It might be Australian slang.
I’m anti-smoking too, and yet I smoke.
It’s just something to do when I’m bored and to get me away from my desk.
My lungs don’t like it very much though.
Any opinions on Alexander Paley? New name to me, just wondering
Yes - and you don’t want to hear them
I’ve never been impressed, and his recent Medtner outing was beyond disappointing. The only thing of his I ever listen to is the Franck-Cortot transcription of the Violin Sonata. He’s the only one who has really recorded it. But even that’s not a great rec. His set of Balakirev piano works is also VERY dull, but I keep it around because there’s really no other choice.
If you want a good laugh, try to find Paley’s Chopin Sonata 3, Scherzi, and Ballades disc. Probably the absolute worst Chopin playing that has ever been issued. Seriously. I should dig it up and post it just for the comedic value.
Damn, you made him sound like that loser you keep on your speed dial just because you know the dude’s got a sister who’s an easy score and you might need it one day.
I’d love to hear that disc if you could find it.
Paley initially caught my interest because he’s one of the exceptionally few pianists who’s played Liszt’s 12 Grandes Etudes live. But after hearing how… I can’t describe them and remain politically correct, but it was the most ridiculous playing. A friend says he’s made an (unreleased) studio recording of them as well which is great, but I believe it when I hear it.
Interestingly he’s playing at Maison de la Radio on my journée folle du piano (when I see 3 concerts in one day) but yeah never been interested in seeing him.
If only Favorin had his slot instead, then I wouldn’t have to miss the start of Virsaladze.
Well, let us know what you think. Chris seems to know him much better than I do, but what I’ve heard hasn’t been boring as such - it’s rather been super awkward. Imagine Cherkassky playing in a shirt full of itching powder while trying to seduce a hunk on first row and you have about my memory of seeing Paley play.
Nah I’m not gonna go, 3 concerts is enough.
I think I’ll go out on da piss afterwards. 
Oh, thought he was the third
Nope Kholodenko (first up actually).
Virsaladze Schumann should be worthwhile. She’s one of the great Schumann players. And she’s still playing great. I have a recording of her in Op. 12 from earlier this year and it’s fantastic.
Hopefully she’ll play the Liszt Rhapsodie Espagnole. She’s been playing it a lot lately, and she does a good job of it.
Yes, I think both will be good - possibly all three. I’ve never been too taken by what I’ve heard with either pianist myself, but all three are good, solid, professional pianists and at least Virsaladze is held in high regard by many others. Greg Benko, founder of what’s now IPAM, told me a year back or two that her playing almost pushed him back in to collecting piano again (his hobby nowadays is great, or at least old, singers).
Assuming everything goes fine with the recordings and that you post them I’m really looking forward to Favorin because of the program. That’s music I’ve wanted to explore further for many years, and to hear them live and played by a pianist of Favorin’s stature - can’t ask for anything more.
The Favorin and Kholodenko recordings should be fine, only Virsaladze might have a piece missing and bad placement if I’m late and someone snakes my seat (will have to reclaim it after intermission). Even then second half Schumann should be good.
Alexander Romanovsky’s Moscow recital will be broadcast via video tonight at 19:00 local time. Probably saved as a video on the site afterwards.
Anyone have any live, professional quality recordings of Irina Plotnikova?
upcoming video broadcasts on Meloman
9/10 - Pochekin / Favorin violin recital
meloman.ru/concert/mihail-pochek … in-091017/
10/10 - Aimard recital - Debussy 12 etudes / Hammerklavier
Sorry guys for posting rarely these days, I’m occupied with my own concerts, but just to recosinder few things from previous posts in this topic:
1.) I’ve heard Paley live some 10 or more in Zagreb playing Rach 2 - it was not so bad, but not interesting. I was more impreased and amazed with Shostakovich 7th symphony in the second part. But yeah, his Chopin recordings (I’ve heard just few minutes on Deezer) are really WTF
2.) Virsaladze is great, but I think it also depends about the day and what she plays. She had recital here in 2011 with Mozart Sonata adn Fantasia in C minor, 2 or 3 etudes by Croatian composer Boris Papandopulo (our best composer; she was in the jury of one competition in Zagreb those days after the concert so probably they asked her to play those Etudes) and Liszt Paganini etude no 1. It was excellent, very profound and brilliant. Second part with Chopin Ballade 2 and Schumann Fantasie op. 17 was not that good. But anyway, she always has something to say for sure.
3.) Can someone maybe record Aimard’s Mariinsky recital? What a great program!
I’ll try to record it as it plays. So long as he approves it, it’ll be up on the website afterwards. Even after the stream finishes, the video tends to sit on the same broadcast page for a few hours to review.
Tomorrow morning (9:30 GMT), Trifonov’s Strauss Burleske will be broadcast