CD Review 26 February 2011, the rest.

[Bryn]

Well, two points to start off with. The Cullan Bryant, Dmitry Rachmanov Beethoven and his teachers double CD may be had from hmv.com for £6.99 at the moment, and the claim that the Gary Cooper Diabellis (£10.99 from the same source) are the first to present them as they might have sounded when written has only partly been addressed. What about the superb recording by Paul Komen? Oh, and well before that, Jorg Demus recorded them, plus over 30 of the other Diabelli variations, for Archiv. I still have the double LP album, (sadly in very poor condition). I do wish Universal would issue those on CD.


Oh, and I half expect a commercial recording from Andreas Staier before too long. He toured it last year, including performances in Prague and our own Lake Disctrict using a fortepiano. I have not been able to find which model, however. The Prague performance was broadcast and there is a decent mp3 available. Staier too included a selection of other composers' Diabelli variations, though far fewer than Demus recorded for Archiv.

[MickyD]

Bryn, when were the Demus recordings made for Archiv? I only have his early piano performances that featured on DHM back in the 70s.

[Bryn]

I'll dig mine out and check what details are on it. I bought mine around 1971 in an HMV Bond Street sale. I have been able to find a few listings for it via Google, here's one. Just search for "demus". The entry reads:

BEETHOVEN: Diabelli Variations op. 120 (+ Variations composed after the Diabelli waltz by Moscheles, Schubert, Liszt, Czerny, Hummel, Kreutzer...) - Jörg DEMUS (pianoforte) 2LP gatefold ARCHIV PRODUKTION 2708025 Original German issue (G) gatefold & records mint 45€

The reference to "pianoforte" is misleading. Two fortepianos are used, a Broadwood and Graf.

[Roehre]

Oh, and well before that, Jorg Demus recorded them, plus over 30 of the other Diabelli variations, for Archiv.

In the mid 1970s Rudolf Buchbinder recorded all Diabelli variations (i.e. Beethoven's and all other contributors') on a 2 or 3 LP set for Telefunken-Decca, reissued on CD.

[Bryn]

Indeed he did, Roehre, and I have the CD version of that set, but he used a modern instrument, whereas Demus, although he played a little under two thirds of them, used instruments of the period.

[MickyD]

I'll dig mine out and check what details are on it. I bought mine around 1971 in an HMV Bond Street sale. I have been able to find a few listings for it via Google, here's one. Just search for "demus". The entry reads:



The reference to "pianoforte" is misleading. Two fortepianos are used, a Broadwood and Graf.

Fascinating, Bryn - I didn't know Demus had done anything for Archiv. With regard to the use of the word "pianoforte", it appears to be the name given to denote the early piano on the Continent. It is used all the time here in France.

I have long cherished Demus' Schumann recordings on early pianos for DHM - Kinderszenen etc, but apart from a single disc of lieder with Elly Ameling, the solo piano works have never appeared on CD. I live in hope!

[Bryn]

Well, two points to start off with. The Cullan Bryant, Dmitry Rachmanov Beethoven and his teachers double CD may be had from hmv.com for £6.99 at the moment, and the claim that the Gary Cooper Diabellis (£10.99 from the same source) are the first to present them as they might have sounded when written has only partly been addressed. What about the superb recording by Paul Komen? Oh, and well before that, Jorg Demus recorded them, plus over 30 of the other Diabelli variations, for Archiv. I still have the double LP album, (sadly in very poor condition). I do wish Universal would issue those on CD.


Oh, and I half expect a commercial recording from Andreas Staier before too long. He toured it last year, including performances in Prague and our own Lake Disctrict using a fortepiano. I have not been able to find which model, however. The Prague performance was broadcast and there is a decent mp3 available. Staier too included a selection of other composers' Diabelli variations, though far fewer than Demus recorded for Archiv.

Due for release May 7th.

Meanwhile:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOw4-CtMr-E

[MickyD]

Due for release May 7th.

Meanwhile:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOw4-CtMr-E

Bryn, on this recording, Staier is using a copy of a Graf fortepiano. I am a great fan of Staier's and look forward to everything he does. I would love him to do a complete Mendelssohn Songs without Words.

[hafod]

Due for release May 7th.

Meanwhile:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOw4-CtMr-E

Rave review from Clements in the Guardian.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012...?newsfeed=true

And it is £6.99 at Amazon substantially undercutting the usual suspects.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Di...d=AZFAVK42ANC5

[Bryn]

Rave review from Clements in the Guardian.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012...?newsfeed=true

And it is £6.99 at Amazon substantially undercutting the usual suspects.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Di...d=AZFAVK42ANC5

Thanks for that. Just cancelled my order with a usual suspect (which was still "awaiting stock allocation") and placed one with amazon.co.uk