Blown away by Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1

Gramophone http://www.gramophone.co.uk/cdreviews.asp is always a good resource to mine for recommendations. Here are three reviewed in that source that I'd consider:

Emanuel Ax pf
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment/Charles Mackerras
Sony Classical CD SK60771 (64 minutes : DDD)
"This companion issue to Emanuel Ax’s outstanding disc of the Second Concerto (6/98) and other concertante pieces similarly offers period performances unlikely to be outshone for their imagination and poetry. Ax disarms criticism over the idea of period performance by choosing an Erard piano of 1851, which produces warm, full tone without any restriction on agility, thanks to the light action. Only the clattery quality in the topmost register betrays the age of the instrument, and the transparency of textures is a delight, with the writing for left hand articulated by Ax with phenomenal clarity. Mackerras heightens the drama of these readings by encouraging the OAE to produce the widest range of dynamics, equally defying the idea of period performance as lacking in weight."

Martha Argerich pf
Montreal Symphony Orchestra/Charles Dutoit
EMI CD 556798-2 (69 minutes : DDD)
"Martha Argerich’s first commercially released recordings of the Chopin concertos were for DG; No. 1 with the London Symphony Orchestra under Abbado in 1968, No. 2 with the National Symphony Orchestra under Rostropovich in 1978. Today, she revisits both concertos with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra under Charles Dutoit and offers an act of recreative daring, of an alternating reverie and passion that flashes fire with a thousand different lights. Indeed, her earlier performances (see mingly non pareil at the time) are infinitely less witty, personal and eruptive, less inclined to explore, albeit with the most spontaneous caprice and insouciance, so many new facets, angles and possibilities. Now, everything is accomplished without a care for studios and microphones and with a degree of involvement that suggests an increase rather than a diminution of her love for these works."


Garrick Ohlsson pf
Polish National Symphony Orchestra/Jerzy Maksymiuk
Unesco Classics New CD DCL70630-2 ( ADD)
"In Garrick Ohlsson’s recordings of the two Chopin piano concertos the CD transfer of the analogue stereo master seems to retain all the best elements of the mid-’70s sound, combining spaciousness with good focus and a natural perspective. Ohlsson’s performances are most impressive – poetic, with finely nuanced but unexaggerated rubato, an often sparkling bravura and never rambling in passagework. Maksymiuk’s accompaniments are fully supportive and have plenty of character. Most enjoyable."
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One of my recent $1 garage sale specials was the mono LP by Ormandy/Philadelphia Orchestra w/ Emil Gilels (Columbia). Although many will call the Columbia sound second rate, the performance here is very captivating.
In the NYT, Harold Schonberg said, "Performances like this come very seldom. It had strength, subtlety and finesse".
Good stuff! Cheers,
Spencer

http://www.sa-cd.net shows two SA-CD releases with Piano Concerto #1.

Guys, thanks for the info. This seems to be a difficult concerto to reproduce. I still don't think it was ever released as SACD or DVD-A. I wonder if an LP version with good sound is still available.

"I wonder if an LP version with good sound is still available."

There weren't that many. Lot's of the Concerto No. 2, but not nearly so many of the No. 1. A good performance in somewhat better than typical DGG sound would be the Argerich's earlier performance for DGG with Abbado and the LSO (mentioned in the Gramophone review above).
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I second the Gilels/Ormandy. The CD is, ok, a good British pressing of the LP is better. The American pressing, as always with Columbias of that era, is barely passable.

However, the performance, the performance, the performance! All three were “on” that day.

I would sugest a CD: Naxo$ with Idil Biret. You get Piano concerto No.1 and No.2. Also new release on CD Ivan Moravec Chopin, although not Piano Concertos but other Chopin work.

I just ordered this version - Chopin: Piano Concertos by Rafal Blechacz. Really good reviews thus far.

On LP - I always enjoyed Claudio Arrau and the LPO on Phillips. Excellent performances and recordings. Typical high quality pressings as well. Piano Concertos 1 @ 2, and something I find especially attractive, Krakowiak. CD's are OK.

On CD I agree with AX's recordings as well as Ohlsson's, who incidentally recorded all of Chopin's music for solo piano on a Bosendorfer, and quite well. His 2 CD orchestral set includes Krakowiak as well as some other orchestral music.

But my favorite version of both 1 & 2 would be Krystian Zimmerman and Guilini with the LAPO on DG.

Now for something different for piano enthusiasts, Chopin's Piano Concertos 1 & 2 in a two piano (with a Quartet and double bass for support) transcription on BIS.

Good listening.

I think I'm really going to enjoy this piece. I haven't heard it yet except for a short clip from Amazon. I immediately ordered the Argerich/LSO version recommended above. Thank you

There are several SACD choices listed at http://www.sa-cd.net/search/chopin+piano+concerto. The Rubinstein and the Argerich/Dutoit are two of my favorites.

I like this concerto a lot too. My preferred choices are the Ohlsson or Kristian Zimmerman performances.