One of the biggest reason, why I started listening to classical music, was Piano concerto 2 (ending of first move). It was like to hear most amazing Technical Death Metal guitar solo ever 😀 But lately I start listening number three a lot. I love Yuja Wang performances of the piece.
Thanks for acknowledging the work of John Browning, a fine artist in danger of being forgotten. He's mostly remembered for his interpretations of Romantic and modern literature, but I once heard him in a simultaneously elegant and impassioned Beethoven No. 4 that was sublime.
I'll give it listen. I have and love the Bryon Janis/Kondrashin version on Mercury Living Presence. The finale twinkled and sparkled with all the glissandos. It would be fun to listen to it on acid. I bought the cd originally for the Rach 1, then after 10 years I listened to the Prokofiev and it was astounding! I was very embarrassed I had not listen to it sooner but I was just not into Prokofiev at the time.
An excellent choice, the young Argerich was always a great Prokofiev pianist. Listen to her interpretation of the Toccata! However, Janis/Kondrashin is still my personal favorite.
Totally agree! Martha is the Queen and King of Prok 3. Now you'll have to do a reference recording video for Prok 2. That used to be in the shadow of Prok 3, but now it's time has come
Prok prok prok. Why is it (and it’s an interesting question) we only abbreviate these Russian composers names in a slightly patronising fashion? ((See also Tchaik, Shosty) . Just I think as a matter of respect (as we don’t know them) use their names
@@yundichen8332 Agree also for what it’s worth. Anything that wasn’t seen as a major work in the time of lps seems difficult to fit this format. However, maybe I’m wrong, I mean Aimard’s recording of the Ligeti études is presumably a reference. But that work wasn’t around in the glory days of the lp!
I own 34 different recordings of this concerto. This is not typical for my otherwise small collection but I get a little OCD when I love something. And yes, Argerich/Abbado is certainly the reference and ultimately the best.
Everything Dave says is both instructive and true and I won't argue that this truly is the Reference Recording. However, one of those "young guns" he left out of his list was Van Cliburn. And his recording is the first time I even heard of this concerto (I was 23 when he 'Dave' was 6 and had been collecting for 9 years and voraciously reading review magazines). Cliburn's was coupled with the MacDowell 2nd...which, at the time, I liked better and it was with the Chicago Symphony with Walter Hendl because Fritz Reiner was busy passing away. Just another to add to the young gun list. Cliburn's was 7 years before Martha's and, at the time, DGG was not yet importing directly to the US, anyway. American Decca, that released a few DGG titles in this country, were pretty bad pressings...nothing like the DGG which was to come.
One of the reasons the Piano Concerto #2 is becoming more popular is because today's young pianists have such incredible technical proficiency, that they aren't cowed by it. Since there weren't many recordings of it for many years, maybe there wasn't a reference recording needed, but if so, my guess would be John Browning with Leinsdorf.
just to add some salt, at that time there already were Samson François’ two recordings (Rowicki and Cluytens) and his concert recording with Ancerl if I’m not wrong - François was considered a great Prokofiev “specialist” in the French musical world
I discovered that piano concertos even existed because of hearing Tchaikovsky #1 in person, then being directed by a store owner to purchase Van Cliburn's famous recording. RCA had the habit at the time of advertising three kind of "if you liked THIS..." on the backs of their LP jackets. So, with that, I began expanding my concerto recordings. Because of these back covers, I saw that Van Cliburn had recorded the Prokofiev 3rd -- which I'd never heard -- along with the MacDowel 2nd, BUT it was OUT-OF-PRINT. I was unable to hear or buy it. One day, for $1.99 in the CUT-OUT bin, I saw "Prokofiev Concerto No. 3" with an artist I had never heard of, "FIRST TIME EVER... MERCURY..." Byron Janis. It was ALSO OUT-OF-PRINT, but I bought it simply because it was an apparently important concerto Van Cliburn, at least, had recorded. Many years later, when I finally did hear Van Cliburn's performance, boy was I happy I had heard Byron Janis's FIRST -- it is one of the greatest recordings, period, ever made. Regarding, as Dave says, REFERENCE recordings, however, you have to face it: BOTH Van Cliburn's, inexplicably, and Byron Janis's recordings were OUT-OF-PRINT at the time Martha Argerich's recording with Claudio Abbado stood alone, as Dave said, as the very obvious REFERENCE recording at the time. And it remains.
@@nealkurz6503 True!!! I immediately bought that Mercury Golden Imports LP the moment it came out, in order to own an extra copy and purchase it for friends. That was a reissue after many years of the LP being entirely out of print. Even so, the Argerich/Abbado was consistently the only real "reference" recording, as it was always not only in print, but selling off the shelves by the Prokofiev 3rd enthusiasts. By and large, despite its being one of the most amazing performances ever recorded, the Byron Janis recording was simply unknown by the public. As Dave often points out, nobody was promoting it. It was known only to those of us apparently lucky enough to have stumbled upon it. In my opinion, however, every person on this planet ought to own that recording. Incidentally, Byron Janis and the Moscow Philharmonic had to make that recording at 3:00 a.m. BECAUSE of an unexpected visit to Moscow by Van Cliburn that night, making the hall where the recording was to take place unavailable until Van Cliburn's impromptu performance took place. Amazing to me that this incredible Janis/Kondrashin, Moscow Philharmonic, recording is so spectacular considering all involved were working at 3:00 am. It's an incredible performance in every way.
William Kapell with Antal Doráti and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra recording doesn't get mentioned often, sadly. It's my favorite recording of this work for its intensity and virtuosity that reminds me of Horowitz in his prime. The sound isn't great, though, being a 1940s recording...
Agree. There used to be no “going back” after you hear that one. Within seconds you realize you are in a completely different world-wild, primitive, and raw. Imagine if he had lived longer! Women of my parents’ generation worshipped him in the 1940s: one friend called him a “dreamboat!”
This sounds right. Argerich really gripped the classical fans, and DG really promoted it. Poor Gary Graffman had Szell, but i don't think that he had Argerich's star power. Still, I wouldn't to be without them, and I have sentimental reasons for turning to the Graffman recording again and again.
I was not around but the Janis-Kondrashin recording in Moscow in 1962 for Mercury did not make a big wave? I certainly though "Holycow" the first time I heard it.
Indeed! Whenever Dave uploads a new "Reference Recordings" video, I always try to predict what recording it's going to be before I watch the video--and somehow I'm right about 95 percent of the time. This time, I said to my wife, "It's got to be Janis/Kondrashin. It fulfills all of Dave's reference-recording criteria." Oh well... At least it wasn't Lang-Lang/Rattle.
I had the Graffman/ Szell on those Columbia Great Performances issues -first on cassette, later on CD. Terrific performance of Piano Concerto no.1 too.
One of the biggest reason, why I started listening to classical music, was Piano concerto 2 (ending of first move). It was like to hear most amazing Technical Death Metal guitar solo ever 😀
But lately I start listening number three a lot.
I love Yuja Wang performances of the piece.
This is one of those instances in which the reference is actually the best recording. 😉
Thanks for acknowledging the work of John Browning, a fine artist in danger of being forgotten. He's mostly remembered for his interpretations of Romantic and modern literature, but I once heard him in a simultaneously elegant and impassioned Beethoven No. 4 that was sublime.
It has to be. Not only is it the reference, but it's also one of the all time best.
I'll give it listen. I have and love the Bryon Janis/Kondrashin version on Mercury Living Presence. The finale twinkled and sparkled with all the glissandos. It would be fun to listen to it on acid. I bought the cd originally for the Rach 1, then after 10 years I listened to the Prokofiev and it was astounding! I was very embarrassed I had not listen to it sooner but I was just not into Prokofiev at the time.
An excellent choice, the young Argerich was always a great Prokofiev pianist. Listen to her interpretation of the Toccata! However, Janis/Kondrashin is still my personal favorite.
I was always much more a violin than piano lover. But I got this on your recommendation as a reference and it is magical.
Totally agree! Martha is the Queen and King of Prok 3.
Now you'll have to do a reference recording video for Prok 2. That used to be in the shadow of Prok 3, but now it's time has come
Prok prok prok. Why is it (and it’s an interesting question) we only abbreviate these Russian composers names in a slightly patronising fashion? ((See also Tchaik, Shosty) . Just I think as a matter of respect (as we don’t know them) use their names
There may not be a reference recording for Prok 2
@@fulltongrace7899I agree. There's never been a recording that stands out or has been pushed forward that much.
@@yundichen8332 Agree also for what it’s worth. Anything that wasn’t seen as a major work in the time of lps seems difficult to fit this format. However, maybe I’m wrong, I mean Aimard’s recording of the Ligeti études is presumably a reference. But that work wasn’t around in the glory days of the lp!
@@murraylow4523 also rach
I own 34 different recordings of this concerto. This is not typical for my otherwise small collection but I get a little OCD when I love something. And yes, Argerich/Abbado is certainly the reference and ultimately the best.
I think this is your first video of talking about a piano concerto individually. Because usually I notice you talk about Piano Concerto Cycles Dave.
Everything Dave says is both instructive and true and I won't argue that this truly is the Reference Recording. However, one of those "young guns" he left out of his list was Van Cliburn. And his recording is the first time I even heard of this concerto (I was 23 when he 'Dave' was 6 and had been collecting for 9 years and voraciously reading review magazines). Cliburn's was coupled with the MacDowell 2nd...which, at the time, I liked better and it was with the Chicago Symphony with Walter Hendl because Fritz Reiner was busy passing away. Just another to add to the young gun list. Cliburn's was 7 years before Martha's and, at the time, DGG was not yet importing directly to the US, anyway. American Decca, that released a few DGG titles in this country, were pretty bad pressings...nothing like the DGG which was to come.
Fair enough.
One of the reasons the Piano Concerto #2 is becoming more popular is because today's young pianists have such incredible technical proficiency, that they aren't cowed by it. Since there weren't many recordings of it for many years, maybe there wasn't a reference recording needed, but if so, my guess would be John Browning with Leinsdorf.
No, I'd probably opt for Beroff/Masur, but as you say, there really was no reference recording at that time.
I thought I had heard that Argerich said that she wouldn’t touch #2
I like Bronfman’s rendition.
just to add some salt, at that time there already were Samson François’ two recordings (Rowicki and Cluytens) and his concert recording with Ancerl if I’m not wrong - François was considered a great Prokofiev “specialist” in the French musical world
There’s a quite marvelous one by Freddy Kempf which, of course, it cannot be considered reference…yet
I discovered that piano concertos even existed because of hearing Tchaikovsky #1 in person, then being directed by a store owner to purchase Van Cliburn's famous recording. RCA had the habit at the time of advertising three kind of "if you liked THIS..." on the backs of their LP jackets. So, with that, I began expanding my concerto recordings. Because of these back covers, I saw that Van Cliburn had recorded the Prokofiev 3rd -- which I'd never heard -- along with the MacDowel 2nd, BUT it was OUT-OF-PRINT. I was unable to hear or buy it. One day, for $1.99 in the CUT-OUT bin, I saw "Prokofiev Concerto No. 3" with an artist I had never heard of, "FIRST TIME EVER... MERCURY..." Byron Janis. It was ALSO OUT-OF-PRINT, but I bought it simply because it was an apparently important concerto Van Cliburn, at least, had recorded. Many years later, when I finally did hear Van Cliburn's performance, boy was I happy I had heard Byron Janis's FIRST -- it is one of the greatest recordings, period, ever made. Regarding, as Dave says, REFERENCE recordings, however, you have to face it: BOTH Van Cliburn's, inexplicably, and Byron Janis's recordings were OUT-OF-PRINT at the time Martha Argerich's recording with Claudio Abbado stood alone, as Dave said, as the very obvious REFERENCE recording at the time. And it remains.
@@nealkurz6503 True!!! I immediately bought that Mercury Golden Imports LP the moment it came out, in order to own an extra copy and purchase it for friends. That was a reissue after many years of the LP being entirely out of print. Even so, the Argerich/Abbado was consistently the only real "reference" recording, as it was always not only in print, but selling off the shelves by the Prokofiev 3rd enthusiasts. By and large, despite its being one of the most amazing performances ever recorded, the Byron Janis recording was simply unknown by the public. As Dave often points out, nobody was promoting it. It was known only to those of us apparently lucky enough to have stumbled upon it. In my opinion, however, every person on this planet ought to own that recording. Incidentally, Byron Janis and the Moscow Philharmonic had to make that recording at 3:00 a.m. BECAUSE of an unexpected visit to Moscow by Van Cliburn that night, making the hall where the recording was to take place unavailable until Van Cliburn's impromptu performance took place. Amazing to me that this incredible Janis/Kondrashin, Moscow Philharmonic, recording is so spectacular considering all involved were working at 3:00 am. It's an incredible performance in every way.
William Kapell with Antal Doráti and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra recording doesn't get mentioned often, sadly. It's my favorite recording of this work for its intensity and virtuosity that reminds me of Horowitz in his prime. The sound isn't great, though, being a 1940s recording...
And there is a Kapell/Stokowski recording, which is so exciting and intense!
Agree. There used to be no “going back” after you hear that one. Within seconds you realize you are in a completely different world-wild, primitive, and raw. Imagine if he had lived longer! Women of my parents’ generation worshipped him in the 1940s: one friend called him a “dreamboat!”
This sounds right. Argerich really gripped the classical fans, and DG really promoted it. Poor Gary Graffman had Szell, but i don't think that he had Argerich's star power. Still, I wouldn't to be without them, and I have sentimental reasons for turning to the Graffman recording again and again.
and you are not alone on that horecenyc492!
I was not around but the Janis-Kondrashin recording in Moscow in 1962 for Mercury did not make a big wave? I certainly though "Holycow" the first time I heard it.
You've kind of ignored everything else I said about the work and its reception.
Indeed!
Whenever Dave uploads a new "Reference Recordings" video, I always try to predict what recording it's going to be before I watch the video--and somehow I'm right about 95 percent of the time. This time, I said to my wife, "It's got to be Janis/Kondrashin. It fulfills all of Dave's reference-recording criteria."
Oh well... At least it wasn't Lang-Lang/Rattle.
I had the Graffman/ Szell on those Columbia Great Performances issues -first on cassette, later on CD. Terrific performance of Piano Concerto no.1 too.