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Best version of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G?

post #1 of 10
3/17/10 at 8:51am
Thread Starter 
Whats the best CD recording?

Is there a bernstein cd? Or just the youtube videos?

Cheers.
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post #2 of 10
3/17/10 at 12:22pm
This is my opinion, but there just aren't any bad recordings, and many of superb quality. But the two I listen to the most are all on EMI.

Choice 1 is the Collard/Maazel collaboration. Maazel is arguably the finest Ravel conductor of the last 50 years and Collard is right there with him.

Choice 2 is the Francois/Cluytens version. Out of print, but well worth seeking out. Cluytens is about as authentic as you can get with Ravel. A fine companion disk to Cluyten's recordings of Ravel's orchestral music. Francois plays with glittering elegance.
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post #3 of 10
3/17/10 at 1:15pm
I like Boulez/Zimerman (DG) and Abbado/Argerisch (DG Originals) a lot.
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post #4 of 10
3/27/10 at 3:27am
I would suggest:

Arturo Michelangeli / Garcis & the Philharmonia Orchestra

It's the definative version.

- augustwest
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post #5 of 10
3/27/10 at 6:08am
I second the recommendation for Zimerman/Boulez on DG, it's excellent.

And for something a little less strait-laced you might want to try Francois/Cluytens (EMI). (EDIT: It actually isn't out of print, I think.)

As far as I know, there are three different recordings of Bernstein performing this concerto. But I don't know if any of those versions are available at the moment. I only have his live recording with the Wiener Philharmoniker (DG, 1971), directing them from the piano. I wouldn't really recommend that version, except for it's simple joy of playing, it's bit of a mess. His other versions are said to be much better.
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post #6 of 10
3/27/10 at 8:13pm

A few additional suggestions

Zimerman/Boulez is good, BUT... Boulez just recorded both Ravel concertos live in concert with the Cleveland Orchestra and Pierre-Laurent Aimard. I attended the concerts. If the sound quality is good, these performances will be at the top of my list.

I also like Argerich/Abbado/London Symphony, and many people rate it highly along with Michelangeli/Gracis (which didn't move me, especially because of the annoying left-hand-first mannerism in the second movement). The later Argerich/Abbado/Berlin remake isn't as fresh.
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post #7 of 10
3/27/10 at 9:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by augustwest View Post
I would suggest:

Arturo Michelangeli / Garcis & the Philharmonia Orchestra

It's the definative version.

- augustwest
X 2!
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post #8 of 10
3/28/10 at 3:58am
Anyone have the Yundi Li version? I think it comes with the Prokofiev no.2.
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post #9 of 10
3/31/10 at 9:51pm
I like Fowke/Baudo on Classics For Pleasure (EMI). Michelangeli is too cold for me. Bernstein's early recording is good, but in old sound. Delarocha is decent, but a bit weak in personality. I can't recall any other versions offhand.
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post #10 of 10
3/31/10 at 10:16pm
Bernstein's version conducting from the keyboard is pretty amazing. It's available on a CD by Symposium (or on RCA Victor 78s).
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