Review: Moravec Portrait--Riveting and Glorious Pianism

[@steps222]

He was the greatest pianist--and artist--I've ever heard, and that goes back to the 1950s. And yes, he was a lovely man. After one of the three times I heard him in recital, I spoke to him. He was seated behind a table. When I mentioned that I had loved his playing from the time I heard the Connoisseur Society in the '60s, he got up, reached across the table, an hugged me. It's a moment I'll never forget.

[@melissaking6019]

Thank you, Dave, for bringing Ivan Moravec into my life. His talent was off the charts. Moravec had gorgeous touch and tone, exquisitely on display in his Debussy and Ravel performances. Thanks for the heads up about his Mozart and Beethoven recordings.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

My pleasure! Enjoy!

[@marknewkirk4322]

I'm going to throw my arm out patting myself on the back. I translated a lot of the material in the booklet from Czech to English. I was really, really honored that they asked me. That is, assuming the booklet you have there is the same one. I haven't even seen the final product yet.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Well if it was you, then Good Job!

[@olegroslak852]

Thanks for the great review. Like the Szell/Warner box, I'm eagerly awaiting delivery by mail. Also, wanted to be the first to congratulate you for reaching the milestone of 10,000 views on your most popular video. Onwards and upwards! I'll certainly be doing my part to keep those numbers climbing. Great work!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thanks very much! I honestly had no idea. Wow!

[@m.l.pianist2370]

The Prelude excerpt you played was absolutely entrancing! One thing I love about Moravec's playing is his judicious use of hand asynchronization where the left hand plays a split second later than the right hand. He's not the only one who does this, but in my opinion, no one does it better!

[@pierrevigna]

Thank you for this video. Moravec was such a genius. I saw him in concert in Paris playing Chopin’s 4th ballade. His sound was so beautiful. His CD of beethoven sonatas is for me the most impressive one of ALL beethoven sonatas CDs I have ever heard, Arrau included (and Arrau is King for me in Beethoven sonatas). But then, his Franck, Chopin, Ravel, Debussy, Schumann and Mozart are also sublime.

[@ce2167-n1t]

Dear Mr Hurwitz. This box set is cause for celebration. Still, Supraphon could have added some of his live recordings, solo Mozart and Haydn, more of Czechs, Grieg and Prokofiev concertos, and yes, unmissable Nocturnes. As you have mentioned his recoding legacy is scattered over many labels and this was an opportunity to finally organize the work of this genius in a single box. But, yes, rejoice in what we have now. Thanks for your great work and enthusiasm as always.

[@jankucera8180]

Let me just speculate... probably this is not as easy as one would wish. But I can imagine, if this is a success in terms of sales, they may put some effort into creating and publishing another box...

[@michelangelomulieri5134]

I got all his recordings...he's one of the best kept secrets in music interpretation! Thanks for presenting this unique pianist! Ahhh...an ABM's pupil..😉

[@s28101]

You are a very creativ person, the variaty in the videos are remarkable. And this tribute to Moravec from you and Supraphon are a delight. It is good to know about the worst records, but better to get knowledge of the great ones.

[@CraigMaloney]

I stumbled upon a few Moravec recordings while used CD browsing and immediately fell in love with his recordings. Such a brilliant artist. I just disappear into the music while it's playing. Saw the review pop up and couldn't get my wallet out fast enough. Eagerly anticipating this release.

[@prashantkumar137]

My favorite pianist- the numerous uno.

[@TheTmackey]

Wonderful review of a transcendent artist. Thank you.

[@RabidCh]

I've wished for this for a long time, hooray!

[@estel5335]

My cat approves! She loves his Pathetique & Bagatelle. :) So far, his interpretation of the Chopin Barcarolle has impacted me the most with pure pianism.

[@caleblaw2331]

Ivan Moravec is one of my most favorite pianist. I can donate a lot of my individual CDs because of this set. Only drawback is it is not a complete set. As a result I still need to keep around 10 CDs around. Things missing - Mozart solo works, Brahms concertos, Chopin Nocturnes, Dvorak/Grieg/Ravel/Prokofiev Concerto, Hanssler Mozart Concertos, Earlier Chopin Preludes, live concert recordings. I still remembered 10 years ago when I visit Prague, I went to record stores trying to see if I can find any secret recordings of him that I am not aware of. However I couldn't find any

[@waynesmith3767]

Coming to this late but his playing on the three times I heard him play in three different cities was a great pleasure; the first time I heard him was in Seattle and he was only a name to me- never heard his recordings-and he was just great on Ravel.

[@Wolfcrag85]

Dear David, thank you for your efforts in championing such an enlightening artist as Moravec. If I understood correctly from your talk, part of the Chopin as well as the Debussy Images and smaller pieces were licensed from Vox, making up those early 2000's and 1980's disc for the American label. It's a pity they didn't include the Nocturnes, though.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yes, but the Nocturnes are readily available from Supraphon separately, so I can kind of see the point.

[@kend.6797]

There exists a live, Mozart #23 with Orpheus from 1986. It was broadcast and I used to have it on tape when I was in High School. A box of live Moravec would be the best!

[@davidaiken1061]

A splendid tribute to a great artist. I actually ordered this set yesterday, not knowing you would review it today. Now i'm even more eager to hear the contents. I already have the Beethoven Concerto 4 with Turnovsky, and the three Mozart concertos. But I am not familiar with the rest and can't wait to audition it. Too bad they didn't include the Chopin Nocturnes. Let's hope there's another volume.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Just get the Nocturnes on Supraphon. Why wait for another box when they are readily available?

[@waynesmith3767]

O

[@martinfrank9351]

I have an old Quintessence LP with Moravec playing Mozart's 14th and 23rd piano concertos. It's with the Czech Chamber Orchestra conducted by Josef Vlach. Either that's correct or the newer notes are correct. I know, a bit (a lot?) pedantic, but there you go. I hadn't know you had MS. I'm sorry to hear that and wish you the best.

[@paulcouture5355]

I'd like to request a random-reviews-from-the-overflow-room-style talk of the Moravec not included in this box. Especially since it's all still available.

[@chazinko]

Just wondering, is there any indication where and when the solo Brahms pieces were recorded? I'm particularly interested if the Op. 117 Intermezzi are the 1982 New York recordings from the Nonesuch label. These are exceptional performances!

[@danielkim9161]

I was looking to dive into the works of a pianist I'm not as familiar with -- not Richter, Argerich, Fleisher, Serkin, Hamelin, Arrau, Pollini, Zimmerman, etc. -- and think this Moravec box sounds perfect. Oddly enough, the only Moravec recording I really know is the Chopin Nocturnes, which aren't included in this set! Anyway, thank you for the review.

[@stephenkeen2404]

I think David accidently skipped this, but at the end of the disk with the Beethoven concertos is a superlative performance of his Op. 90 sonata in E minor. I try not to exaggerate about such things, but it was truly like hearing the sonata for the first time. This collection (sans DVD) showed up on Qobuz a couple of weeks back, so I've been sampling it for a while. I'm not as taken with his Debussy--the care and thoughtfulness that serves the Beethoven so well make his Debussy a little to rigid for my taste. I compared back-to-back with Bavouzet and still prefer Bavouzet or Arau.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I did not skip the Beeethoven--I mentioned it quite specifically. Disagree big time about the Debussy, but as you say, it's your taste, and I love Bavouzet and Arrau. Variety is the spice the of life!

[@halbrooks7517]

Thanks for the great review! I need this box. By the way, have you considered a video on the new Charles Munch box set?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I did it already.

[@halbrooks7517]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Oh great! I must have missed in my scrolling through the channel. I will check it out!

[@johnburlinson6697]

I'm a bit confused. It wasn't that long ago that you made a point of saying that "artists don't matter", only composers and works. Please don't misunderstand me, I hold Moravec in very high esteem, and I don't challenge for a minute the praise which you lavish on him. I'm just wondering how you can feel this way about him if he doesn't matter.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

With all due respect, I explained exactly what I meant at the time, and you are quoting only half of the thought that I expressed. What I said was "Artists don't matter. Works matter" (or something similar). If Moravec never existed, would Chopin be any less popular or revered? Did Chopin need Moravec or did Moravec need Chopin? I think you know the answers, and that should clarify the point.

[@johnburlinson6697]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Yes, it should clarify the point, but I'm a very obtuse fellow, I suppose. If Moravec had never existed, Chopin would certainly be popular and revered, but perhaps just a little bit less so, it seems to me. Moravec's Chopin is not quite the same as Cortot's or Pollini's, or anyone else's. Chopin needs for Moravec to play him, along with Pollini and Cortot, and all the others. A great piano performance needs a great composer, a great artist, and a listener able to appreciate both. All three matter. Surely we can agree on that, otherwise what's the point of comparative listening?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

@@johnburlinson6697 I do not agree at all. I believe in what I said. The point in comparative listening is to enjoy the comparisons and find the versions we like best. Of course everyone's Chopin is different from everyone else's. That's a truism. So what? Even if I accept (which I do not) the assertion that Chopin would be "a little bit less" revered had Moravec never existed, that only confirms my point. He would still be revered. QED, as far as I'm concerned.

[@johnburlinson6697]

@@DavesClassicalGuide In comparative listening, Chopin's Preludes, for example, the composer is the same as is the composition. The only difference is the performing artist, and he or she is the sole basis for comparison. For the life of me, I can't understand your insistence on saying that the artist doesn't matter when it's the only thing that does when making comparisons, other than acoustics or engineering (or price).

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

@@johnburlinson6697 Fair enough. Then you just don't get it.

[@frankgyure3154]

Today’s Classical Music Labels would not even touch this artist. I think the state of classical recording labels is deplorable. DG,Decca(which are the same company,UMG,Universal Music Group. Warner Classicsl-a little better. The WORST-Sony Classical.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I'm not sure that's true. They worked with Michelangeli, for example. They still work with Zimerman, and they are both eccentrics and extreme perfectionists.