Alexander Hawkins

From this, the Rachmaninoff 1st sonata.

Love this earlier recording!

Cool/cold - that's a really interesting point - yes, agree! BTW - I mentioned his Appassionata...I love the DG recording of course, but there are some incredible live ones. This one in particular I think is pretty astonishing: I saw him play this sonata in London a few years back, and it was frankly one of the most transcendent live music experiences I've ever had!

Pollini blows my mind in Beethoven...I think his structural grasp is a huge benefit in these later sonatas in particular, where the musical forms are so radical. Take e.g. the slow movement of the Hammerklavier - he has no trouble making those 17+ minutes hold together. Also - the 'cool' thing - I do understand this, but I don't necessarily always sign up to the characterisation. The way he treats the repeated G major chord in op.110 before the inversion of the fugue just at the end of the piece is mesmerising and almost shocking to me in his hands; or for another example, the intensity of the last movement of his op.57. Anyway - for sure just a personal thing! I can't wait to hear his just-released new recordings of 109, 110, and 111.

Love BWV106!!!

This recording is really stunning, and IMHO an amazing companion piece to the DG version...some may have played the etudes differently to Pollini, but I don't think anyone ever played them better...

I know he prevented its broadcast, but I would love to hear the second half of the concert... Ha! Last night listened to Sinopoli doing Mendelssohn 4 and Schumann 2; and the day before, his Respighi disc (which is wonderful!).

The Bach Suites and Sonatas.

Oh for sure

Ha - yes! I love his tone...and though not exactly HIP - I love the 'directness' in it...no self indulgence!!!

For me now - the absolutely masterful Chopin Etudes (opp.10/25 and the Nouvelles Etudes) from this.

Ein Faschingsswank Aus Wien

Yes - I love Solomon's Hammerklavier...definitely in the top 2/3 for me...

Love this.

No. 6

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Genius at work.

I particularly enjoy his Bach. IIRC there are also some recordings of some of the (often totally wacky) Rossini piano music.

Love Ciani - what a brilliant, brilliant pianist! (And also my introduction to these Weber sonatas). Mozart Symphony 29 from this set.

There's a bit of a tradition in France of the organ symphony...e.g. a number by Widor. One I particularly like is the Dupré 'Symphonie-Passion'...fairly epic

John Ogdon playing Alkan is a bit special...