So after noting that TRUMOFO and da ZEPP among others weren’t fans of Medtner - a composer for whom I and a few others on this forum share a love and appreciation for. I thought I’d start this thread - name a composer you’ve not been converted to yet, and also maybe say WHY…then others who are fans can scour the repertoire and pluck out a piece that might change minds, at least partially, to realizing some of their works can be gensui.
I love Medtner, I just don’t get him. 
If anyone has recommendations among his sonatas, preferably with a performance/recording recommendation to go with it, I’d be all ears.
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This might be abstract, but may I ask if what you like with the work is a “feel” it gives you while listening to it, or if it actually speaks to you and tells you something like the Liszt sonata, say?
With Medtner, if you aren’t won over by Berezovsky’s live Nightwind (2004) or Debargue’s F minor sonata (Tchaikovsky, or maybe my rec), I’m not sure what would work. Maybe Tragica?
I’m not actually sure who plays that best. Randomly, I’m not a fan of op 22. I heard it live once with two girls. One left right after it (not staying for the second half), and the other told me not to invite her to any more piano recitals. 
A great Tragica
Op22 used to be his most performed sonata before the Reminiscenza took over
I know but it absolutely did not work on those girls. I don’t like Reminiscenza much either.
tru da Dr Beuzz, I remember diz mofo. Did you listen to that Sudbin live rec yet?
I did! Went straight for the Medtner, he raped the ending a bit but the sweep of the perf was awesome.
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Quickly, I have to dash, but I’m really not sure how to describe it. I DID like Debargue’s Op.5, and BB’s Nightwind certainly sounded impressive too, but both have been like watching an awesome high-budget Chinese movie without subtitles. It just sounds like 20 minutes of semi-incoherent rambling, I can’t make any sense of it. But it seems like a great movie!
FWIW it’s not a general problem I have with Medtner, I’m fine with about half of his shorter works. But his sonatas in particular sound almost like random AI generated music to my ears. It’s great, it’s just…???
Maybe you need to study the score. I know you’re a highly logical person and want to make sense of everything, so maybe having a close look at the score might help you. Then again, I think you still don’t understand Bergman, so I dunno maybe Medtner’s not for you?
I insist he is, I find almost everything I hear by him compelling - and that which I actually understand (tales, typically) I love.
That’s actually a great advice. I’m going to sit down with the score with Debargue’s Op.5 during the upcoming week.
Yeah sorry, I didn’t see your other reply when I wrote that.
Da TM admire da Medtner contrapuntal as fuck writing. I iz a fan, mostly of the short scale works tho
Inevitably me too, since that’s what I understand and which actually does something for me.
Did you listen to Debargue’s Op.5 Mikhail? If so, what did you think? (about the work primarily)
ther wuz a legendary nightfart interp by tha WHALE eitha cambridge or zum otha place that iz mah fav rec but dun haff it ne mo
tha MART cap iz gud tho
You probably mean the Amsterdam 2004 one. The interesting thing is him using the sheetmusic here. I remember another video where he didn’t.
Link?