tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post793625100767407652..comments2024-03-26T07:58:59.761+00:00Comments on I'll think of something later: Leonskaja's Schubert: CD goldDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-49357163113335965972017-07-28T08:27:17.908+01:002017-07-28T08:27:17.908+01:00My late friend was pretty clear on the wrong notes...My late friend was pretty clear on the wrong notes. But of course Callas did go on too long, so maybe he was referring to the performances at the late stages. I was pleased to note that a few weeks ago a survey of Normas STILL placed Callas first, despite all the later recordings which were surveyedDavid Damantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-69417292359834723042017-07-28T08:03:46.676+01:002017-07-28T08:03:46.676+01:00L-itis: are you suggesting there IS such a recordi...L-itis: are you suggesting there IS such a recording, or like me do you just wish it? Leonskaja could easily do it with one of her wonderful proteges - Pavel Kolesnikov, for instance, or Alexandra Silocea. Maybe another reunion on her 80th birthday?<br /><br />Sir David, I doubt that Callas hit the 'wrong' notes ever, maybe sour or unpleasant ones sometimes. She was a paragon of accuracy (not of course that I ever saw her live).Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-75786735827391179612017-07-28T07:23:24.262+01:002017-07-28T07:23:24.262+01:00Yes, heroes would be a far better word.To make som...Yes, heroes would be a far better word.To make someone a hero does not entail abandoning the critical faculty. And as for wrong notes I agree with you completely. I had a very musical friend who found Callas difficult because she hit the wrong note sometimes, but I strongly disagreed with himDavid Damantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-22974742009526632172017-07-27T14:41:34.969+01:002017-07-27T14:41:34.969+01:00BTW, how would it be to listen to Leonskaja playin...BTW, how would it be to listen to Leonskaja playing 4-hand with Lupu? (D. 940, I meanL-itishttps://leonskajitis.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-41671665465025565792017-07-27T08:38:32.497+01:002017-07-27T08:38:32.497+01:00Sir David, I don't accept that - false idols, ...Sir David, I don't accept that - false idols, no, but idols born of respect for the total mastery of style and instrument, why the hell not? Maybe 'heroes' is better. It may be that Leonskaja isn't suited to all the repertoire she plays, but in Schubert I've heard the ideal only twice, first with Richter and now in her. The only errors would be wrong notes, and frankly who cares about those? Cortot's and Gilels' performanes often had those, and they did not obstruct the essence.<br /><br />Sue, it's always good to know what the best regards as the best. By the same token, I brought up the question of another high-level interpreter, and she interjected to say she regarded her as fine but 'a little sentimental'.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-52368429121636741532017-07-26T23:40:03.477+01:002017-07-26T23:40:03.477+01:00That is so interesting about Leonakaja's asses...That is so interesting about Leonakaja's assessment of Sokolov and Radu Lupu. A fine demonstration that it takes the best to know the best.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15674930917585246294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-26111383008107401402017-07-26T13:21:17.109+01:002017-07-26T13:21:17.109+01:00You should not have any idols, since that implies ...You should not have any idols, since that implies a lack of critical perspective ( an idol can do no wrong), and you certainly always have that perspectiveDavid Damantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-34444221712789137472017-07-26T12:50:36.670+01:002017-07-26T12:50:36.670+01:00Sokolov was a pianist she cited as the best in the...Sokolov was a pianist she cited as the best in the interview, along with Radu Lupu. And I've not heard HIM live (last time he was supposed to come he wasn't granted a visa). <br /><br />Correct, I was waiting until I'd watched the mini-opera before commenting. We both have some catching up to do! Dashing to Glyndebourne for La clemenza di Tito now, will watch tomorrow.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-55481941176017944942017-07-26T12:42:18.962+01:002017-07-26T12:42:18.962+01:00I have not yet had the chance to hear her live. I ...I have not yet had the chance to hear her live. I wonder, from what you write above, whether you think she will appear in the US. As for knowing magisterial, I don't know that I could claim that, though I seem to recall, after you mentioned her the first time, playing comparision recordings of the same piece and she definitely stood out. Another pianist, who never plays in the US, who stood out for me like that was Sokolov. He left other pianists I'd previously admired in the dust. BTW, I'm suspecting you haven't had a moment yet to watch the Drumf and the Rhinegold. I hope you will, as I think you both would get a kick out of it. Ariadne was born to play Melania.Susan Scheidhttps://prufrocksdilemma.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-53953487407025155952017-07-26T11:22:24.477+01:002017-07-26T11:22:24.477+01:00Barenboim's Schubert can be fitfully interesti...Barenboim's Schubert can be fitfully interesting, but it doesn't get to the essence as Leonskaja's does. And though she praised Schiff's Mozart in the booklet, I don't find his Schubert interesting at all. Brendel and Co. rule themselves out for me by avoiding the repeats - though I do listen to Imogen Cooper's more feline approach sometimes and would still go to any of her concerts when possible.<br /><br />As for playing more in London, I guess that like Richter she likes the special circumstances of quiet places like Crail and Aldeburgh. See above: you can catch EL at Snape Maltings in a couple of weeks' time. Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-13611492463913367372017-07-26T11:15:32.107+01:002017-07-26T11:15:32.107+01:00You are so right David, thank you for this piece. ...You are so right David, thank you for this piece. I just do not understand the relentless sanctification of (one example of several) Barenboim's pianism, while she is still - thank God and as you say - going strong.<br /><br />After her last Wigmore recital I tackled her on playing more in London. She demurred, prettily, but what she claims is a lot is not nearly enough. Sebastiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-77589068614392507572017-07-26T09:41:08.163+01:002017-07-26T09:41:08.163+01:00Sorry it wasn't very good...nor does it have E...Sorry it wasn't very good...nor does it have EL's radiant smile. Thanks for the prompt re Maltings - being neither on a Leonskaja nor a Snape list, I hadn't seen that, and now I have noted your online calendar so shall consult in future. Difficult to make it at the moment without moving some other things around, but I'll try - how can I call myself a fanboy if I don't go? Link here to the concert in question if anyone else is interested: https://snapemaltings.co.uk/whats-on/elisabeth-leonskaja/. Otherwise, click on L-itis' moniker above.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-79696774625299640422017-07-26T09:03:41.381+01:002017-07-26T09:03:41.381+01:00Thank you for your photo from Crail!
Suppose you w...Thank you for your photo from Crail!<br />Suppose you will also be in Snape Maltings, right? How nice...L-itishttps://leonskajitis.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-11075704086568553282017-07-25T23:43:41.419+01:002017-07-25T23:43:41.419+01:00Surely you know magisterial playing when you hear ...Surely you know magisterial playing when you hear it, though. Can't remember if you've yet been able to see her live - something akin to a religious, or at least a transcendental, experience.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-61998048768400847532017-07-25T23:40:00.589+01:002017-07-25T23:40:00.589+01:00The master class points and the Neuhaus quote I pa...The master class points and the Neuhaus quote I particularly enjoyed. You are the one who introduced me to her, and I'm grateful, even as I don't have ears to hear as acutely as you are able to do.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15674930917585246294noreply@blogger.com