If I Could Choose Only One Recording By...ARTURO BENEDETTI MICHELANGELI

It Would Have To Be...Debussy: Images and Children's Corner (DG)
Michelangeli's crystalline coolness and perfection of touch doesn't suit everything he did, but it sure works here!

[@zdrzdra]

There is a marvellous video of him playing Childrens Corner in the 60s here on youtube, I recommend to look it up! Michelangeli had a certain "grip" in his playing, a partcular sense of form and rythm, I think. It is kind of firm and edgy, but very interesting and recognisable. This distingusihes him from most modern day pianists with equal technical means, in my opinion. For example in the cadenza in the Grieg concerto - he stands out with his firm burst, grips the chords, total control, doesn't sound like the rest. Turly fascinating, even though it doesn't always suits the music.

[@shantihealer]

Yes, what a recording, well chosen. Nowadays Michelangeli's technical perfection is two a penny among top pianists. But what they don't have is the artistry of Michelangeli's playing - elegant, refined, aristocratic, controlled yet rhapsodic, Debussy through and through.

[@dennischiapello7243]

That was my imprint recording for Children's Corner. The refinement of his tone went a long way in mitigating his "cold" approach. The videos of him playing Scarlatti sonatas show that even his visual impact was similar: he seems an idealized portrait of an aristocratic long-hair at the piano. Not even his shirt cuffs get out of place. Mesmerizing.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

His hair always looked greasy to me.

[@dennischiapello7243]

@@DavesClassicalGuide I've noticed that sometimes! However, Daniil Trifonov has set a new standard in that department.

[@Andrew87394]

Lovely, and all done with your characteristic humour. On the subject of great Italian pianists, any chance some time of a talk on Maria Tipo?She seems in danger of being forgotten.

[@michelangelomulieri5134]

I think that his greatest achievement has been op. 111 by Beethoven. An account which combines a wonderful dialogue between control and musical pathos, on the one hand, and an essay on music’s metaphysic, on the other hand.

[@MichaelCattermole]

Thanks for the recommendation Dave - have just ordered the Michelangeli/Debussy/DG box. Loving Mildred (and Finster!) as always.

[@itsagasgasgas]

One of my most admired pianists… His Chopin album on DG (and all his Debussy of course) will always be in my top-ten favourite records. However there is a 2019 documentary available on DVD called Beyond Perfection that makes a pretty good case for the « never meet your idols » principle 😉

[@kingconcerto5860]

Interesting, I've never heard of that DVD, I'm gonna try to find it.

[@JohnGavin-hz9bc]

I would guess you’re referring to Cord Garben’s account of a mistake in stage lighting for the Ravel Concerto performance and how Michelangeli did’nt forgive him. In that case I agree with you.

[@itsagasgasgas]

@@JohnGavin-hz9bc Indeed! If I remember well not only did he not forgive what appeared to be a very minor technical detail but he totally cut the poor guy off forever without a single word or anything didn’t he?

[@edwindepianist]

I was totally depressed after watching this dvd. Either Cord Garben is taking revenge, or ABM was really an impossible human being. (but a great artist) I always find him a bit "stiff, or rigid" in his playing.

[@kingconcerto5860]

I'm shocked your pick wasn't that legendary Rach 4 recording. He's my pick for Debussy too, but I listen to Debussy so rarely that the old Gieseking recordings are more than acceptable IMO. For Michelangeli, it MUST come down to those two legendary recordings of Rach 4 and the Ravel concerto. I couldn't imagine being without either of those recordings, especially having traded them for solo piano Debussy! Interesting video, thanks.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

OK, so you don't like Debussy as much as the rest of the universe. I think it was more important to let him shine single, rather than with an accompaniment.

[@kingconcerto5860]

@@DavesClassicalGuide That's fair, and those Debussy recordings are certainly great to do that.

[@dannydiyitang2180]

ABM is a miracle.

[@brutusalwaysminded]

Absolutely. I greet each spring s”with a quiet session listening to this very disc. Guess it’s possessed of some kind of magic beyond our ordinary comprehension, Dave. 😁 Thanks!

[@richardmarkel9695]

My favorite still has to be his Rachmaninov 4th. I always found the American pressing and CD a little dry but there is a Japanese SACD with which you can play the CD layer which I find much more sonically satisfying

[@stevemcclue5759]

I think I had a similar lightbulb moment to yours, Dave. At one time I aspired to play the First Ballade by Chopin. Then I heard Michelangeli and realised that there were some pieces I would never play to my satisfaction because I just don't have and never would have the technique. (Incidentally there's a very amusing book by Alan Rusbridger on his attempt to master this fiendish piece) I'd have gone for Michelangeli's DG Chopin recital, not simply because of that 1st Ballade, but because he plays some of the Mazurkas - which I *can* play!!

[@petervonberg2711]

Yes, surely. And there's the Ravel in G and Rach 4 coupling. But if I had to pick one...When I was a high school kid I found one of those little Odeon records in a record store. On one side, the Bach-Busoni Chaconne .Great. On the other side, the Brahms Paganini. Oh my God. Not only technically amazing, but incredibly beautiful as well.

[@kingconcerto5860]

His Chaconne is outstanding, but that Rach 4 is simply on another level. I feel lucky to not have that issue of "imprinting" on specific recordings as much as other people do, but it really seems like there is no point for the Rach 4 to be recorded ever again since that Michelangeli recording exists. I've never heard another performance/recording come anywhere close to his. If you know of one, please feel free to tell me about it.

[@petervonberg2711]

His Rach 4 is supreme. I grew up with that recording.@@kingconcerto5860

[@tarakb7606]

Yes, the Chaconne is stunning.

[@alanmcginn4796]

What an amazing artist. My first exposure to him was of course the ravel on EMI. One of my first discs I purchased way back when. I recently purchased the complete dg set which is a joy from beginning to end. Great video Dave!

[@ervinvice1521]

I have that one. It’s magical.

[@goonbelly5841]

I tell people that as a child I learned to play the Boulez piano sonatas. Even though it ain't true, most people couldn't tell the difference.

[@JamesCello]

I think if a child grew up playing Boulez he wouldn’t be able to speak nor function as a real human 💀

[@jameslee2943]

I would have gone for the live Grieg Concerto (1965). Would anyone dare to play the Grieg like that now? Could anyone??!? Oh to have been in the audience...

[@caleblaw3497]

If I could choose only one Michelangeli recording, I would pick his Rachmaninoff Concerto #4. Because I never like that piece until I heard Michelangeli's recording and realized Rach #4 is not bad after all. Without that recording I may continue to hate Rach #4

[@JohnGavin-hz9bc]

Just one more superlative Michelangeli recording - Brahms Ballades op. 10. Also, his Gaspard from ‘59 and ‘60 is unmatched. So effortless in a way that captures Ravel’s essence.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

It's confirmed; Mildred is the real brains behind the operation. Hopefully Cancrizans won't allow his idle mind to stray to the subject of cats.

[@tarakb7606]

And yet he could be anything but cold when he wanted to be. His Bach/Busoni Chaconne is one of the greatest performances I know of, and certainly isn't lacking in passion. Quite the opposite.

[@melissaking6019]

ABM's Ondine from Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit has a magical shimmer and atmosphere that is exquisite.

[@bbailey7818]

Mildred settled in for a long winter's nap. Ahh!

[@morrigambist]

The only problem with "Dr. Gradus ad Parnassus" is that it requires a piano with a working sustain (middle) pedal.

[@WesSmith-m6i]

Wow, there I was listening to this talk on Michelangeli and you drop the name Walter Gieseking! Gieseking (I think on the old Seraphim label) was my introduction at age 12 to Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto. I loved that recording to pieces and it holds a soft spot in my heart, but I have rarely (never?) come across other recordings by Gieseking, so it was quite interesting to hear you mention him.

[@kingconcerto5860]

Gieseking is a piano legend. I rarely listen to Beethoven, but I love his recordings of the concerti. I have some huge box with the complete piano music of Debussy and Ravel played by Gieseking- they've always been my reference recordings for Debussy and Ravel for the pieces that Michelangeli didn't record.

[@waynesmith3767]

Readers of Marianne Moore’s great poem “The mind is an enchanting thing” will remember the line” Luke Gieseking playing Scarlatti”

[@waynesmith3767]

Like, not Luke! autocorrect is amusing

[@bbailey7818]

That must be the "Emperor" with Galliera conducting. I still love that one, utterly transparent, airy and rapturous. On the light side, but none the worse for that. Like Goethe and Schubert's Ganymede.

[@rixtafford]

Gieseking had the lightest touch. His recordings of the Grieg Lyric Pieces are still my favourite. He was also my introduction to Bach on the piano, on the old Heliodor label. He also made a record of Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words which I love. If you hunt around most of this is available on CD, much of it on Spotify. @@bbailey7818

[@nikeeta19]

For Youri Egorov it might have pretty the same music choice, isn’t it?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Not necessarily.

[@fabiopaolobarbieri2286]

Were would KZbin be without cats?

[@goonbelly5841]

Ruled by dogs.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Never. Goldfish first.

[@richardfrankel6102]

​@@DavesClassicalGuideShhh! -- We aren't supposed to know that.

[@alighieroalighieri404]

I've always wondered why Michelangeli never recored more of Ravel's music. In my opinion, his interpretation of Graspard de la nuit remains the best ever

[@DavidAgdern]

Seconded!