Who the Hell is Sofronitsky?
Georgie Porgie
pianists and he wasn't there although they mentioned Art Tatum, Liberace and
Murray Perahia. None of his records are available through BMG or Columbia
Clubs. Could it be that he is a hoax perpetuated by some people here so they
can show how hip they are?
GP
Alain Dagher
Georgie Porgie wrote:
Either that, or that book you read, BMG, and Columbia are hoaxes.
Alain
samir ghiocel golescu
On Tue, 21 Dec 1999, Georgie Porgie wrote:
> I've never heard of him outside this newsgroup. I looked in a book on famous
> pianists and he wasn't there although they mentioned Art Tatum, Liberace and
> Murray Perahia. None of his records are available through BMG or Columbia
> Clubs. Could it be that he is a hoax perpetuated by some people here so they
> can show how hip they are?
Thank you, Sir, for the best yet Christmas joke. You tricked some of us
into believing you! (-:
DavidDGable
name was Sam Jones.
-david gable
vladimir
careers were little known in the West for many years. (Here's another one:
Lev Oborin. Oborin won the 1927 Chopin, premiered the Khatchaturian
Concerto and taught Vladimir Ashkenazy. Dubal says his performances were
square and solid, but I doubt Dubal ever heard Oborin's way with Rach's 2nd
& 3rd concerti, which are passionate and poetic and very impressive.)
As for Sofronitsky, BMG/Melodiya 74321 25177 2, a double that was part of
the (first?) Great Russian Pianists series, ought to be obtainable from BMG.
It will answer the original poster's questions quite well.
- Phil Caron
Raymond Hall
I thought it was Bert Smith.
Regards,
Ray Hall, Sydney
cuney...@my-deja.com
Georgie Porgie <GP@dum_de_dum.net> wrote:
> I've never heard of him outside this newsgroup. I looked in a book
on famous
> pianists and he wasn't there although they mentioned Art Tatum,
Liberace and
> Murray Perahia. None of his records are available through BMG or
Columbia
> Clubs. Could it be that he is a hoax perpetuated by some people here
so they
> can show how hip they are?
>
>
You can try his recordings on The Piano Library label (PL 316), inorder
to find out whether he is a pianist for your tastes or not.
regards
CT
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Marc Perman
>samir ghiocel golescu wrote in message ...
>>
>>On Tue, 21 Dec 1999, Georgie Porgie wrote:
>>
>>> I've never heard of him outside this newsgroup. I looked in a book on
>famous
>>> pianists and he wasn't there although they mentioned Art Tatum, Liberace
>and
>>> Murray Perahia. None of his records are available through BMG or
>Columbia
>>> Clubs. Could it be that he is a hoax perpetuated by some people here so
>they
>>> can show how hip they are?
>>
>>Thank you, Sir, for the best yet Christmas joke. You tricked some of us
>>into believing you! (-:
>>
>I don't get the joke. There are quite a few fine Russian pianists whose
>careers were little known in the West for many years. (Here's another one:
>Lev Oborin. Oborin won the 1927 Chopin, premiered the Khatchaturian
>Concerto and taught Vladimir Ashkenazy. Dubal says his performances were
>square and solid, but I doubt Dubal ever heard Oborin's way with Rach's 2nd
>& 3rd concerti, which are passionate and poetic and very impressive.)
>
>As for Sofronitsky, BMG/Melodiya 74321 25177 2, a double that was part of
>the (first?) Great Russian Pianists series, ought to be obtainable from BMG.
>It will answer the original poster's questions quite well.
So you're saying that BMG is in on the hoax as well?
Marc Perman
Someone
wrote:
>I've never heard of him outside this newsgroup. I looked in a book on famous
>pianists and he wasn't there although they mentioned Art Tatum, Liberace and
>Murray Perahia. None of his records are available through BMG or Columbia
>Clubs. Could it be that he is a hoax perpetuated by some people here so they
>can show how hip they are?
So let me get this straight, the *only* classical performers of which
you are aware are those whose CDs are available through the BMG and
Columbia Record clubs? Yikes. You are really missing out...
I'll admit that until a few years ago, I had never actually heard any
Sofronitzky recordings myself and knew very little about the man. One
reason for his relative obscurity outside of Russia is that he was not
permitted to tour and give concerts in the West following WWII.
Moreover, his life was cut short by drug and alcohol abuse.
By the way, his recordings are not as difficult to obtain as you might
think. BMG released a widely-available 2-CD set of Sofronitzky's
recordings as part of their Melodiya Russian Piano School series
(still available from the Berkshire Record Outlet). Philips also
released a 2-CD set of his recordings as part of their Great Pianists
of the 20th Century series (you should be able to find this in most
music stores without difficulty). There is no overlap between these
two sets, and the sound is quite acceptable for recordings of their
age. They provide an excellent introduction to this amazing artist.
Lastly, you might want to visit a Tower Records store if possible and
look for his recordings on CDs from Arlecchino and Denon (Japanese).
Practically all of his discography is available on these two labels.
The following sites contain some background information about
Sofronitzky:
http://www.PhilClas.polygram.nl/class/pihome/basis.htm
(The above also lists the contents of their Sofronitzky set.)
http://www.arbiterrecords.com/museum/museum.html
(Allan Evans, the author of the museum, might not have updated the
Sofronitzky pages yet.)
--
"If we claim that man is too slight
to deserve communion with God,
we must indeed be great to be able
to judge" (Pascal)
Edwin
edwin@...
Althair
The fact is that there are many directions the "classical" bug can lead you in:
one direction is to new artists and new recording technology. There is great
joy to be had in hearing new pieces in full orchestral splendor (albeit
reproduced is not live). A later development for many of us is in a different
direction, where we learn to love the great performances of the past even if
they are recorded less perfectly by far. Sofrininsky is merely one of hundreds
of artists whose recordings are out there to be enjoyed. My advice is to not
worry about him: let your taste and collection grow naturally in whatever
direction it does. If you are listening to Chopin or Scriabin, it doesn't
really matter if you hear him played by someone in the book or not. In time
you will discover that the music is truly better in the hands of some artists
and then you will begin to hunt out the "superior" performances. Meanwhile it
is good that you are reading this group: keep it up! And don't worry what
some of us know more or less about than yourself.
Neil
> None of his records are available through BMG or Columbia
>Clubs. Could it be that he is a hoax perpetuated by some people here so they
>can show how hip they are?
Ha Ha very funny.
Neil
> Sofrininsky is merely one of hundreds
>of artists whose recordings are out there to be enjoyed. My advice is to not
>worry about him: let your taste and collection grow naturally in whatever
>direction it does
Never heard of Sofrinitsky, but since Sofronitsky made so many essential
recordings which any serious lover of piano music really shouldn't be without, I
suggest you DO go and grab some of his discs and hear the magic.
Neil
Andy Evans
This is certainly the rumour, but it is quite clearly contradicted in the
sleeve notes of his CDs, which state that he had heart problems. There
again, so does that renowned teetotaller Boris Yeltsin.....
--
Andy Evans, e-mail: an...@artsandmedia.com
Visit our Website: www.artsandmedia.com
Simon Roberts
: ...(snip) his life was cut short by drug and alcohol abuse. >>
: This is certainly the rumour, but it is quite clearly contradicted in the
: sleeve notes of his CDs, which state that he had heart problems. There
: again, so does that renowned teetotaller Boris Yeltsin.....
Does the British press still use that delightful phrase "looking tired and
emotional" to refer to MPs and the like who appear blind drunk in public?
Simon
Allan Evans
<arts.ps...@cwcom.net> wrote:
> ...(snip) his life was cut short by drug and alcohol abuse. >>
> This is certainly the rumour, but it is quite clearly contradicted in the
> sleeve notes of his CDs, which state that he had heart problems. There
> again, so does that renowned teetotaller Boris Yeltsin.....
He actually died from cancer. The drug use is rumor.
Someone
wrote:
>He actually died from cancer. The drug use is rumor.
>
>--
>www.arbiterrecords.com
Thank you for the correction. Unfortunately, what little knowledge I
have of him comes primarily from the scant liner notes of my modest CD
collection. Has a Sofronitzky biography ever been written?
cuney...@my-deja.com
regards
CT
> Thank you for the correction. Unfortunately, what little knowledge I
> have of him comes primarily from the scant liner notes of my modest CD
> collection. Has a Sofronitzky biography ever been written?
> --
>
> "If we claim that man is too slight
> to deserve communion with God,
> we must indeed be great to be able
> to judge" (Pascal)
>
> Edwin
>
>
Plunus57
http://www.philclas.polygram.nl/class/prod/sofronitskypro.htm
Vladimir Sofronitsky was one of the great pianists of this century. There are
plenty of recordings issued by Melodia and Arlecchino. He was especially
well-known for his recordings of Scriabin (he was Scriabin's son-in-law) and
Chopin, but of others as well. (Liszt, Beethoven, etc.).
His years were 1901-1961. He was born in St. Petersburg. Studied both in Warsaw
and in Petrograd Conservatory from which he graduated in 1921. He lived in
Paris in 1928-29. Came back to Russia in 1930, and in 1936 became a Professor
at the Leningrad Conservatory. He was concertizing since 1919 and had great
success and recognition. In 1942 he was evacuated to Moscow and in 1943 became
a professor at the famous Moscow Conservatory. He was a friend of Glazunov,
Medtner, Prokofiev, Neuhaus,Cortot. The last concert he gave was on January
7th, 1961 at the Conservatory. He died in August of the same year. A legendary
pianist!!!!!!
Neil
>
>Does the British press still use that delightful phrase "looking tired and
>emotional" to refer to MPs and the like who appear blind drunk in public?
Private Eye do. I think they coined it.
Neil
Allan Evans
(Someone) wrote:
> On Wed, 22 Dec 1999 16:34:29 -0500, arb...@tiac.net (Allan Evans)
> wrote:
>
> >He actually died from cancer. The drug use is rumor.
> >
> >--
> >www.arbiterrecords.com
>
>
> Thank you for the correction. Unfortunately, what little knowledge I
> have of him comes primarily from the scant liner notes of my modest CD
> collection. Has a Sofronitzky biography ever been written?
> --
>
Not yet. A lengthy memoir (Vospominaniye o Sofronitskovo) was published
after his death (in Russian). Pierre Juban wrote a fine and thorough
article for IPQ once.
samir ghiocel golescu
On Sat, 25 Dec 1999, Donald Rice wrote:
> Sofronitsky existed.
Another revealing, original, brainstorming statement.
Merry Christmas, Don!
(:
Donald Rice
Georgie Porgie wrote:
>
> I've never heard of him outside this newsgroup. I looked in a book on famous
> pianists and he wasn't there although they mentioned Art Tatum, Liberace and
> Murray Perahia. None of his records are available through BMG or Columbia
> Clubs. Could it be that he is a hoax perpetuated by some people here so they
> can show how hip they are?
>
> GP
Sofronitsky existed.
I have been fortunate enough to have been befriended by a woman who
studied piano at the Moscow conservatory. Her knowledge of his playing
is based on her teachers recollections (Neuhaus) and the collection of
26 Melodiya vinyl lp recordings which she lent to me to transfer to cd.
There are extensive notes included in each of the 5 sets but alas for me
they are in Russian and I am not. Eventually I'll get my friend to
translate for me.
The playing is remarkable. The recorded sound not great, almost always
less than ideal live recordings as Sofronitsky didn't like the recording
studio at all. Nevertheless, it is easy to tell that this man was
special. Commercial cds exist - the Philips Great Pianist series, RCA
Melodiya, and Vista Vera, a Russian company that gives this email
adress;
vist...@vistavera.msk.ru, and a TEL/FAX (095) 216 47 75.
In the English notes with my Vista Vera cd it is claimed that there are
60 hours of his recordings in "various archives" in Russia.
Sofronitsky existed.
Don
--
Put a "1" between don and rice to email me. (don1...@excite.com)
the @home.com works just fine without the "1"
Donald Rice
My specialty - revealing, original, brainstorming statements!
Also BRIEF, PITHY, UNAMBIGUOUS, VERIFIABLE, a little boring tho.
At your service.
With the greatest pleasure I wish the same to you, Samir!
And while we're at it, Merry Christmas To All R.M.C.R.!
May your stockings be filled with cds from the top of your wish list!
HenryFogel
>From: Donald Rice don...@excite.com
>Date: Fri, 24 December 1999 09:04 PM EST
>Message-id: <38642777...@excite.com>
Sofronitzky (1900-1961) was surely a very great pianist. There are many
Russian artists from the middle third of the 20th century who are unknown to us
because they never performed or travelled outside of Russia. And they recorded
only for the Russian State-owned record company, which was not widely
distributed in the West in those days. There are also some very great Russian
singers from that period that only collectors who obtained Russian recordings
became aware of (Ivan Kozlovsky, Pavel Lisitsian, to give just wo examples).
The work of these artists, including Sofronitzky, has become more widely
available in recent years, as their recordings have been issued on other
labels.
Sofronitzky did not help his own popularity either. Those who are aware of his
recordings might notice that there is nothing but solo piano music recorded. No
chamber music, no concertos. Russian musicians that I have spoken with from
that period have indicated that he had an aversion to making music with others,
and apparently he rarely if ever appeared in chamber music or concertos.
He also apparently had gambling and alcohol problems, and could be exceedingly
difficult to get along with. This would make him the last possible choice for
the Russians to allow to travel even when they did allow some to do so.
But his many recordings demonstrate not only his existence, but his unique
qualities as a pianist of subtlety, poetry, and profound insight.
Henry Fogel
Dan Koren
We're flattered :)
>I looked in a book on famous pianists and he wasn't there
>although they mentioned Art Tatum, Liberace and Murray Perahia.
Care to mention which book?
BTW, on p. 442 in vol. 17 of the Grove Dictionary of Music
and Musicians there is an entry on Sofronitsky. Yet I don't
see any mention of Liberace - the dictionary goes straight
from Liber (Joseph Anton) to Liberati (Antimo). David Dubal
has a(n almost) one page entry on Sofronitsky on p. 248 in
his book "The Art of the Piano" - again nothing on Liberace.
You will also find a few words about Sofronitsky in Harold
Schonberg's "Great Pianists" (2nd edition), Joachim Kaiser's
"Great Pianists of our Time", and Wilson Lyle's "Dictionary
of Pianists". Curiously enough, none of these has one word
about Mr. (or Ms?) Liberace, and I have not ever seen this
name mentioned in this newsgroup! Could it be that Mr/Ms
Liberace is some kind of hoax perpetrated by some people
so they can show how hip they are?
>None of his records are available through BMG or Columbia
>Clubs.
There are plenty of record retailers beside the Columbia
and BMG clubs. Have you checked any others?
>Could it be that he is a hoax perpetuated by some people
>here so they can show how hip they are?
Tell us about Liberace and we'll tell you about Sofronitsky.
:)
dk
Dan Koren
DavidDGable <david...@aol.com> wrote:
>Sofronitsky was invented by dan koren to keep us all on our toes.
No, I claim no credit for that. Sofronitsky was invented by
Farhan Malik, Michael Glover and Samir Golescu.
:)
dk
Dan Koren
Raymond Hall <hallr...@bigpond.com> wrote:
>DavidDGable wrote:
>>
>> Sofronitsky was invented by dan koren to keep us
>>
>> -david gable
>
>I thought it was Bert Smith.
No, that was Burton Smith - aka Tzimon Barto.
dk
Dan Koren
Marc Perman <per...@mindspring.com> wrote:
>"vladimir" <vlad...@vermontel.com> wrote:
>
>>samir ghiocel golescu wrote in message ...
>>>
>>>
>>>> I've never heard of him outside this newsgroup. I looked in a book on
>>famous
>>>> pianists and he wasn't there although they mentioned Art Tatum, Liberace
>>and
>>Columbia
>>>> Clubs. Could it be that he is a hoax perpetuated by some people here so
>>they
>>>> can show how hip they are?
>>>
>>>into believing you! (-:
>>>
>>I don't get the joke. There are quite a few fine Russian pianists whose
>>careers were little known in the West for many years. (Here's another one:
>>Lev Oborin. Oborin won the 1927 Chopin, premiered the Khatchaturian
>>Concerto and taught Vladimir Ashkenazy. Dubal says his performances were
>>square and solid, but I doubt Dubal ever heard Oborin's way with Rach's 2nd
>>& 3rd concerti, which are passionate and poetic and very impressive.)
>>
>>As for Sofronitsky, BMG/Melodiya 74321 25177 2, a double that was part of
>>the (first?) Great Russian Pianists series, ought to be obtainable from BMG.
>>It will answer the original poster's questions quite well.
>
>So you're saying that BMG is in on the hoax as well?
>
BMG *is* the hoax.
:)
dk
Dan Koren
Andy Evans <arts.ps...@cwcom.net> wrote:
>...(snip) his life was cut short by drug and alcohol abuse. >>
>This is certainly the rumour, but it is quite clearly
>contradicted in the sleeve notes of his CDs, which state
>that he had heart problems. There again, so does that
>renowned teetotaller Boris Yeltsin.....
I don't see the contradiction. Drug and alcohol abuse do
not rule out heart problems, or viceversa. Keep in mind
that Sofronitsky stayed in St.Petersburg during most of
the German blockade of the city during WWII and came out
with his health badly shattered.
My recollections from reading the official biography many
years ago are that he died from chronical degenerative
disease of the liver - either cancer or cirrhosis. The
official biography also made one or two cryptic mentions
of his "confused private life" - whatever that means.
dk
Dan Koren
Someone <Som...@Somewhere.COM> wrote:
>On Wed, 22 Dec 1999 16:34:29 -0500, arb...@tiac.net (Allan Evans)
>wrote:
>
>>He actually died from cancer. The drug use is rumor.
>
>have of him comes primarily from the scant liner notes of my modest CD
>collection. Has a Sofronitzky biography ever been written?
Yes, there was an official biography published in the early
or mid '60s which I perused a long time ago. Unfortunately I
do not remember the author nor the exact title.
dk
Dan Koren
HenryFogel <henry...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>Sofronitzky (1900-1961) was surely a very great pianist. There are many
>Russian artists from the middle third of the 20th century who are unknown to us
>because they never performed or travelled outside of Russia. And they recorded
>only for the Russian State-owned record company, which was not widely
>distributed in the West in those days. There are also some very great Russian
>singers from that period that only collectors who obtained Russian recordings
>became aware of (Ivan Kozlovsky, Pavel Lisitsian, to give just wo examples).
>The work of these artists, including Sofronitzky, has become more widely
>available in recent years, as their recordings have been issued on other
>labels.
The greatest loss being all those 78rpm recordings made by
Melodiya (or whatever they were named) before WWII. Many of
the masters were lost/destroyed during WWII when a lot of
the state archives were evacuated from Moscow. I believe
there was a(n almost complete) set of LvB piano sonatas
recorded by Konstantin Igumnov.
>Sofronitzky did not help his own popularity either.
?!? He was a living legend even in his thirties. People
queued up att the box office nights before tickets went
on sale for his concerts. He was so revered that even
Stalin's regime had to turn a blind eye to his "confused
private life".
>Those who are aware of his recordings might notice that
>there is nothing but solo piano music recorded. No chamber
>music, no concertos.
^^^^^^^^^
Concerti? Et tu, Henry? :)
>Russian musicians that I have spoken with from that period
>have indicated that he had an aversion to making music with
>others, and apparently he rarely if ever appeared in chamber
>music or concertos.
>
>He also apparently had gambling and alcohol problems, and
>could be exceedingly difficult to get along with.
He was probably an angel compared to Glenn Gould :)
>This would make him the last possible choice for the Russians
>to allow to travel even when they did allow some to do so.
Actually, I suspect that in this case the situation was
more likely the opposite. Sofronitsky accompanied the
official Russian delegation to the 1945 Potsdam peace
talks, and I doubt the regime would not allow him to
give concerts outside the USSR had he wanted to. It's
hard to imagine he would have been thought to be "less
reliable" than Jewish artists like Emil Gilels or David
Oistrakh.
>But his many recordings demonstrate not only his existence,
>but his unique qualities as a pianist of subtlety, poetry,
>and profound insight.
Amen. That Chopin Barcarolle rings in my ears all the time! :)
dk
Georgie Porgie
>In article <vgev5sscjgf5br174...@4ax.com>,
>Georgie Porgie <GP@dum_de_dum.net> wrote:
>>I've never heard of him outside this newsgroup.
>
>We're flattered :)
>
>>I looked in a book on famous pianists and he wasn't there
>>although they mentioned Art Tatum, Liberace and Murray Perahia.
>
>Care to mention which book?
Keyboard Instruments by Clive Unger-Hamilton , The Instruments, The Music & The
Musicians, 1981, ISBN 0-89893-505-9. It also has Jelly Roll Morton, Eubie
Blake, Glen Gould and Lazar Berman.
GP
samir ghiocel golescu
On 27 Dec 1999, Dan Koren wrote:
> DavidDGable <david...@aol.com> wrote:
> >Sofronitsky was invented by dan koren to keep us all on our toes.
>
> No, I claim no credit for that. Sofronitsky was invented by
> Farhan Malik, Michael Glover and Samir Golescu.
Who the Hell is Samir Golescu?!
samir ghiocel golescu
On 27 Dec 1999, Dan Koren wrote:
> The greatest loss being all those 78rpm recordings made by
> Melodiya (or whatever they were named) before WWII. Many of
> the masters were lost/destroyed during WWII when a lot of
> the state archives were evacuated from Moscow. I believe
> there was a(n almost complete) set of LvB piano sonatas
> recorded by Konstantin Igumnov.
I didn't know. That was a blow in my heart! (seriously!)
Nicolas Hodges
<d...@netcom.com> writes
>In article <19991225084720...@ng-cc1.aol.com>,
>HenryFogel <henry...@aol.com> wrote:
>>He also apparently had gambling and alcohol problems, and
>>could be exceedingly difficult to get along with.
>>to allow to travel even when they did allow some to do so.
>
>Actually, I suspect that in this case the situation was
>more likely the opposite. Sofronitsky accompanied the
>official Russian delegation to the 1945 Potsdam peace
>talks, and I doubt the regime would not allow him to
>give concerts outside the USSR had he wanted to. It's
>hard to imagine he would have been thought to be "less
>reliable" than Jewish artists like Emil Gilels or David
>Oistrakh.
My source on Sofronitsky was a student of both Goldenweiser and Ginsburg
and knew him a little. She says that Sofronitsky was black-listed by the
authorities because he refused to join the party. He then was given all
the worst students at the Conservatoire and his career suppressed as far
as was possible. Resorting to an alcoholic (amongst other things) haze
was no doubt the only possible response... :-(
Although I'm sure this is only part of what must have been a very
complex situation, I trust my source.
(She also has a lot to say about Feinberg and Ginsburg - she contrasts
the former's personal character with the latter's. Feinberg was a saint
(he apparently remained devoted for his whole life to an early love who
died young), whereas Ginsburg was (allegedly) a bit of a rat - my source
stopped studying with him when he made a pass at her, but that's another
story...)
--
Nic
Nicolas Hodges
<d...@netcom.com> writes
>>>
>>> Sofronitsky was invented by dan koren to keep us
>>>
>>> -david gable
>>
>>I thought it was Bert Smith.
>
>No, that was Burton Smith - aka Tzimon Barto.
Run that past me again please...
--
Nic
Nicolas Hodges
<d...@netcom.com> writes
Don't you know what that means?
--
Nic
Dan Koren
Nicolas Hodges <n...@nicolashodges.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>In article <846oea$bp4$1...@nntp4.atl.mindspring.net>, Dan Koren
><d...@netcom.com> writes
>
>>of his "confused private life" - whatever that means.
>
>Don't you know what that means?
I'm afraid not, not at all. I've never been confused in my
private life - only in my public one.... :)
dk
Wayne Reimer
You sure that's not Laser Berman, who's life work is the transcription
of the towering works of Liberace into midi files?
wr
khj
Kang
Dan Koren wrote:
> IAmen. That Chopin Barcarolle rings in my ears all the time! :)
Dan Koren
Nicolas Hodges <n...@nicolashodges.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>In article <846nl9$gla$1...@nntp8.atl.mindspring.net>, Dan Koren
><d...@netcom.com> writes
>>In article <38600859...@bigpond.com>,
>>Raymond Hall <hallr...@bigpond.com> wrote:
>>>DavidDGable wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Sofronitsky was invented by dan koren to keep us
>>>> all on our toes. His real name was Sam Jones.
>>>>
>>>> -david gable
>>>
>>>I thought it was Bert Smith.
>>
>>No, that was Burton Smith - aka Tzimon Barto.
>
>Run that past me again please...
If memory serves Tzimon Barto's real name is Burton Smith.
Seems that his agent thought a more exotic sounding name
would attract more people to the box office - and have
you noticed the picture(s) on the jacket(s) of (some of)
his record(s)? :)
dk
Dan Koren
>> >Sofronitsky was invented by dan koren to keep us all on our toes.
>>
>> Farhan Malik, Michael Glover and Samir Golescu.
>
>Who the Hell is Samir Golescu?!
I heard he looks a lot like Hofmann...
:)
dk
Dan Koren
>>
>>> I've never heard of him outside this newsgroup. I looked in a book on
>famous
>>> pianists and he wasn't there although they mentioned Art Tatum, Liberace
>and
>Columbia
>>> Clubs. Could it be that he is a hoax perpetuated by some people here so
>they
>>> can show how hip they are?
>>
>>Thank you, Sir, for the best yet Christmas joke. You tricked some of us
>>into believing you! (-:
>>
>I don't get the joke. There are quite a few fine Russian pianists whose
>careers were little known in the West for many years. (Here's another one:
>Lev Oborin. Oborin won the 1927 Chopin,
I wonder why, considering that Grigory Ginzburg came in 4th. Ginzburg
was by far the better pianist, and a much greater Chopin player, of
the two. In any case, while Oborin was a very solid professional he
never counted in the top tier of the Russian (or even Soviet) piano
school.
>Lev Oborin. Oborin won the 1927 Chopin, premiered the Khatchaturian
>Concerto and taught Vladimir Ashkenazy.
This is incorrect. Ashkenazy's main techer was Alexander Goldenweiser,
who was probably the second most prolific major piano teacher after
Leschetizky. Oborin was one of his many assistants through the years.
> Dubal says his performances were
>square and solid, but I doubt Dubal ever heard Oborin's way with Rach's 2nd
>& 3rd concerti, which are passionate and poetic and very impressive.)
Listen to Oborin's Chopin 3rd Sonata in vol. 2 of the Russian Piano
School - I'm confident you will agree with Dubal! :) It would be
hard to imagine a more boring performance - almost like Perahia! :)
>As for Sofronitsky, BMG/Melodiya 74321 25177 2, a double that was
>part of the (first?) Great Russian Pianists series, ought to be
>obtainable from BMG. It will answer the original poster's
>questions quite well.
Or maybe not. The original poster thinks Liberace was a great
pianist.
dk
Dan Koren
Nicolas Hodges <n...@nicolashodges.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
>(She also has a lot to say about Feinberg and Ginsburg - she contrasts
>the former's personal character with the latter's. Feinberg was a saint
>(he apparently remained devoted for his whole life to an early love who
>died young), whereas Ginsburg was (allegedly) a bit of a rat - my source
>stopped studying with him when he made a pass at her, but that's another
>story...)
I suppose Ginzburg must have been less attractive than Stanislav Neuhaus....
:)
dk
Dan Koren
Georgie Porgie <GP@dum_de_dum.net> wrote:
>On 27 Dec 1999 03:52:29 GMT, d...@netcom.com (Dan Koren) wrote:
>
>>In article <vgev5sscjgf5br174...@4ax.com>,
>>
>>>I looked in a book on famous pianists and he wasn't there
>>>although they mentioned Art Tatum, Liberace and Murray Perahia.
>>
>
>Keyboard Instruments by Clive Unger-Hamilton , The Instruments,
>The Music & The Musicians, 1981, ISBN 0-89893-505-9. It also has
>Jelly Roll Morton, Eubie Blake, Glen Gould and Lazar Berman.
Was Liberace mentioned as an instrument or as an artist? How
about Perahia?
:)
dk
Simon Roberts
: Listen to Oborin's Chopin 3rd Sonata in vol. 2 of the Russian Piano
: School - I'm confident you will agree with Dubal! :) It would be
: hard to imagine a more boring performance - almost like Perahia! :)
Indeed; or his contribution to Oistrakh's recording of the Beethoven
violin sonatas on Philips -- deadly.
Simon
samir ghiocel golescu
Hm, an agreement between DK, Mr Roberts and me--almost a total solar
eclipse -- like event. (:
So I am not hopelessly deaf. I always wondered how Oistrakh's Beethoven
would have been, if recorded with (at least) a Richter. Oborin imposed a
conception located in the zone of what I like to call "false chamber
music". Gratuitously restrained, "ascetic" toward total dryness,
intellectualized toward boring smallness. What a pity!...
My Oborin "78"s--Beethoven's Emperor among them--weren't particularly
rewarding either.
regards,
SG
Simon Roberts
: Hm, an agreement between DK, Mr Roberts and me--almost a total solar
: eclipse -- like event. (:
Just imagine what will happen on 1/1/00....
: So I am not hopelessly deaf. I always wondered how Oistrakh's Beethoven
: would have been, if recorded with (at least) a Richter. Oborin imposed a
: conception located in the zone of what I like to call "false chamber
: music". Gratuitously restrained, "ascetic" toward total dryness,
: intellectualized toward boring smallness. What a pity!...
Quite so; perhaps that's why Oistrakh sounds so far from the piano....
Simon
MTSUKPM112
interest, you may like to contact me at towerken...@hotmail.com to find
out about the Denon issues of Sofronitsky, most of which I have in stock and
are available for mail order.
I do agree that there are a number of great Russian pianists ignored by the
West.
Vedernikov, desribed bt Neuhaus as one of his four best students, is well worth
investigating.
Also Feinberg, especially in Bach, is well worth some time.
Vladimir Tropp, now a teacher in Moscow, has made some very fine recordings for
Denon. I heard him give a masterclass in London, and he showed these poorly
taught and generally rather embarassing students how to play.
Most imoprtantly, though, is the great, and living, pianist GRIGORY SOKOLOV. He
won the Tchaik competition in 1966 but seems to be unheard of in this country.
Last January's (1999) Wigmore recital was half full. All those who wish that
the had been alive to see Richter, Gilels, et al ahould not hesitate in seeking
out this elusive pianist and experiencing the ultimate in piano playing.
You have been advised
Regards
Barnaby (barnab...@hotmail.com)
Marc Perman
Sokolov's recent sold out, quite wonderful recital at the 92nd St. Y
in NY was discussed here.
Marc Perman
Dimitri Dover
also quite a small hall.
Dimitri
Marc Perman
>Was it sold out? I thought I saw a few empty seats. It's
>also quite a small hall.
I should have said *nearly* sold out.
Marc Perman
Gerard/Dick Short
d...@netcom.com (Dan Koren) wrote:
> If memory serves Tzimon Barto's real name is Burton Smith.
> Seems that his agent thought a more exotic sounding name
> would attract more people to the box office - and have
> you noticed the picture(s) on the jacket(s) of (some of)
> his record(s)? :)
No, sir, I have not noticed them, because I have never seen them! But I
have been reading about them on-line in this group and elsewhere. E.g.,
from Rick Waters at
www.shepherd-express.com/shepherd/20/37/night_and_day/fine_arts_music.ht
ml -- Shepherd Express Metro, which bills itself as "Milwaukee's Weekly
Newspaper":
"In the early 1990s Tzimon Barto got naked (more or less) for album
covers and became known as the beefcake concert pianist. But the guy is
definitely not just a stand-at-the-gym-mirror bimbo. (I'd give him some
kind of credit even if he were; it's a hilarious indignity to imagine
practically any other classical soloist in a shirtless pose. Think about
Horowitz, Isaac Stern, Luciano Pavarotti!) I can still hear a bracing
Prokofiev concerto Barto played here several years ago. He joins the MSO
in the flashy Liszt Concerto. No 1, which should be a great match-up of
player and music."
Does anybody know where I can see those early covers on-line? My hunt
so far has been fruitless. All his current shots seem to be
head-&-shoulders and fully clothed. I suppose I'll have to check out
whatever record shops in Salt Lake City carry used classical recordings.
I see that Mr. Barto still make reviewers think of NFL linebackers a
lot. Or for a more original comparison, see Philip Collins about the
San Jose Symphony at
www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/10.09.97/classical-9741.html :
"With a woodcutter's physique and the poise of Nureyev, Barto presided
over the keyboard's total domain."
P.S. Does anyone have any idea how one would confirm the name change,
if actual? The closest I've seen on-line to discussion of Mr. Barto's
pre-stage life is the clause "Born in Florida"!
--
On alt.lifestyle.shirtless, call me Dick Short.
On alt.heraldry.sca, (Lord) Michael Gerard Curtemoire,
from the Barony of Loch Salann, Artemisia: Potenty
argent and sable, a pall gules.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Wayne Reimer
>
> >From: Gerard/Dick Short gtro...@aros.net
> >Date: Mon, 24 January 2000 09:17 AM EST
> >Message-id: <86hmuf$ebi$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>
> >
> >In article <84duol$3cs$1...@nntp3.atl.mindspring.net>,
> > d...@netcom.com (Dan Koren) wrote:
> >> If memory serves Tzimon Barto's real name is Burton Smith.
> >> Seems that his agent thought a more exotic sounding name
> >> would attract more people to the box office - and have
> >> you noticed the picture(s) on the jacket(s) of (some of)
> >> his record(s)? :)
> >
> thinks that his looks can conceal the immaturity of his playing. This might be
> fine for popular music, where musical excellence of the performer is not
> necessarily the sole criterion for sucess, but such gimmics dont work for
> classical musicians (or at least I hope they dont).
>
> Malcolm
Generally agree with that, with one peculiar exception: the 1st
movement of his Rach 3 recording is really pretty quite good.
wr
MSald9044
John Edwards
"Wayne Reimer" <rei...@hooked.net> wrote in message
news:388D5356...@hooked.net...
> MSald9044 wrote:
> > Barto is a decidedly second-rate pianist in the Andre Watts mold who
apparently
> > thinks that his looks can conceal the immaturity of his playing. This
might be
> > fine for popular music, where musical excellence of the performer is not
> > necessarily the sole criterion for sucess, but such gimmics dont work
for
> > classical musicians (or at least I hope they dont).
> >
> > Malcolm
>
> Generally agree with that, with one peculiar exception: the 1st
> movement of his Rach 3 recording is really pretty quite good.
>
> wr
I haven't bothered to seek out his recordings, as I was not overly impressed
by a live performance of the Tchaikovsky first. However, I seem to remember
his encore (Chopin--forget which piece) as being surprisingly subtle.
Incidentally, I happened to meet him in a local bookstore once, where he was
wearing precisely the same shirt as he wore for that live performance: a
billowy, pirate-looking affair. I don't know quite why that stuck in my
mind so . . . .
--
John Edwards
jedw...@iag.net