Sunday, March 18, 2012

Tchaikovsky / The Seasons, Op.37 / Evgeni Koroliov

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special edition with stereo calibration
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Thanks, Tchaikovsky, your melodies are so beautiful.
Thanks, Evgeni, for knowledge to interpret them as well.

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10 comments:

Claudio said...

thank you fly
this songs are one of best tchaikovsky piano compositions
koroliov plays so beautiful
this disc is a jewell
tks for share

RMC said...

This is wonderful. I only know his Bach, which I really like. You have an admirable taste in pianists!

Anonymous said...

Thank you dear Fly, Koroliov is a wonderful pianist. I have now listened to both his Schubert and his Tchaikovsky. And then re-listened to his Handel, which I already own and appreciate a lot. As I've written yesterday, I absolutely admire and cherish Koroliov's Bach, and his Handel. And I own quite a few more of his cds. However, these two recent uploads of yours, both new to me, just confirmed a feeling that I have had about Koroliov before: I find him at his best in baroque music. I was disappointed by his Chopin--oh, it's quite excellent, but the point is, that there are so many exceptional Chopin pianists out there that a pianist has to be very special, very unique, before one will consider him remarquable by comparison. Excellent is just not enough in this well-learned and well-served repertoire.

But listening to Schubert revealed something else. I found the interpretation very good, indeed excellent, and I am very grateful that you offered this opportunity to hear it. But as with the Chopin, there are quite a few, though perhaps not nearly as many, exceptional interpretations available in this repertoire, and one has had the opportunity to educate one's ear to it. Among the many that I have heard, there are a couple of pianists whose interpretations of these opuses are very dear to my heart. Comparison is inevitable. And there is no way that Koroliov's D960, excellent as it is, can come close to the late Arrau's recorded at La Chaux-de-Fonds, or to Richter in his later years (eg on Philips). These two interpretations of D960 are very different from each other, but both are totally heart-wrenching for me.

What is it in Richter's interpretation, for instance, that moves me to tears when Koroliov only touches me quietly? This despite the fact that I am very far from an unconditional Richter fan? My husband put into words what I was sensing, listening to this D960: Koroliov is not the absolute master of rubato/legato that Richer and Arrau are. His rubato actually sounds a bit 'gauche' sometimes, does not flow completely 'smoothly', reveals occasional hesitations that distract, that disrupt the emotional flow. I guess that is why I find him so much better in baroque music, where no rubato is called for, than in romantic music that thrives on it.

So yes, I do appreciate Koroliov a great deal and that is why I have bought every record of his that came my way (not easy and not cheap to buy Tacet in my country). But I do not necessarily admire everything that he does. I did find his Moments musicaux more moving than his sonata though.

As for his Tchaikovsky, I will not comment on his interpretation per se. This is the first time that I've heard this opus so my ear is not educated--and I confess to not liking this music very much on first encounter. It sure does not sound like the Tchaikovsky that I know from his concertos and symphonies! To me these are simple salon pieces, a charming distraction, period. Should preferably be heard before his Schubert, not after...

Thanks again dear friend for your so very generous contributions.

Tamia

itadiegues said...

Muitisssimo obrigado.

Anonymous said...

Thanks again!
Look forward to this one.

theblueamos said...

great new discovery thank you so much from jerusalem

Thaison said...

Thank you very much. I have not come across recordings from Evgeni Koroliov before. I heard "The Seasons" by Ashkenazy and Pletnev before but Koroliov version is equally good if not better. It just shows how many good pianists are out there. Those who became famous might not be the best - they became famous because their CD companies promoting their artists, making them fashionable, high-profile, sexy and handsome!

N.B. Ashkenazy and Pletnev are also good artists!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this one, and the whole blog in general - very interesting recordings you have put up, look forward to hearing them!

-- ja

Anonymous said...

Piano , the best therapy for epilepsy..I was falling down and your blog saved me ..Thank you

Fly said...

Really? Fantastic. Good, I'm very happy :)