD-R). I'm not sure I can tell you why, but I particularly seek out recordings by Ervy-Novitskaya and Virsaladze. Maybe not so much Yudina, and Nikoleyeva.

That's good to know - I agree completely! I don't listen to Yudina or Nikolayeva, just stuck them in for completeness. Big fan of Virsaladze, and I have Ervy-Novitskaya in Prokofiev. Igumnov in Chopin #3, various Flier, Neuhaus, Ginsburg and Zak and plenty of Feinberg and Sofronitzky. Plus the others mentioned either on CD or I listen to them on YouTube.

Mandryka

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 2:09:50 PM12/24/21

to

Oh, another thing. Someone was asking about D664 - and my favourite by far happens to be by a forgotten piano player - Erdmann. So I got it out, played it, and was as predicted bowled over, and was also similarly impressed by his D 884. So I thought I’d explore some of his other stuff. Well, there are nice things but it’s a bit of a mixed bag.

I guess a similar story is true for many forgotten pianists - Ciani, De Brunhoff come to mind.

Lawrence Kart

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 2:19:35 PM12/24/21

to

On Friday, December 24, 2021 at 1:09:50 PM UTC-6, Mandryka wrote:
> Oh, another thing. Someone was asking about D664 - and my favourite by far happens to be by a forgotten piano player - Erdmann. So I got it out, played it, and was as predicted bowled over, and was also similarly impressed by his D 884. So I thought I’d explore some of his other stuff. Well, there are nice things but it’s a bit of a mixed bag.
>
> I guess a similar story is true for many forgotten pianists - Ciani, De Brunhoff come to mind.

Eduardo Del Pueyo -- his "Hammerklavier" and his "Nights in the Garden of Spain."

Frank Berger

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 3:04:31 PM12/24/21

to

I have so many duplicates, it ridiculous. I have every single Sofronitsky disk on Vista Vera and Denon. There were a few released on Classound, which I read somewhere had better sound, but I never got around to testing that. There was one Classound Sofronitsky release that I've never seen offered for sale. That is this one:

https://ruslania.com/en/music/223689-vladimir-sofronitsky-chopin-polonaise-valses-mazurkas/

I've been looking for it for years.

Frank Berger

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 3:05:11 PM12/24/21

to

On 12/24/2021 2:09 PM, Mandryka wrote:
> Oh, another thing. Someone was asking about D664 - and my favourite by far happens to be by a forgotten piano player - Erdmann. So I got it out, played it, and was as predicted bowled over, and was also similarly impressed by his D 884. So I thought I’d explore some of his other stuff. Well, there are nice things but it’s a bit of a mixed bag.
>
> I guess a similar story is true for many forgotten pianists - Ciani, De Brunhoff come to mind.

D664 was never on CD, right?

Mandryka

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 3:43:10 PM12/24/21

to

Not as far as I know -- you can hear it on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4bNK6r6zdc&ab_channel=gullivior

Mandryka

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 3:47:36 PM12/24/21

to

I have that, I can let you have it (are you a member of Symphonyshare?) I think the material is available elsewhere (maybe his Great Pianists), mostly or all late performances I think -- the transfers are good (but maybe not better than others.)

Frank Berger

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 3:50:28 PM12/24/21

to

Thanks, but no thanks. I want the CD. Not a big deal, but for completeness, you know. If you want to sell yours......

Chris from Lafayette

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 5:52:58 PM12/24/21

to

I remember when Novitskaya's Melodiya-Angel Prokofiev album first came out (right after she won the QEB Competition in 1968) - man, did I have the hots for her! Unfortunately, her babeliousciousness didn't last that long - but I've always enjoyed her rather aggressive performances on that album, and of course I still have the CD remastering. In any case, I've never forgotten her!

HT

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 6:37:42 PM12/24/21

to

Op vrijdag 24 december 2021 om 16:00:48 UTC+1 schreef JohnGavin:

Bela Siki,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUV8Ybx4600

Tamas Vasary,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi4WOECWRCM

Anderzej Czajkowski,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCYFpc_NxpM

Ingrid Haebler,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH-el7eCBek

Henk

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 8:48:08 PM12/24/21

to

On Friday, December 24, 2021 at 10:00:48 AM UTC-5, JohnGavin wrote:
>
> Christmas Eve somehow seems like a good
> time to remember musicians who have been
> largely forgotten. In many cases their recordings
> have gone into oblivion with the advent of CDs.

At the top of my oblivion list: Ernst Levy, Maryla
Jonas, Esteban Sanchez, Harry Datyner, Julian
von Karolyi, Ervin Nyiregyházi, Monique de la
Bruchollerie, Fabienne Jacquinot, France
Clidat, Rudolf Kehrer, Jean-Rodolphe Kars.

dk

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 8:54:53 PM12/24/21

to

I would add Dino Ciano, Sergio Perticaroli
and Richard Farrell. One does not hear much
either about Sergio Fiorentino nowadays.

dk

Lawrence Kart

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 10:18:00 PM12/24/21

to

Thanks to Dan, I know about and agree with him about Levy, Sanchez, and de la
Bruchollerie. When the Nyiregyházi "boom," so to speak, occurred some years ago, I bought
the recordings but remained unconvinced.

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 24, 2021, 11:39:26 PM12/24/21

to

On Friday, December 24, 2021 at 10:18:00 PM UTC-5, ljk...@aol.com wrote:
> On Friday, December 24, 2021 at 7:48:08 PM UTC-6, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Friday, December 24, 2021 at 10:00:48 AM UTC-5, JohnGavin wrote:
> > >
> > > Christmas Eve somehow seems like a good
> > > time to remember musicians who have been
> > > largely forgotten. In many cases their recordings
> > > have gone into oblivion with the advent of CDs.
> >
> > At the top of my oblivion list: Ernst Levy, Maryla
> > Jonas, Esteban Sanchez, Harry Datyner, Julian
> > von Karolyi, Ervin Nyiregyházi, Monique de la
> > Bruchollerie, Fabienne Jacquinot, France
> > Clidat, Rudolf Kehrer, Jean-Rodolphe Kars.
>

> Thanks to Dan, I know about and agree with him
> about Levy, Sanchez, and de la Bruchollerie. When
> the Nyiregyházi "boom," so to speak, occurred some
> years ago, I bought the recordings but remained
> unconvinced.

Try this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0S1KDOC8is

Nyiregyházi's (non)career was the greatest loss in
the history of music.

dk

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 12:32:54 AM12/25/21

to

On Friday, December 24, 2021 at 8:48:08 PM UTC-5, Dan Koren wrote:

Hommage aux Brigades Françaises du Piano:

France Clidat:

Liszt 3 Sonnets de Pétrarque -- France Clidat (1967)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_PLtwHZ8rM

Schubert/Liszt -- Complete Soirées de Vienne (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC7b-_SjVDM

Liszt -- Sonata in B minor (1974)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbFbG0dKceg

LIszt -- Treifscendental Etudes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRY7BYvcB1A

Monique de La Bruchollerie:

Saint-Saëns -- Toccata (Étude op. 111 no. 6)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmgl9QacaEs

Meowszart Piano Concerto No 23 A Major KV 488 (1961)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuN1uLJk_hI

Saint-Saëns –Piano Concerto n°5 (1965)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76DU-LhApzM

Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3 Ansermet/BSO 1951
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGE-ZWl8ic8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJSjswYEBas

Fabienne Jacquinot:

Schumann -- L'Oiseau Prophète, Op. 28 No 7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOC9mAKndUI

Schumann -- Carnaval op. 9
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgqOjVLtXEc

Schumann -- Davidsbündlertänze op. 6 (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rZDCCOUKoI

J. Strauss -- "An der schönen blauen Donau" (1983)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba_A-xVBKYk

Saint-Saëns -- Piano Concerto No. 5 Op. 103 in F (1953)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHjPrO1BCWA

Enjoy!

dk

Paul A

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 1:09:59 AM12/25/21

to

On Friday, December 24, 2021 at 7:00:48 AM UTC-8, JohnGavin wrote:
> Christmas Eve somehow seems like a good time to remember musicians who have been largely forgotten. In many cases their recordings have gone into oblivion with the advent 960'sof CDs.

>
> If nobody chooses to contribute, there are so many forgotten performers that I’ll the thread going for a while.
>
> Sylvia Marlowe
>
> Harpsichordist active around 1945 - 1980. She commissioned many 20th century composers and enriched the modern harpsichord repertoire greatly.
>
> My favorites of her discography are a Purcell LP
>
> https://youtu.be/pjVqIiQN0N8
>
> Also her Couperin LPs are excellent. They’re on YouTube as well.
>
> The playing in the above recordings are inspired, lively and most important - colorful. She played on a modern instrument with 4, 8, 16 foot stops along with nasals and lute stops.

In my early college days at San Diego State University in the 1960's there was a recital performed by the piano duo Luboshutz & Nemenoff...

http://www.soundfountain.org/rem/remlubnem.html

... and as a 19 year-old I was astounded as to just how good they were... she had to assist him in getting to his piano bench since it appeared that he might not make it there by himself... but when they started to play it was just magic... I sat in awe for about 90 minutes that I will never forget... and a year later there was another concert, this time by Alirio Diaz, from Venezuela, on guitar, another fellow who was largely unknown at the time... and I remain today a fan of his mastery of the guitar...

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 1:41:44 AM12/25/21

to

On Saturday, December 25, 2021 at 1:09:59 AM UTC-5, Paul A wrote:
> a year later there was another concert, this
> time by Alirio Diaz, from Venezuela, on guitar,
> another fellow who was largely unknown at the
> time... and I remain today a fan of his mastery of
> the guitar...

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l35Xmli-1bnXenrTnT13xtsqEsn58ibcs

dk

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 1:45:36 AM12/25/21

to

On Saturday, December 25, 2021 at 1:09:59 AM UTC-5, Paul A wrote:
>

> > Sylvia Marlowe
> >
> > Harpsichordist active around 1945 - 1980.

No need for harpsichord activits!
They are much better forgotten!
Starting with Mme Landowska!

dk

HT

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 5:18:52 AM12/25/21

to

Alexander Uninsky,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6ayyFcBC_U

Bella Davidovich,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFQe-XJ-z-0

Noel Lee (who recorded an impressive set of Debussy études - thanks again, Steve!),
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghA2uHhV13Q

Gabriel Tacchino (my first encounter with Poulenc's work for piano solo),
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITjoWz7Unuo&list=RDEMPuVTLKw8v-Z_VTSWGxUJ6w&start_radio=1

Henk

Message has been deleted

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 7:08:57 AM12/25/21

to

Here is one of my favorite pianists who is
very much alive and active, yet she does
not seem to attract much attention.
Please meet Zhu Xiao-Mei:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHgd9obN8MM

dk

Message has been deleted

drh8h

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 8:35:20 AM12/25/21

to

On Saturday, December 25, 2021 at 1:09:59 AM UTC-5, Paul A wrote:

> On Friday, December 24, 2021 at 7:00:48 AM UTC-8, JohnGavin wrote:
> > Christmas Eve somehow seems like a good time to remember musicians who have been largely forgotten. In many cases their recordings have gone into oblivion with the advent 960'sof CDs.
> >
> > If nobody chooses to contribute, there are so many forgotten performers that I’ll the thread going for a while.
> >
> > Sylvia Marlowe
> >
> > Harpsichordist active around 1945 - 1980. She commissioned many 20th century composers and enriched the modern harpsichord repertoire greatly.
> >

> > The playing in the above recordings are inspired, lively and most important - colorful. She played on a modern instrument with 4, 8, 16 foot stops along with nasals and lute stops.
> In my early college days at San Diego State University in the 1960's there was a recital performed by the piano duo Luboshutz & Nemenoff...
>
> http://www.soundfountain.org/rem/remlubnem.html
>
> ... and as a 19 year-old I was astounded as to just how good they were... she had to assist him in getting to his piano bench since it appeared that he might not make it there by himself... but when they started to play it was just magic... I sat in awe for about 90 minutes that I will never forget... and a year later there was another concert, this time by Alirio Diaz, from Venezuela, on guitar, another fellow who was largely unknown at the time... and I remain today a fan of his mastery of the guitar...

Both Warner and Universal have sufficient material by Marlowe to each create a box devoted to her. I heartily concur. As for Luboshutz & Nemenoff, are you are aware the Marston label has a set in the pipeline devoted to them? It will include many if not all of their early RCA recordings, so one will be able to hear them in their primes with excellent transfers.

DH

Message has been deleted

John Fowler

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 8:51:18 AM12/25/21

to

Forgotten pianist: Chico Marx

JohnGavin

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 10:46:03 AM12/25/21

to

Another harpsichordist- Rafael Puyana

I saw him in concert back in the 60s - 2 of the most memorable recitals ever!

His recordings for Mercury Living Stereo made it to CDs as well as his Phillips recordings.
He had rhythm in spades - a real flair in his ability to bring Renaissance and Baroque music alive and make it vibrant.

Many of these recordings are loaded on YouTube.

Graham

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 11:25:27 AM12/25/21

to

Walter Klien
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi92jN_WF88

Andy Evans

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 11:54:40 AM12/25/21

to

On Saturday, 25 December 2021 at 16:25:27 UTC, Graham wrote:

Egon Petri is surely a name known to all lovers of fine pianism, but I don't see him mentioned much. I love his Beethoven in particular.

On another note, many composers were fine pianists. Hardly forgotten guys but their own piano recordings aren't often listened to. I particularly love Prokofiev.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxGL9Qr-_8Y Prokofiev pieces
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4GwH76mW0s Scriabin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjutQ97DRhw Rachmaninov prelude
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkRS8hPgn5k a portrait

Mandryka

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 12:06:56 PM12/25/21

to

He released a very distinctive interpretation of the Bach partitas quite recently. Quite divisive, it’s worth hearing at least once. I don’t have much time for the earlier recordings, too many spadefuls of rhythm for me, not enough poetry.

Andy Evans

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 12:07:26 PM12/25/21

to

On Friday, 24 December 2021 at 22:52:58 UTC, Chris from Lafayette wrote:
> I remember when Novitskaya's Melodiya-Angel Prokofiev album first came out (right after she won the QEB Competition in 1968) - man, did I have the hots for her! Unfortunately, her babeliousciousness didn't last that long - but I've always enjoyed her rather aggressive performances on that album, and of course I still have the CD remastering. In any case, I've never forgotten her!>>

I've been enjoying her playing enormously today on Christmas Day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3Nj9Bk9WDU Frank, Debussy, Ravel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqikXDSSAHA. Beethoven "Tempest"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnJIzJaOqlM Beethoven op. 111

A truly fascinating pianist.

Steven Bornfeld

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 12:46:32 PM12/25/21

to

It's tough to evaluate attention given to guitarists in the larger music
world. Diaz is hardly forgotten within the small guitar world.
Likewise, someone like Ida Presti (thought by many to have been the
finest guitarist of the 20th century, bar none). Her duo with her
husband Alexandre Lagoya was the first (and many say the best) classical
guitar duo. Lagoya himself--well-respected within the guitar community,
but his reputation definitely suffered from comparison to his gifted
wife; her early death only enhanced her legend (and possibly that she
left a relatively few solo recordings).

JohnGavin

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 1:32:49 PM12/25/21

to

Pianist Eugene List

Still the best Gottschalk player IMO and excellent Grainger as well.

Maybe not forgotten by 60 and over, but unknown to the younger crowd.

HT

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 2:31:21 PM12/25/21

to

Op zaterdag 25 december 2021 om 13:08:57 UTC+1 schreef dan....@gmail.com:

Thanks! Never heard of her before. Her Bach and Scarlatti are exceptional.

Henk

John Fowler

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 3:16:12 PM12/25/21

to

Chico Marx:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsqv-E9Vmyg

Mandryka

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 4:39:51 PM12/25/21

to

Yes I've got a good transfer of the Liszt LP, and maybe he was more in his element in Liszt than in the other composers he recorded. He's good at threnodies.

Fancy some funeral mazurkas?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk9SDuckPRc&ab_channel=arpeggiandocongrandezza

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 5:58:17 PM12/25/21

to

On Saturday, December 25, 2021 at 2:31:21 PM UTC-5, hvt...@xs4all.nl wrote:
> Op zaterdag 25 december 2021 om 13:08:57 UTC+1 schreef dan....@gmail.com:
> > Here is one of my favorite pianists who is
> > very much alive and active, yet she does
> > not seem to attract much attention.
> > Please meet Zhu Xiao-Mei:
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHgd9obN8MM
>

> Thanks! Never heard of her before. Her Bach and Scarlatti are exceptional.

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Piano-Labor-Goldberg-Variations-ebook/dp/B0076PGFYW

dk

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 6:01:10 PM12/25/21

to

Vera Razumovskaya:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYnh9jn1Cec

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 6:11:28 PM12/25/21

to

On Saturday, December 25, 2021 at 4:39:51 PM UTC-5, Mandryka wrote:
> On Saturday, December 25, 2021 at 4:39:26 AM UTC, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
>
> > Try this:
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0S1KDOC8is
> >
> > Nyiregyházi's (non)career was the greatest loss in
> > the history of music.
>

> Yes I've got a good transfer of the Liszt LP, and maybe
> he was more in his element in Liszt than in the other
> composers he recorded. He's good at threnodies.
>
> Fancy some funeral mazurkas?
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk9SDuckPRc

Sounds like Backhaus playing Beethoven.

dk

Frank Berger

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 6:33:46 PM12/25/21

to

On 12/24/2021 8:48 PM, Dan Koren wrote:
> On Friday, December 24, 2021 at 10:00:48 AM UTC-5, JohnGavin wrote:
>>
>> Christmas Eve somehow seems like a good
>> time to remember musicians who have been
>> largely forgotten. In many cases their recordings
>> have gone into oblivion with the advent of CDs.
>
> At the top of my oblivion list: Ernst Levy, Maryla
> Jonas, Esteban Sanchez, Harry Datyner, Julian
> von Karolyi, Ervin Nyiregyházi, Monique de la
> Bruchollerie, Fabienne Jacquinot, France
> Clidat, Rudolf Kehrer, Jean-Rodolphe Kars.
>

> dk
>

All wonderful artists. But they're not forgotten, they're just dead!

Al Eisner

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 7:53:36 PM12/25/21

to

In fact, reading this thread makes it clear that the myriad pianists
mentioned are remembered by someone, and often by many. It is the
non-pianists who are actually forgotten in this forum. (Kudos to
John, however, for starting off with a harpsichordist.)

Whether forgotten or not, lots of good names to keep in mind.
--
Al Eisner

Frank Berger

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 8:16:09 PM12/25/21

to

How about all the great performers from before the recording era. They are all forgotten!

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 8:32:30 PM12/25/21

to

On Saturday, December 25, 2021 at 8:16:09 PM UTC-5, Frank Berger wrote:
>
> How about all the great performers
> from before the recording era. They
> are all forgotten!

This NG is mainly about RECORDINGS!

dk

gggg gggg

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 9:06:19 PM12/25/21

to

https://www.ebay.com/itm/311875706440?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item489d3d9e48:g:y7wAAOSw8HBZHk0b&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACoPYe5NmHp%252B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSB0Xm7k0guzAysaIMfJcbBGiatmH%252Fa2NKd8Tld3k2x0Uduowy4QdpId6qQAYi3I1OvqQi2qNySsKn1HB%252BIGM2j%252FQ1PbeyWmb3W%252BCwzZb5KKiNp1qjQAEdl%252Fwnvw4npA8YfYatthMU2S%252BVlJ7oHzuTJjnHuGTjtqzItfYRvUmfXJ9%252Bwe8QnvMicHW0nXXVphdNboPlLNMq1nu4pjlEEG1b%252Fl1GXLFzDFICxgVA16qGqYfC7xxpw1zW%252BQq%252FL4GWLl%252FHys1duVaBuMq%252F2GG35%252BgVGrngJru4QLFQvBWEoecOIanvOnI1VzP2Ck4vnNrsJ6REzp3%252F%252FECGZHG5%252F0mtKMehJAoaBQYCijZXhIQEcvI05utYHQBvuZGsz2RqHP32Ogkf6gHVlo6FDlC3bsdqBz8pWj9D6%252B3f8mY2DAlnxQCjP0vcl3gn1HbZQHpE0ZWUj9cRrZTcXY8%252BbVrl%252FbZjMsKyDGTd%252FxYz%252B3r6K%252By9cXsBCHU1I09h3AmC8nBV2Xc%252FUYcQ3Ijer6Q97tsL0%252FMM0cKejhfR2lc3R6SqmuuGDVC%252BkM3X9pCF%252BASWIrX9hca99Hdi6lezfRyN8fG%252Bi1Rr8F%252B28xqYkFVa%252F90mXkQIw7mZ4mXd%252BW2WxjTZfsfk%252FLUcQpmj9rn5DLKzsu1fcVgAxrhWJDaH7No3Tenm2fEjVhuIMYsXAl7Vwps%252F%252FO4NEMv2oI63xQ5W4yhk0V6kOu3wC%252F39QQYcirqfn4UKjfjvpeLIZyJ%252FlBhJTrzt2mYDpBEEL7ojBpA4JUlIlnwgOcn6FmtSKJ9fYifmeAwgLvVYbDnRsjh8lr1%252BkP3RUzjiQrVbl4lx%252BQztdI3YrP9CoJNjKTFD0g%253D%253D%7Cclp%3A2334524%7Ctkp%3ABFBMzMXXx75f

Frank Berger

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 9:06:34 PM12/25/21

to

All of a sudden you are objecting to being off-topic, Mr. super-vaxxer.

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 9:24:20 PM12/25/21

to

On Saturday, December 25, 2021 at 9:06:34 PM UTC-5, Frank Berger wrote:
> On 12/25/2021 8:32 PM, Dan Koren wrote:
> > On Saturday, December 25, 2021 at 8:16:09 PM UTC-5, Frank Berger wrote:
> >>
> >> How about all the great performers
> >> from before the recording era. They
> >> are all forgotten!
> >
> > This NG is mainly about RECORDINGS!
>

> All of a sudden you are objecting to
> being off-topic, Mr. super-vaxxer.

I reserve the right to choose my
objections! ;-)

dk

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 9:26:07 PM12/25/21

to

On Saturday, December 25, 2021 at 8:16:09 PM UTC-5, Frank Berger wrote:
>

> How about all the great performers
> from before the recording era. They
> are all forgotten!

People still mention Liszt sometimes.
Or Paganini or Malibran. One of my
black coloraturas is named after her!

dk

Frank Berger

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 10:13:10 PM12/25/21

to

Objection overruled.

Steven Bornfeld

unread,

Dec 25, 2021, 11:18:41 PM12/25/21

to

Yeah, I should have a listen. A friend (one of my high school math
teachers, and a good amateur pianist) gave me a tour around our local
cemetery (Green-Wood) here in Brooklyn, where for reasons I don't
understand Gottschalk is buried (he died in Brazil). His rather grand
monument was apparently damaged--possibly vandalized, and was restored
not long ago.

https://www.green-wood.com/2010/featured-restoration-the-gottschalk-project/

(My friend also showed me Leonard Bernstein's resting place--his
gravesite is the furthest thing from grand)

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 26, 2021, 12:10:01 AM12/26/21

to

> Objection overruled.

Will appeal all the way up to SCOTUS! ;-)

dk

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 26, 2021, 12:24:12 AM12/26/21

to

Vladimir Bakk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wA9DUHEtiM

Natan Brand:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50hLgtpbH_M

Tatyana Ryumina:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR11gEV3gHA

Rosa Tamarkina:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_L1JCeHb-k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSHCdfuoTcY

Joseph Villa:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aBSskZrl54
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtdBk1Ytr8M

Enjoy!

dk

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 26, 2021, 12:32:51 AM12/26/21

to

Jacques Klein:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRx_YdUQbsk

dk

HT

unread,

Dec 26, 2021, 5:14:33 AM12/26/21

to

Op zondag 26 december 2021 om 06:24:12 UTC+1 schreef dan....@gmail.com:

Bakk! And Syomin! Although have both been mentioned here from time to time.

Henk

HT

unread,

Dec 26, 2021, 5:20:46 AM12/26/21

to

Op zondag 26 december 2021 om 02:16:09 UTC+1 schreef Frank Berger:

Thalberg, Henselt, Anton Rubinstein, Clara Wieck, Tausig, Pabst, etc. - they are remembered although we mainly know them from their compositions.

Henk

JohnGavin

unread,

Dec 26, 2021, 5:33:19 AM12/26/21

to

On Sunday, December 26, 2021 at 5:20:46 AM UTC-5, hvt...@xs4all.nl wrote:
> Op zondag 26 december 2021 om 02:16:09 UTC+1 schreef Frank Berger:
> > On 12/25/2021 7:53 PM, Al Eisner wrote:
> > > On Sat, 25 Dec 2021, Frank Berger wrote:
> > >
> > >> On 12/24/2021 8:48 PM, Dan Koren wrote:
> > >>> On Friday, December 24, 2021 at 10:00:48 AM UTC-5, JohnGavin wrote:
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Christmas Eve somehow seems like a good
> > >>>> time to remember musicians who have been
> > >>>> largely forgotten. In many cases their recordings
> > >>>> have gone into oblivion with the advent of CDs.
> > >>>
> > >>> At the top of my oblivion list: Ernst Levy, Maryla
> > >>> Jonas, Esteban Sanchez, Harry Datyner, Julian
> > >>> von Karolyi, Ervin Nyiregyházi, Monique de la
> > >>> Bruchollerie, Fabienne Jacquinot, France
> > >>> Clidat, Rudolf Kehrer, Jean-Rodolphe Kars.

Alexander Labko - Violinist

Part serious virtuoso, part comedian / showman - his recording of the 3 Medtner Violin Sonatas with Svetlanov are the finest. He was all heart and soul!

Here he is at his most humorous:

https://youtu.be/AOIbgbURa0w

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 26, 2021, 7:10:30 AM12/26/21

to

On Sunday, December 26, 2021 at 5:14:33 AM UTC-5, hvt...@xs4all.nl wrote:
>
> Bakk! And Syomin! Although have both
> been mentioned here from time to time.

Julian von Karolyi:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ARnKLniI_SkV4pTazpk4Q

You won't be disappointed! As much paprika as Cziffra!

dk

Frank Berger

unread,

Dec 26, 2021, 11:08:56 AM12/26/21

to

You can appeal to SCROTUM for all the good it will do.

Frank Berger

unread,

Dec 26, 2021, 11:10:51 AM12/26/21

to

I have recordings by all these except the last. I once had a nice e-mail exchange with Natan Brand's wife.

Graham

unread,

Dec 26, 2021, 11:31:36 AM12/26/21

to

Her Goldbergs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw4ZW6AYxeI

But shoot the videographer!

Owen

unread,

Dec 27, 2021, 12:35:06 AM12/27/21

to

On 12/25/21 2:31 PM, HT wrote:
> Op zaterdag 25 december 2021 om 13:08:57 UTC+1 schreef dan....@gmail.com:
>> Here is one of my favorite pianists who is
>> very much alive and active, yet she does
>> not seem to attract much attention.
>> Please meet Zhu Xiao-Mei:
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHgd9obN8MM
>>

>> dk

>
> Thanks! Never heard of her before. Her Bach and Scarlatti are exceptional.
>

> Henk

Malcolm Frager

-Owen

HT

unread,

Dec 27, 2021, 5:00:05 AM12/27/21

to

Op maandag 27 december 2021 om 06:35:06 UTC+1 schreef Owen:

Seconded! Crystal clear playing with a warm touch and a perfect technique.

Henk

Randy Lane

unread,

Dec 27, 2021, 5:35:17 AM12/27/21

to

Luciano Sgrizzi.

There's a few in the Paillard box.
But everything else, especially the fabulous Scarlatti boxes, have been dead as far as availability goes for over 4 decades now.

JohnGavin

unread,

Dec 27, 2021, 7:00:53 AM12/27/21

to

Yes! Agree completely on Luciano Sgrizzi! I have seen some CD sets of about 60 Sonatas on Erato on Amazon, mostly used.

Also a great deal of his discography is on YouTube - the 6 Vivaldi-Bach Concertos, an all-Bach recital with the French Overture - a collection of Italian baroque composers and others. He also recorded Clementi Sonatas on a fortepiano.

For me, he was born to play Scarlatti.

Mr. Mike

unread,

Dec 27, 2021, 12:59:03 PM12/27/21

to

Pianist Mindru Katz??

AB

unread,

Dec 27, 2021, 1:30:14 PM12/27/21

to

On Monday, December 27, 2021 at 12:59:03 PM UTC-5, Mr. Mike wrote:
> Pianist Mindru Katz??

have quite a few live and studio recordings. yes, excellent Died too young. Was going to do all the Beethoven concertos with Szell.......
AB

number_six

unread,

Dec 27, 2021, 4:43:32 PM12/27/21

to

On Sunday, December 26, 2021 at 9:35:06 PM UTC-8, Owen wrote:
>
> Malcolm Frager
>
> -Owen

I enjoyed his album of American piano music on New World label.

Frank Berger

unread,

Dec 27, 2021, 5:01:59 PM12/27/21

to

Because of the mention or Frager here, I looked him up in my database to see what I have by him and found a

piano concerto by Poot. Right next to that was something by "Poor." I checked and found I had mis-spelled "Poot."

Thanks.

Graham

unread,

Dec 27, 2021, 5:59:43 PM12/27/21

to

On 2021-12-24 4:37 p.m., HT wrote:
> Op vrijdag 24 december 2021 om 16:00:48 UTC+1 schreef JohnGavin:

>> Christmas Eve somehow seems like a good time to remember musicians who have been largely forgotten. In many cases their recordings have gone into oblivion with the advent of CDs.
>>

>> If nobody chooses to contribute, there are so many forgotten performers that I’ll the thread going for a while.
>>
>> Sylvia Marlowe
>>
>> Harpsichordist active around 1945 - 1980. She commissioned many 20th century composers and enriched the modern harpsichord repertoire greatly.
>>
>> My favorites of her discography are a Purcell LP
>>
>> https://youtu.be/pjVqIiQN0N8
>>
>> Also her Couperin LPs are excellent. They’re on YouTube as well.
>>
>> The playing in the above recordings are inspired, lively and most important - colorful. She played on a modern instrument with 4, 8, 16 foot stops along with nasals and lute stops.
>

> Bela Siki,
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUV8Ybx4600
>
> Tamas Vasary,
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi4WOECWRCM
>
> Anderzej Czajkowski,
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCYFpc_NxpM
>
> Ingrid Haebler,
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH-el7eCBek
>
> Henk

Abbey Simon

HT

unread,

Dec 27, 2021, 6:30:34 PM12/27/21

to

Op maandag 27 december 2021 om 23:59:43 UTC+1 schreef Graham:

A great pianist. I've some CDs by him. He has been mentioned quite often on RMCR.
Pennario als deserves a mention. His contacts in Hollywood made him suspect in my part of Europe, buthe's probably more popular in the US.
Are Richter-Haaser and Conrad Hansen forgotten performers?

Henk

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 27, 2021, 8:26:38 PM12/27/21

to

On Monday, December 27, 2021 at 6:30:34 PM UTC-5, hvt...@xs4all.nl wrote:
>
> Are Richter-Haaser and Conrad
> Hansen forgotten performers?
>

Definitely!

dk

Paul A

unread,

Dec 27, 2021, 10:37:48 PM12/27/21

to

On Friday, December 24, 2021 at 7:00:48 AM UTC-8, JohnGavin wrote:

> Christmas Eve somehow seems like a good time to remember musicians who have been largely forgotten. In many cases their recordings have gone into oblivion with the advent of CDs.

Is Ruth Slenczynska considered to be a forgotten musician? In about 1957 my dad bought this record...

https://www.discogs.com/release/10700185-Ruth-Slenczynska-Franz-Liszt-Franz-Liszt-Six-Paganini-Etudes-Spanish-Rhapsody-Feux-FolletsPlayed-By-

... and at age 11 I just about played the grooves off that record... although I still have it! I never really read or heard much about her over the year... but was very pleased to find that she is still with us and will be turning 97 on January 15th!

And, she is still performing...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOWFNEhMwwY

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 27, 2021, 11:20:57 PM12/27/21

to

On Monday, December 27, 2021 at 10:37:48 PM UTC-5, Paul A wrote:
>
> Is Ruth Slenczynska considered
> to be a forgotten musician?

Pretty much so.

dk

JohnGavin

unread,

Dec 28, 2021, 4:08:23 AM12/28/21

to

George Malcolm - Harpsichordist

Here he is playing one of his own compositions “Bach Before the Mast” and Templeton’s “Bach Goes to Town”

https://youtu.be/ebfOAKooIRE

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 28, 2021, 4:41:59 AM12/28/21

to

Harpsichordists are best forgotten!

dk

JohnGavin

unread,

Dec 28, 2021, 4:51:15 AM12/28/21

to

Mindless negativity is best left unexpressed!

Frank Lekens

unread,

Dec 28, 2021, 8:51:25 AM12/28/21

to

Op 24-12-2021 om 16:00 schreef JohnGavin:

> Christmas Eve somehow seems like a good time to remember musicians who have been largely forgotten. In many cases their recordings have gone into oblivion with the advent of CDs.
>

> If nobody chooses to contribute, there are so many forgotten performers that I’ll the thread going for a while.
>
> Sylvia Marlowe
>
> Harpsichordist active around 1945 - 1980. She commissioned many 20th century composers and enriched the modern harpsichord repertoire greatly.
>
> My favorites of her discography are a Purcell LP
>
> https://youtu.be/pjVqIiQN0N8
>
> Also her Couperin LPs are excellent. They’re on YouTube as well.
>
> The playing in the above recordings are inspired, lively and most important - colorful. She played on a modern instrument with 4, 8, 16 foot stops along with nasals and lute stops.
>

Thanks to Dan Koren for reminding me of Yeol Eum Son (although maybe it
was in another thread), whose recordings I'm now enjoying on Spotify.
(Some refreshingly non-standard repertoire as well.)

But back to the topic: here's a forgotten pianist. Also because she
seems to have made no recordings, at least that I'm aware of: Fay Ferguson.

A mellifluous name, that puts one in mind of prewar film starlets rather
than classical musicians. It struck me when I chanced across it in some
ads in newspapers from the 1920s, announcing recitals of hers in the
Netherlands. (We have a tremendous public newspaper archive for that
sort of thing, Delpher.nl.)

There's a brief review of a recital of hers in the NYT
https://www.nytimes.com/1934/02/28/archives/fay-ferguson-heard-in-a-piano-program-beethoven-rondo-capriccio-and.html
With a subscription you can read the full review
(https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1934/02/28/94497305.html?pageNumber=23).

Otherwise precious little can be found. Maybe her career wasn't stellar,
the review is not wildly enthousiastic: "The pianist's chief weakness --
an important one -- is an inability to feel as a whole the organic
quality of a long melody line, and so to project it."

However, "The audience, though only fair-sized, was cordial, and there
were many flowers."

--
Frank Lekens

http://fmlekens.home.xs4all.nl/
https://franklekens.blogspot.nl/

Alan Fekete

unread,

Dec 28, 2021, 3:33:38 PM12/28/21

to

On Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 2:37:48 PM UTC+11, Paul A wrote:

> Is Ruth Slenczynska considered to be a forgotten musician?

Came out earlier this year: Australian Eloquence reissue (10 CDs)
https://www.eloquenceclassics.com/releases/ruth-slenczynska-the-complete-american-decca-recordings/
(Available from Presto https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8860552--ruth-slenczynska-complete-american-decca-recordings )

Frank Lekens

unread,

Dec 28, 2021, 3:52:13 PM12/28/21

to

Op 25-12-2021 om 02:54 schreef Dan Koren:

> On Friday, December 24, 2021 at 8:48:08 PM UTC-5, Dan Koren wrote:
>> On Friday, December 24, 2021 at 10:00:48 AM UTC-5, JohnGavin wrote:
>>>

>>> Christmas Eve somehow seems like a good
>>> time to remember musicians who have been
>>> largely forgotten. In many cases their recordings
>>> have gone into oblivion with the advent of CDs.

>> At the top of my oblivion list: Ernst Levy, Maryla
>> Jonas, Esteban Sanchez, Harry Datyner, Julian
>> von Karolyi, Ervin Nyiregyházi, Monique de la
>> Bruchollerie, Fabienne Jacquinot, France
>> Clidat, Rudolf Kehrer, Jean-Rodolphe Kars.
>>
>

> I would add Dino Ciano, Sergio Perticaroli
> and Richard Farrell. One does not hear much
> either about Sergio Fiorentino nowadays.
>
> dk

Or Catherine Collard.

Chris from Lafayette

unread,

Dec 28, 2021, 5:04:38 PM12/28/21

to

Not mindless at all - and why would somebody dredge up clangsichord players in a thread about pianists?

Well. . . I MIGHT make an exception for Puyana, the greatest clangsichordist of them all! Certainly he was on his Mercury albums on which he employed those Lansowska-like monster Pleyels! And with all due respect to Mr. Mandryka, it was Puyana's incisive projection of rhythm which set him apart from the others.

Chris from Lafayette

unread,

Dec 28, 2021, 5:12:41 PM12/28/21

to

On Saturday, December 25, 2021 at 9:32:51 PM UTC-8, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
> On Sunday, December 26, 2021 at 12:24:12 AM UTC-5, Dan Koren wrote:

> Jacques Klein:
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRx_YdUQbsk
>
> dk

OMG! There's a name from my past! I saw (and heard!) him play a recital at Garden Grove High School Auditorium when I was a mere lad of 11. I remember one of the pieces was Pics at an Exhibition - I don't remember the rest of the program.

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 28, 2021, 6:05:30 PM12/28/21

to

On Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 5:04:38 PM UTC-5, Chris from Lafayette wrote:
> On Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 1:51:15 AM UTC-8, JohnGavin wrote:
> > On Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 4:41:59 AM UTC-5, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
>
> > > Harpsichordists are best forgotten!
> >

> > Mindless negativity is best left unexpressed!
> >
> Not mindless at all - and why would somebody
> dredge up clangsichord players in a thread about
> pianists?
>
> Well. . . I MIGHT make an exception for Puyana,
> the greatest clangsichordist of them all!

No exceptions, no excuses !!!
Wear your masks and ear
mufflers! ;-)

dk

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 28, 2021, 6:08:33 PM12/28/21

to

On Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 5:12:41 PM UTC-5, Chris from Lafayette wrote:
> On Saturday, December 25, 2021 at 9:32:51 PM UTC-8, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Sunday, December 26, 2021 at 12:24:12 AM UTC-5, Dan Koren wrote:
>
> > Jacques Klein:
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRx_YdUQbsk
>

> OMG! There's a name from my past! I saw (and heard!)
> him play a recital at Garden Grove High School Auditorium
> when I was a mere lad of 11. I remember one of the pieces
> was Pics at an Exhibition - I don't remember the rest of the
> program.

Ayako Uehara, the improbable winner of the 2002 Tchaikovsky
Competition, seems to have vanished from the stage. Each and
every one of her competition performances was phenomenal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bthGw96jh7g

dk

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 28, 2021, 6:51:35 PM12/28/21

to

Also listen to Monique de la Bruchollerie performing
"Gilels/Richter repertoire" (for lack of a better term):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZvn2uBavLg&list=OLAK5uy_m4sIOY7b4bAIskp-ekgAagztthh4DD6SY

Her Brahms PC#2, Tchaikovsky PC#1 and Saint-Saens
PC#5 are just as exciting and authoritative as those of
superstar pianist -- Gilels, Richter and Rubinstein included.

dk

raymond....@gmail.com

unread,

Dec 28, 2021, 7:12:17 PM12/28/21

to

On Wednesday, 29 December 2021 at 10:08:33 UTC+11, dan....gmail.com wrote:

> Ayako Uehara, the improbable winner of the 2002 Tchaikovsky
> Competition, seems to have vanished from the stage. Each and
> every one of her competition performances was phenomenal.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bthGw96jh7g
>
> dk

She is still very much active, and produced a Tchaikovsky disc on EMI some years back.

Here is Ayako in 2020.
https://youtu.be/r1dZVRIkGS0

ps: she has an exact namesake who is a pro golfer.

Ray Hall, Taree

Paul A

unread,

Dec 28, 2021, 9:40:25 PM12/28/21

to

Not only there, but also here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUWdFhZFTo0&list=OLAK5uy_mk89KKigjuQApFSpCYbvYmk7Aa_MgDIGM

Dan Koren

unread,

Dec 28, 2021, 10:40:32 PM12/28/21

to

On Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 7:12:17 PM UTC-5, raymond....@gmail.com wrote:
> On Wednesday, 29 December 2021 at 10:08:33 UTC+11, dan....gmail.com wrote:
>
> > Ayako Uehara, the improbable winner of the 2002 Tchaikovsky
> > Competition, seems to have vanished from the stage. Each and
> > every one of her competition performances was phenomenal.
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bthGw96jh7g
>

> She is still very much active, and produced a
> Tchaikovsky disc on EMI some years back.

2014 or 2015. A sonata op. 37 on a par with
Richter and Pletnev.

> Here is Ayako in 2020.
> https://youtu.be/r1dZVRIkGS0

Thanks!

> ps: she has an exact namesake who is a pro golfer.

I am aware. This is an interesting problem that
hurt other pianists too! Google for Rafael Orozco
and for Esteban Sanchez! ;-)

dk