rare videos of Russian pianists

Tony

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Mar 9, 2015, 9:10:25 PM3/9/15

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I've uploaded a number of extremely rare videos of Russian pianists that I came across today. Some of them are quite special.

Top of the list must go to composer Rodion Shchedrin playing two pieces by Chopin at a multi-pianist recital in memory of their teacher Yakov Flier. He plays mazurka op 68/4 and Prelude 7. I think the playing is absolutely amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTMrIEMFM8A

a young Mikhail Pletnev pulling Scriabin's op 8/12 etude all over the place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNvIBYh8ZpA

young Nikolai Demidenko and young Valery Gergiev playing Scriabin's PC. Unfortunately only the first movement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk7BflMTdcw

Rudolf Kerer playing Liszt's Transcendental Etude no 10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdQvX5pTBEo

Viktoria Postnikova playing Scriabin's sonata 5

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

Yakov Flier playing Chopin's 48/1 nocturne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpQ24GB4gfo

Bella Davidovich playing Chopin's scherzo 2 and Grande valse brillante

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa0y-wxFDDs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUQKa2DcLf4

Arnold Kaplan playing the Strauss-Grunfeld paraphrase Soiree de Vienne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-XBteWCUVM

in addition to the above I also have videos of the following pianists playing Scriabin

Alexei Nasedkin - 2 preludes op. 11 and Vers la flamme

Valery Kastelsky - nocturne for left hand op 9 (already on YT in another performance)

Naum Shtarkman - 2 mazurkas from op 3

Elena Richter - etude op 8/11 and 5 Preludes op 74

Vladimir Krainev - finale of sonata 2

William Wolfram (USA) - sonata 4

Excluding Krainev I found the others rather uninteresting (particularly Shtarkman whose playing seems so leaden). However if anyone wants to see them I can upload them.

Mort

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Mar 9, 2015, 11:40:47 PM3/9/15

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Wow. What a marvelous favor you have done for us. Thank you ever so much.

Mort Linder

---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
http://www.avast.com

Tony

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Mar 10, 2015, 7:38:07 AM3/10/15

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On Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 4:40:47 AM UTC+1, Mort wrote:
> Wow. What a marvelous favor you have done for us. Thank you ever so much.
>
> Mort Linder
>

My pleasure. I wish I could find even more.

Here's Nikolai Petrov playing Prokofiev's op 2 no 3 etude

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJA-GWYl04E

Tony

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Mar 10, 2015, 9:49:56 AM3/10/15

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Pletnev playing the final few minutes of Liszt's rarely heard Spanish Fantasy S.253

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcLBTPHrQu8

Bozo

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Mar 10, 2015, 11:36:00 AM3/10/15

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>On Monday, March 9, 2015 at 8:10:25 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
> I've uploaded a number of extremely rare videos of Russian pianists that I

Thanks !! Looking forward to hearing them.

Another rarity, and amazing playing,Valeriy Shkarupa,Rachmaninoff Op.39 Etudes Tableaux complete, live at the Mussorgsky Conservatory,2008 :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d01Kr7s4GaY

arri bachrach

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Mar 10, 2015, 2:30:52 PM3/10/15

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I greatly admire Nasedkin and would be very grateful if you would upload his Scriabin I have many if not most of his recordings
thanks

AB

Frank Berger

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Mar 10, 2015, 2:47:12 PM3/10/15

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Arri, do you know when Nasedkin's Schubert D959 was recorded? I have it
on Melodiya. His recording wasn't mentioned in the recent D959
discussion, IIRC.

Tony

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Mar 10, 2015, 3:30:16 PM3/10/15

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Here you go Arri. I combined the preludes and vers la flamme into one video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsZux7MWPlw

arri bachrach

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Mar 10, 2015, 6:24:52 PM3/10/15

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no, I don't really know. Not mentioned because he is not well known. Tis a shame. I assume you know that he died in DEc. 2014

Arri

arri bachrach

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Mar 10, 2015, 6:32:56 PM3/10/15

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Tony,

thank you very much. a rare treat. I assume you have his recordings as well?

Arri

Tony

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Mar 10, 2015, 8:07:36 PM3/10/15

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I don't really know him Arri -- only started to listen in December when he passed.

arri bachrach

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Mar 10, 2015, 9:34:34 PM3/10/15

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there is quite a bit on youtube.... listen to his Schubert, truly beautiful IMO

AB

Tony

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Apr 1, 2015, 9:48:30 AM4/1/15

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One I overlooked but have now uploaded: Lev Vlassenko playing the finale of Beethoven's Pathetique, from the recital in memory of Yakov Flier.

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

Tony

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Apr 2, 2015, 12:08:08 PM4/2/15

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A few more recordings--unfortunately not videos--from the Tchaikovsky competition

Pletnev - Chopin's op 25/6 etude (1st, '78)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQR_mWx1qwI

Arthur Moreira Lima's wild Liszt TE 10 (3rd, '70)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vnYxx-Lz-w

Lev Vlassenko - Chopin 17/4 mazurka (2nd, '58)

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

Lionel Tacchini

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Apr 2, 2015, 12:34:55 PM4/2/15

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On 02.04.2015 18:08, Tony wrote:
> A few more recordings--unfortunately not videos

No tight dresses :-(

--
Lionel Tacchini

John Wiser

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Apr 2, 2015, 12:45:41 PM4/2/15

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"Lionel Tacchini" <lionel....@arcor.de> wrote in message
news:mfjr3c$7pc$1...@gwaiyur.mb-net.net...

> On 02.04.2015 18:08, Tony wrote:
>> A few more recordings--unfortunately not videos
>
> No tight dresses :-(
>

On Russian pianists? Do you understand what you're asking for?

jdw

Lionel Tacchini

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Apr 2, 2015, 12:56:19 PM4/2/15

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I'm just trying to make sense of what people like to see.
--
Lionel Tacchini

John Wiser

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Apr 2, 2015, 3:51:46 PM4/2/15

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"Lionel Tacchini" <lionel....@arcor.de> wrote in message

news:mfjsbh$akc$1...@gwaiyur.mb-net.net...

Give up.

jdw

Al Eisner

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Apr 2, 2015, 5:05:38 PM4/2/15

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Olga Kern?
--
Al Eisner

arri bachrach

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Apr 2, 2015, 6:53:46 PM4/2/15

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he not 'asking' for anything. he has a right to make an observation, no:-)

Ab

John Wiser

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Apr 2, 2015, 7:07:42 PM4/2/15

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"Al Eisner" <eis...@slac.stanford.edu> wrote in message
news:alpine.LRH.2.00.1...@iris03.slac.stanford.edu...

Hold on a minute...
<google image>...
Presentable!

jdw

richard...@gmail.com

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Apr 3, 2015, 1:32:31 AM4/3/15

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Just the thought of historic Russian pianist Maria Yudina in a Wang outfit makes me shudder. Still, each to his own.

Tony

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Apr 9, 2015, 6:54:30 PM4/9/15

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a few more rare Russian videos. Not a mini skirt in sight but look closely and you might see some of Pletnev's ankle.

Pletnev playing Glinka-Balakirev The Lark - 1983

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayQ8Fc8-VOQ

Vlassenko playing Liszt's PC 2 with Pletnev - 1986

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uDQKJ-HIn4

audio-only Pletnev playing Chopin's Preludes - 2004

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ2SBAk6pSw

dk

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Apr 9, 2015, 8:09:19 PM4/9/15

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On Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 10:32:31 PM UTC-7, richard...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 12:34:55 PM UTC-4, Lionel Tacchini wrote:
> > On 02.04.2015 18:08, Tony wrote:
> > > A few more recordings--unfortunately not videos
> >
> > No tight dresses :-(
>

> Just the thought of historic Russian pianist Maria Yudina
> in a Wang outfit makes me shudder. Still, each to his own.

Yudina could not afford to buy a fashionable dress. I
can reassure you that younger Russian pianists do wear
fancy dresses. Even as far back as the 1960s, Elizabeth
Leonskaja dressed quite elegantly -- more so in fact
than Martha Argerich, not to mention the fact she was
a better pianist too!

dk

Tony

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Apr 14, 2015, 7:30:07 AM4/14/15

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A trip into the deconstructive stasis of Ivo Pogorelich's noughties phase. A Rod Serling intro wouldn't go amiss here:

Sibelius Valse Triste (2009) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SgsFSp_POQ

Chopin Sonata 3 (2005) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZT2ItSWDBU

Nocturne 55/2 (2005) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84fYDCUqVFg

and back to his prime in 1991:

Rachmaninoff Sonata 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhSOwocyHfc

Tony

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Apr 15, 2015, 11:12:32 AM4/15/15

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I found this rare video today of Gilels and Flier playing an arrangement of Albeniz's Navarra for two pianos in 1941. Very much a WTF moment. Even though there was a thread on this two years ago, I've uploaded the video to my channel as it's so rare and hardly known.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy8241tOf5k

Frank Berger

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Apr 15, 2015, 11:29:25 AM4/15/15

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On 4/15/2015 11:12 AM, Tony wrote:
> I found this rare video today of Gilels and Flier playing an arrangement of Albeniz's Navarra for two pianos in 1941. Very much a WTF moment. Even though there was a thread on this two years ago, I've uploaded the video to my channel as it's so rare and hardly known.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy8241tOf5k
>

Wikipedia says Gilels and Flier were "sometime rivals" without
elaborating. They were 1st and 3rd, respectively, in the 1938 QE
competition.

Tony

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Apr 15, 2015, 11:42:25 AM4/15/15

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Yes I included that info underneath the video. Two years before that, in Vienna '36, their order was reversed with Flier taking first and Gilels second. I haven't heard anything substantial about a rivalry between them. It sounds more like a western publicity drive made up by labels or prosaic critics.

Tony

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Apr 17, 2015, 12:36:24 PM4/17/15

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audio-only: wonderful Russian pianist Ekaterina Derzhavina playing Catoire, Scriabin, Prokofiev, Medtner and Stanchinsky in recital in 2011. She won the '92 Bach competition and is a wonderful interpreter of Medtner.

Tony

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Apr 17, 2015, 12:36:52 PM4/17/15

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On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 6:36:24 PM UTC+2, Tony wrote:
> audio-only: wonderful Russian pianist Ekaterina Derzhavina playing Catoire, Scriabin, Prokofiev, Medtner and Stanchinsky in recital in 2011. She won the '92 Bach competition and is a wonderful interpreter of Medtner.

here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CVCKUAVpbI

Bozo

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Apr 17, 2015, 10:44:23 PM4/17/15

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>On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 11:36:52 AM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
> here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CVCKUAVpbI

Many thanks ! Wonderful programme of rarities, and extraordinary playing comes through despite the sound limitations. She has recorded the Bach "Goldberg" and a 9-cd set of Haydn sonatas ; would hope she can record this Russian repertoire.

Tony

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Apr 18, 2015, 7:41:32 AM4/18/15

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Yeah unfortunately the internet radio broadcast was pretty low quality. However some of her Bach is on YT and is worth exploring. She plays a Bach French Overture to rival Sokolov's.

Bozo

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Apr 18, 2015, 8:46:34 AM4/18/15

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>On Saturday, April 18, 2015 at 6:41:32 AM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
> Yeah unfortunately the internet radio broadcast was pretty low quality. However some of her Bach >is on YT and is worth exploring. She plays a Bach French Overture to rival Sokolov's.

I shall explore the Bach after I finish my second hearing of her Russian recital ( I enjoyed the recital that much ). Her Medtner cd seems also at YT ; note to John Gavin.

Tony

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Apr 18, 2015, 7:27:37 PM4/18/15

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now into the peculiar world of Valery Afanassiev, from a 2006 recital in memory of Emil Gilels

Beethoven Sonata no. 27 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm2tCGLFQT8

Beethoven Sonata no. 15 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RUIJTgOUG8

Chopin mazurka op 67/4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJrEQcGh1Cw

For all his strangeness there's some magic in this mazurka -- I've never really heard anything like 1'35 - 1'45.

Tony

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Apr 18, 2015, 10:43:26 PM4/18/15

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I've uploaded an exceedingly rare video recital of Gilels from 7 January 1983. This was shot in the Great Hall two days before the much better-known recital of 9 January in the Tchaikovsky Hall, which was later released by Melodiya on CD and VAI on DVD. It's the same programme however -- Schumann 4 Pieces, Symphonic etudes, and two small Mendelssohn works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzSVK91IUok

Tony

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Apr 20, 2015, 2:55:12 AM4/20/15

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Not my upload, but here you can see Pogorelich playing the last couple minutes of the Schumann Concerto in a HD video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y38Bjy8sfM

Herman

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Apr 20, 2015, 3:59:24 AM4/20/15

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On Monday, April 20, 2015 at 8:55:12 AM UTC+2, Tony wrote:
> Not my upload, but here you can see Pogorelich playing the last couple minutes of the Schumann Concerto in a HD video
>

mostly footage of him receiving an ovation with monumental lack of enthusiasm.

Tony

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Apr 20, 2015, 6:48:47 AM4/20/15

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haha yes :) but he was never the type to deign to emote to the rabble. Perhaps he wonders why they even came.

I've uploaded a video of Nikolai Petrov and Alexander Ghindin playing Debussy's Faun for two pianos. Most likely the Debussy transcription.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVK4XKEN-LA

Tony

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Apr 21, 2015, 12:03:29 PM4/21/15

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video of Pletnev playing Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody, with Temirkanov in 1983

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vaJ91DuDww

a couple more rare Pletnev concerts tomorrow

Tony

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Apr 21, 2015, 12:09:35 PM4/21/15

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I wonder if that man the camera focuses on at 25:17 is Pletnev's father. There's a resemblance.

Tony

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Apr 21, 2015, 9:44:12 PM4/21/15

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Two more videos:

Pletnev playing Rachmaninoff's PC 1 with Sinaisky, 1983

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

Pletnev's recital in Moscow around 2000:

Chopin Andante spianato
Scriabin poeme 32/1
Rachmaninoff etude 39/5
Grieg Carnival scene

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN6gEuKVrz8

Tony

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Apr 22, 2015, 3:46:17 PM4/22/15

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and finally, a video of Nikolai Petrov giving a wonderfully large-scale reading of the Prokofiev PC 2, from '85 with Temirkanov. The broad tempo of the third movement really brings out the sinisterly grotesque character of the piece, along with more balletic and nocturnal sounds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Owb_DkABhg

I'm all out of rare stuff for the time being, dames en heren.

O

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Apr 22, 2015, 4:15:27 PM4/22/15

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In article <696dd9f7-c575-4cd6...@googlegroups.com>,

He does make it more sinister, but drains it of its wit. Much too
ponderous for my taste, a heavy reading that wants to weigh you down
with every note.

-Owen

Tony

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Apr 22, 2015, 5:40:48 PM4/22/15

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On Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 10:15:27 PM UTC+2, O wrote:
> In article <696dd9f7-c575-4cd6...@googlegroups.com>,

> Tony wrote:
>
> > and finally, a video of Nikolai Petrov giving a wonderfully large-scale
> > reading of the Prokofiev PC 2, from '85 with Temirkanov. The broad tempo of
> > the third movement really brings out the sinisterly grotesque character of
> > the piece, along with more balletic and nocturnal sounds.
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Owb_DkABhg
> >
> > I'm all out of rare stuff for the time being, dames en heren.
>
>
> He does make it more sinister, but drains it of its wit. Much too
> ponderous for my taste, a heavy reading that wants to weigh you down
> with every note.
>
> -Owen

I see what you mean, slowed and heavy, but in other places the slower tempo allows for some lighter playing that is normally rushed through. In any case Petrov did it his way, and I hear a lot more character in a heavier performance like this than in the slapdash sort which is exciting but misses out on highlighting the different characters in this piece, more than just the motoric. Yuja Wang's fast take comes to mind in that sense.

O

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Apr 23, 2015, 9:24:55 AM4/23/15

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In article <7106e27b-5c1f-4abf...@googlegroups.com>,

I don't deny it's a valid interpretation which does bring out different
voices in the music, and he is able to import a lot of drama into the
piece, but I miss the wit from the composer. I heard Wang play this
live in concert and Symphony Hall was electric from it. My favorite
performers in this work are Browning and Malcolm Frager (at this time,
though subject to change).

-Owen

Tony

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Apr 23, 2015, 10:57:34 AM4/23/15

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As it turns out I not only found one more rare video -- I found one that caused me to laugh in that way you do when something's not meant to be funny but is.

Andrei Gavrilov's recital in Moscow played pre-2000 during his long-haired hippie phase. Some of his behaviour and facial gestures......start of Ballade 4; his coffee-and-cigarettes posture before he begins Ondine; perhaps best of all the start of Scriabin's Sonata 4. Throughout he behaves as if he's tossing out encores.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksy4QLX2zoY

Chopin's Ballades 2 and 4, Ravel's Ondine and Scarbo, Scriabin's Sonata 4, Prokofiev's Sonata 8, and Scarlatti's L.366

Tony

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Apr 24, 2015, 9:29:56 AM4/24/15

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not my upload, but a wonderful and rare video from '59 of Gilels playing Schubert, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzBs4oz5_IU

Tony

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Apr 25, 2015, 10:58:01 AM4/25/15

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Some videos which will appeal to those interested in the history of the Chopin competition -- 1955 to be exact, the Harasiewicz / Ashkenazy year.

Dmitri Sakharov placed 9th that year, one place behind Andre Tchaikowsky who, as we know, was a great Chopin player. As far as I can tell Sakharov is not represented anywhere except on a LP of Chopin split with Ashkenazy. Now we have the chance to see and hear him from 1962 playing Chopin's op. 42 waltz and Tchaikovsky's June Barcarolle. Very sensitive playing, with verve in the waltz. Sakharov studied with Lev Oborin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clYepp261xE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dhED3knIOM

Naum Shtarkman placed 5th in 1955. He is represented, but not by many early recordings, so these '68 videos are really welcome -- etude op 25 no. 5 and the first movement of Beethoven's Moonlight sonata. Wonderfully lyrical playing in the central section of the etude--enhanced by the romantic lighting change--and a very still and meditative performance of the Moonlight sonata. Shtarkman studied with Igumnov and--as an aside--was persecuted for being gay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93Sqpu4llpc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A95F-2DrmR0

Lev Vlassenko, who did not compete at the Chopin competition but was a jury member, nonetheless was a sensitive Chopin player with a beautiful sound. I've already uploaded his op. 17/4 mazurka from when he placed 2nd behind Cliburn at the Tchaikovsky. This video of Vlassenko playing the op. 30/4 mazurka is from '61 and again shows that he learned a lot from Yakov Flier and passed it on well to Pletnev. No one else has ever produced a sound like that at 2:09 either.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BCPbzhgjtY

Tony

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Apr 25, 2015, 9:25:41 PM4/25/15

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Vitali Berzon, who studied with Serebryakov and Nielsen, playing Scriabin's op. 2 no. 1 etude

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1ARtV8Yfa0

Victor Merzhanov, who studied with Feinberg, playing Rachmaninoff's Musical Moment no. 4 and Chopin's 24th prelude

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnxdQsfMoss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SturjTZw26I

and Rodion Shchedrin and Vera Gornostaeva playing and discussing Chopin's op. 10/1 etude and 17/4 mazurka. Shchedrin describes a few things about what Flier taught him and plays in the most wonderfully aristocratic manner:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrTtOvX9GsY

Tony

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May 9, 2015, 7:22:58 AM5/9/15

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uploaded by Sinfonica de Galicia, a video of Nikolai Demidenko playing Prokofiev's PC 2 from 6 weeks ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRzqhER26Dw

Tony

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May 9, 2015, 2:38:55 PM5/9/15

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I've uploaded a video recital of Nikolai Petrov playing Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Weber, Mussorgsky and Rachmaninoff from the early 2000s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL1MA3XkZpg

and from that recital I've uploaded separately the Rachmaninoff/Svetlanov Vocalise:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8stXphpxsk4

Tony

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May 10, 2015, 7:44:07 AM5/10/15

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Yakov Flier plays an excerpt of the Liszt Sonata from 1935 with his teacher Igumnov looking on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt0tU6Yf2sY

a young Eliso Virsaladze plays Beethoven's PC 3

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

from the same concert, Virsaladze, Kagan and Gutman play Beethoven's Triple Concerto

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

from 2007, Virsaladze plays Schubert (2 musical moments), Schumann (Papillons) and Liszt (Spanish Rhapsody)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeRqr8afMK8

from 2010, Virsaladze plays Schumann's Kinderszenen and Symphonic Etudes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzJkgDFh5HE

Tony

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May 11, 2015, 10:57:35 AM5/11/15

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I've uploaded some more video rarities:

Viktoria Postnikova playing Rachmaninoff's PC 1 with Rozhdestvensky at the '79 Proms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYWEl3DdK0w

Alexander Toradze playing the finale of Prokofiev's Sonata 7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtpgrBwx7yA

Nikolai Petrov playing Rachmaninoff's PC 3 with Svetlanov in '98

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrtI51Dy89c

Tony

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May 11, 2015, 7:22:13 PM5/11/15

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jackpot: Rudolf Kerer playing Chopin's Revolutionary etude for Lenin and Gorky

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

Tony

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May 11, 2015, 7:56:56 PM5/11/15

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On Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 1:22:13 AM UTC+2, Tony wrote:
> jackpot: Rudolf Kerer playing Chopin's Revolutionary etude for Lenin and Gorky
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJNOEMvodEM

and Lenin asking Kerer to play Beethoven's Appassionata

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqIfI0NnZzg

Bozo

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May 11, 2015, 9:41:18 PM5/11/15

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>On Monday, May 11, 2015 at 6:22:13 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
> jackpot: Rudolf Kerer playing Chopin's Revolutionary etude for Lenin and Gorky

And the complete Preludes, 1970 recording :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgwbfE4_TEM

Tony

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May 12, 2015, 9:40:12 AM5/12/15

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On Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 1:22:13 AM UTC+2, Tony wrote:

> jackpot: Rudolf Kerer playing Chopin's Revolutionary etude for Lenin and Gorky
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJNOEMvodEM

I've uploaded better quality videos of Kerer playing for Lenin and Gorky

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE80aVH1YXw

They're from a 40 minute Mosfilm entitled Appassionata from 1963. There are a number of copies around the web in varying quality, including what's obviously a newly remastered one uploaded by Dom Kino (not the copy I used).

Frank Berger

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May 12, 2015, 10:20:26 AM5/12/15

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Not having heard of Kerer, and your not having dated the first post, I
thought that really was Lenin!

Tony

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May 12, 2015, 11:07:17 AM5/12/15

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The first footage I uploaded was very grainy so that makes sense. I've now uploaded the end of the film -- Kerer playing Beethoven's Moonlight sonata as Lenin takes a long walk back to the Kremlin. It's an amazing document.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-zFPa2sVDw

Bozo

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May 12, 2015, 12:10:17 PM5/12/15

to

>On Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 10:07:17 AM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
< It's an amazing document.
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-zFPa2sVDw

Indeed , as I believe Kerer was born in 1923 , Lenin died in 1924.

Frank Berger

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May 12, 2015, 12:51:14 PM5/12/15

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Yeah, I'm not so sure what's amazing about a film.

Tony

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May 12, 2015, 12:59:03 PM5/12/15

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About any film?

About this one, the footage of Kerer, who's among the greatest Russian pianists. The way the thing's arranged with Lenin too. Perhaps films just don't amaze or overwhelm you.

weary flake

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May 12, 2015, 1:27:55 PM5/12/15

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It didn't look at all like Lenin, by
written description and pictures, Lenin
was manic, fidgetty, not calm like in
those clips. But that other guy looked
like Gorky.

Bozo

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May 12, 2015, 1:33:04 PM5/12/15

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>On Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 11:10:17 AM UTC-5, Bozo wrote:
> Indeed , as I believe Kerer was born in 1923 , Lenin died in 1924.

From another post of playing of Kerer at YT :

" Rudolf Kerer (Kehrer) is still another Great soviet-Russian pianist who was not widely known and recognized outside of USSR until 80s. He didn't like to speak about tragic 14 years he and his family had to spend in Uzbekistan during and after WWII. It was a "punishment" for being German during and after the War. His career started only at the age of 37. His Beethoven interpretations are outstanding! In 1960s Soviet propaganda released a movie "Appassionata" about Lenin. The story is about how Lenin listened Isaya Dobrovein (pianist) playing Beethoven. Kerer was invited to play Dobrovein in this movie... BTW, the story about Lenin and Appassionata is also mistaken. I've read in Dobrovin's memoirs that he actually performed Beethoven's "Patetique", but for propaganda purposes it was changed to Appassionata since character of music was "more revolutionary"! " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtMFv__GZhM

Tony

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May 12, 2015, 1:40:11 PM5/12/15

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On Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 7:33:04 PM UTC+2, Bozo wrote:
> >On Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 11:10:17 AM UTC-5, Bozo wrote:
> > Indeed , as I believe Kerer was born in 1923 , Lenin died in 1924.
>
> From another post of playing of Kerer at YT :
>

>*snip*

Thanks for that info! This is the pianist mentioned:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Issay_Dobrowen

There are some recordings on YT, including him conducting Beethoven's PCs with Schnabel, and Solomon in the Brahms PC 2.

Frank Berger

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May 12, 2015, 2:35:30 PM5/12/15

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An actor playing Lenin is not amazing. Unknown footage of a revered
pianist is. As I had not heard of Kerer, I was not amazed.

Frank Berger

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May 12, 2015, 2:36:13 PM5/12/15

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I did figure out, quickly and by myself. that is was not Lenin/

Tony

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May 13, 2015, 4:52:52 AM5/13/15

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Vladimir Krainev playing Prokofiev's sonata 6 in Moscow in 1994

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crw-_fuz3-E

Tony

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May 14, 2015, 6:13:19 AM5/14/15

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I've uploaded a video from '77 of Richter and Kondrashin playing Mozart's PC 18, K 456. They encored the third movement. As you can imagine this is much more vivacious and sparkling than Richter's 1993 recording with Barshai.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYHt3rna3og

Tony

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May 14, 2015, 7:34:19 AM5/14/15

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one more rare video of Richter, from '76 playing Debussy's L'isle joyeuse. Judging by the pompous decorated chap on the stage who Richter has to render obeisance to, and the 70-50 numbers behind, it was an occasion of some sort. Could any of the historians here elucidate this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp7ub8iHAkw

Tony

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May 14, 2015, 9:44:12 AM5/14/15

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On Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 1:34:19 PM UTC+2, Tony wrote:
> one more rare video of Richter, from '76 playing Debussy's L'isle joyeuse. Judging by the pompous decorated chap on the stage who Richter has to render obeisance to, and the 70-50 numbers behind, it was an occasion of some sort. Could any of the historians here elucidate this?
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp7ub8iHAkw

The man is Igor Moiseyev, famous Russian dance choreographer. It was his 70th birthday.

Tony

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May 14, 2015, 6:38:48 PM5/14/15

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Kremer, Grindenko and Kremerata Baltica playing Schnittke's Concerto Grosso no. 1 in 2004

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE3xPdT5jx8

Tony

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May 16, 2015, 7:16:30 PM5/16/15

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last night Sokolov played in Eindhoven. If anyone would like to hear the bootleg:

Beethoven Sonata 7 op. 10/3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3DIH42cpOY

Schubert Moments Musicaux - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8w05svaIpo

Schubert A minor sonata D 784 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pinps0C3ixg

4 Chopin mazurkas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efT7a9V8kCc

Griboyedov waltz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlD7Fn689Zg

maxi...@gmail.com

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May 16, 2015, 7:55:47 PM5/16/15

to

Tony,
Just poked my head in this group and saw these treasures.
What a gift.
Thanks!!!
-Max

arri bachrach

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May 16, 2015, 8:39:21 PM5/16/15

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just listened to 10/3 above, sounds like a tired man. Look for a 1968 version of the same sonata from 1968 to hear vital playing.

AB

Bozo

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May 16, 2015, 10:19:08 PM5/16/15

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>On Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 7:39:21 PM UTC-5, arri bachrach wrote:
>...sounds like a tired man...

I listened only to the Schubert D.784 ; agreed.

Tony

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May 17, 2015, 5:07:04 AM5/17/15

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On Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 1:55:47 AM UTC+2, maxi...@gmail.com wrote:
> Tony,
> Just poked my head in this group and saw these treasures.
> What a gift.
> Thanks!!!
> -Max
>

My pleasure Max.

Arri and Mr. Bozo, I have to say your reactions surprise me because I didn't see any indication of tiredness. I heard slower interpretations, but his pianissimo playing was magical, and a Bach first partita I haven't uploaded was light and crisp. His reading of the A minor Schubert Sonata is certainly very heavy though, heavier and slower than I prefer it, with more emphasis on the dynamic range for effect. Dimmed lighting in the concert hall puts the audience at rest for such readings too.

Still I wonder if you're onto something as his touring schedule is so full and everyone knows he won't say no until after the sixth encore so demands all of them (as we did).

Tony

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May 17, 2015, 8:21:46 AM5/17/15

to

On Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 2:39:21 AM UTC+2, arri bachrach wrote:
>
> just listened to 10/3 above, sounds like a tired man. Look for a 1968 version of the same sonata from 1968 to hear vital playing.
>
> AB

He was 18 years old when that '68 performance was recorded. Now he's 65. When the lights are down and he's right in front of you, references disappear and the context of his performance then is what's amazing. I think we'll have to discount this tired idea for what it is -- canned goods at home. My crappy bootleg won't capture what took place, and of course 65 and 18 are worlds apart in the same person.

max197...@gmail.com

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May 17, 2015, 10:06:50 AM5/17/15

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I listened to the '68 every day last summer and love it, but in defense of the later interpretation, it's orchestral, whereas the first is clearly pianistic. Listen to 1:15 - 1:30 from 2015. You can hear the brass relay its heraldic tone up through the ranks. Sokolov junior overlooks blast #3 each time, which is not a big deal, but it's indicative - he's not imagining or conjuring a symphony with its separate sections.
-Max

arri bachrach

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May 17, 2015, 2:00:23 PM5/17/15

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not sure what you mean by 'tired idea'. there are plenty of 65 year old musicians who still had fire in their playing, Rubenstein, Cherkassky, Richter, Heifetz, etc.

AB

Tony

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May 17, 2015, 4:51:42 PM5/17/15

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I don't really see your point Arri. If his fire's gone, he couldn't play Rameau like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok_JJ1__8ls

arri bachrach

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May 17, 2015, 7:43:37 PM5/17/15

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dont see much 'fire' in that performance or the music itself..... more like smoke, not fire.

Arri

Tony

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May 18, 2015, 7:25:17 PM5/18/15

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Richter at the '91 December nights

Beethoven op. 109

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=989aVWlAbpM

Beethoven op. 110

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5O1lzZZ_0M

Tony

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May 20, 2015, 5:31:32 PM5/20/15

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Pletnev's 1986 December Nights recital:

Tchaikovsky Grand Sonata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh7iSDejAvg

Tchaikovsky Children's Album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_By43NULjz8

Tchaikovsky Nocturne: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nghIw5g_014

Tony

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May 21, 2015, 11:31:40 AM5/21/15

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enter the weird world of Valery Afanassiev playing Schubert's Drei Klavierstucke, D. 946

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UftsU1lKbvI

that's the last video for a while

Tony

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May 21, 2015, 12:12:15 PM5/21/15

to

incidentally, if anyone cares, Sony Japan is releasing Afanassiev playing Beethoven's Pathetique, Moonlight and Appassionata

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Beethoven-1770-1827_000000000034571/item_Piano-Sonatas-Nos-8-14-23-Afanassiev-Hybrid_6342327

Andy Evans

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May 25, 2015, 4:36:30 PM5/25/15

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On Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 2:41:18 AM UTC+1, Bozo wrote:

> >On Monday, May 11, 2015 at 6:22:13 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
> > jackpot: Rudolf Kerer playing Chopin's Revolutionary etude for Lenin and Gorky
>

> And the complete Preludes, 1970 recording :
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgwbfE4_TEM

This is well worth a listen.

Tony

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May 27, 2015, 8:02:30 AM5/27/15

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I have fixed the sync issue and reuploaded these

Grand Sonata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtlC7Uyk9fQ

Children's Album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMz9Zn1rXm0

Nocturne: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3NWTKC60Ss

Tony

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May 27, 2015, 6:51:41 PM5/27/15

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It is indeed. I think Melodiya remastered this a year or two ago and released it on CD.

laraine

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May 27, 2015, 8:06:13 PM5/27/15

to

On Monday, March 9, 2015 at 8:10:25 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
> I've uploaded a number of extremely rare videos of Russian pianists that I came across today. Some of them are quite special.
>
> Top of the list must go to composer Rodion Shchedrin playing two pieces by Chopin at a multi-pianist recital in memory of their teacher Yakov Flier. He plays mazurka op 68/4 and Prelude 7. I think the playing is absolutely amazing.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTMrIEMFM8A
>
> a young Mikhail Pletnev pulling Scriabin's op 8/12 etude all over the place
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNvIBYh8ZpA
>
> young Nikolai Demidenko and young Valery Gergiev playing Scriabin's PC. Unfortunately only the first movement.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk7BflMTdcw
>
> Rudolf Kerer playing Liszt's Transcendental Etude no 10
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdQvX5pTBEo
>
> Viktoria Postnikova playing Scriabin's sonata 5
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc_smJdXXOM
>
> Yakov Flier playing Chopin's 48/1 nocturne
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpQ24GB4gfo
>
> Bella Davidovich playing Chopin's scherzo 2 and Grande valse brillante
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa0y-wxFDDs
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUQKa2DcLf4
>
> Arnold Kaplan playing the Strauss-Grunfeld paraphrase Soiree de Vienne
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-XBteWCUVM
>
>
> in addition to the above I also have videos of the following pianists playing Scriabin
>
> Alexei Nasedkin - 2 preludes op. 11 and Vers la flamme
>
> Valery Kastelsky - nocturne for left hand op 9 (already on YT in another performance)
>
> Naum Shtarkman - 2 mazurkas from op 3
>
> Elena Richter - etude op 8/11 and 5 Preludes op 74
>
> Vladimir Krainev - finale of sonata 2
>
> William Wolfram (USA) - sonata 4
>
> Excluding Krainev I found the others rather uninteresting (particularly Shtarkman whose playing seems so leaden). However if anyone wants to see them I can upload them.

Thanks for uploading these rarities! I'm in the process of listening.

I'm curious about William Wolfram, and there really isn't much on YouTube.
Don't think you should hesitate about uploading the last set - leaden to some
is thoughtful to others.

C.

Tony

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May 28, 2015, 7:55:13 AM5/28/15

to

You're right. They're all worth hearing. What I meant about Shtarkman was in comparison to Feinberg.

Shtarkman plays two Scriabin mazurkas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeIpbwqTx7Q

Elena Richter plays Scriabin op. 74 Preludes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkBpU86Si2g

William Wolfram plays Scriabin sonata 4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWj449pxiGE

Tony

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May 28, 2015, 5:59:20 PM5/28/15

to

I've found a rare Russian film entitled In the World of Sound which features Van Cliburn's 1972 tour in Russia. I've uploaded Chopin's 62/2 Nocturne from it. Of course it's a strange sort of Russian processing to the sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIKyS3lr7LU

Tony

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May 28, 2015, 8:01:26 PM5/28/15

to

On Thursday, May 28, 2015 at 11:59:20 PM UTC+2, Tony wrote:
> I've found a rare Russian film entitled In the World of Sound which features Van Cliburn's 1972 tour in Russia. I've uploaded Chopin's 62/2 Nocturne from it. Of course it's a strange sort of Russian processing to the sound.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIKyS3lr7LU

I've uploaded the entire 43 minute documentary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dyKI8FK-ws

Tony

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Jun 1, 2015, 6:08:48 AM6/1/15

to

I've found some early live recordings of Pletnev in Tokyo, starting with Kreisleriana from 1983. The slow movements are incredible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3AbYUkRMXI

Tony

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Jun 1, 2015, 11:36:48 AM6/1/15

to

On Monday, June 1, 2015 at 12:08:48 PM UTC+2, Tony wrote:
> I've found some early live recordings of Pletnev in Tokyo, starting with Kreisleriana from 1983. The slow movements are incredible.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3AbYUkRMXI

Pletnev live in '82 and '83

Chopin's op. 49 Fantaisie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z46vrOk7C1U

Prokofiev's Sonata 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn6CbzHeuzo

six of Tchaikovsky's 18 Pieces, op. 72: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXmbW3aeVfo

Tony

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Jun 1, 2015, 8:08:16 PM6/1/15

to

Already shared in this group. Pletnev's '95 recital

Brahms Handel Variations - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEiMC3afXyc

Debussy Preludes book 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaHqvZk6Gc0

Tony

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Jun 2, 2015, 8:22:36 AM6/2/15

to

Pletnev's encores from '82:

Glinka-Balakirev Lark - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-oJA-NR_Ho

Chopin etude op. 10 no. 8 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryr17J10PKw

Moszkowski Etincelles op. 36 no. 6 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxkYi2Mha1A

Tony

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Jun 2, 2015, 12:44:05 PM6/2/15

to

a wonderful all-Bach recital by Tatiana Nikolayeva given in Tokyo in 1984

Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
Partita no. 2 in C minor, BWV 826
Art of Fugue, BWV 1080 - Contrapunctus 1
Art of Fugue, BWV 1080 - Contrapunctus 9
15 Sinfonias, BWV 787-801
Prelude and Fugue no. 1 in C major, BWV 846
Partita no. 5 in G major, BWV 829 - Preambulum
Musical Offering, BWV 1079, Ricercar a 3 voci (voices)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exiAL8BjcRs

Tony

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Jun 3, 2015, 12:35:05 PM6/3/15

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In a somewhat desperate attempt to maintain the pace of this thread despite a dwindling pool of recordings, I'm now adding some pianists who studied in Russia but are probably not Russian.

Japanese pianist Minoru Nojima studied with Lev Oborin and, in this group at least, has become known for being tied up in the Hatto Hoax

Ravel Miroirs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_XzSQCYVWQ

Debussy Preludes, book 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F9juitnZKc

Schubert A minor D 845 sonata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G07ECBlkek

Tony

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Jun 3, 2015, 3:06:58 PM6/3/15

to

a wonderful 1985 Chopin recital by Dang Thai Son. He studied with Dmitri Bashkirov and got gold at the 1980 Chopin competition (you know the year when Pogorelich really won).

Chopin Preludes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb4V1BV9UcE

Nocturne op. 55 no. 2
Scherzo no. 3, op. 39
Introduction and Rondo, op. 16
Ballade no. 4, op. 52
Mazurka op. 50 no. 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W-a0iRI2yc