Unsung Composers

The Music => Recordings & Broadcasts => Topic started by: dhibbard on Thursday 11 June 2020, 00:42

Title: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: dhibbard on Thursday 11 June 2020, 00:42
There is a brand new recording of Tcherepnin's Narcisse ete Echo on CPO this month.   I have the Chandos recording of the Residentie Orchestra of The Hague.. just wondered how it compares to this new recording on CPO?    Has anyone acquired it?
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: TerraEpon on Thursday 11 June 2020, 01:23
I have the disc. I like it a lot, and it includes another worked called Le Princesse Lointaine which is nice too.
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: dhibbard on Saturday 12 September 2020, 00:03
He was a student of Rimsky Korsakov.....  apparently, there is quite a bit of his orchestral music not recorded yet.
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: MartinH on Saturday 12 September 2020, 04:39
I've had the new CPO disk around for a few weeks and it's wonderful. Well played, recorded, conducted. Why his music is so little known is a mystery. But them most people don't listen to much Russian music outside of the Five and Tchaikovsky. Well worth getting IMO.
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: Christopher on Monday 14 September 2020, 10:23
Quote from: MartinH on Saturday 12 September 2020, 04:39
But them most people don't listen to much Russian music outside of the Five and Tchaikovsky. Well worth getting IMO.

Yes if only people would listen to more Rachmaninov....classicfm NEVER play his PC2 or 3, it's a shame... ;D
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: Alan Howe on Monday 14 September 2020, 11:04
...nor the Paganini Rhapsody  ;)
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: eschiss1 on Tuesday 06 October 2020, 20:45
on the other hand, as with many well-known composers, there is such a thing as little-known Rachmaninoff that should be more often heard, but I would agree that's not for this thread.
I'm under the impression that not much else by this Tcherepnin has been recorded... ok, his two operas are probably too late for this forum (1930 & 1933) even if they ever get recorded, but aside from his piano concerto, Narcisse et Echo, and Pavillon d'Armide - ah, hrm, I see a 2-CD set with his piano quintet, 2nd string quartet, and other works, so not wholly unrecorded, my bad...
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: Gareth Vaughan on Tuesday 06 October 2020, 21:26
Is there a commercial recording of his piano concerto?
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: eschiss1 on Tuesday 06 October 2020, 21:29
Yes, on Chant du monde in 1991.  
https://www.amazon.com/Russian-Piano-Concertos-Alexi-Golovin/dp/B00008FATQ (https://www.amazon.com/Russian-Piano-Concertos-Alexi-Golovin/dp/B00008FATQ).
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: Alan Howe on Tuesday 06 October 2020, 22:14
The PC can be downloaded here, although it looks as though one has to pay for the entire contents of the CD:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Russian-Concertos-Scriabin-Rachmaninov-Tcherepnin/dp/B001G2ZUZ6/ref=tmm_msc_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Russian-Concertos-Scriabin-Rachmaninov-Tcherepnin/dp/B001G2ZUZ6/ref=tmm_msc_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=)

It's also on YouTube (same performance):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCLiPHmUmkE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCLiPHmUmkE)
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: Joachim Raff on Tuesday 06 October 2020, 22:59
The sound quality is appalling. Like rubbing your ear drums with sandpaper. The quieter phases/moments are palatable but the louder sections are tiresome. Fatigue soon sets in. The pianist is rather coarse as well. Not an enjoyable listen. Too forward. Not as painful as gout but watching my big toe throb is more entertaining.  The rest of the disc is garbage.   
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: Alan Howe on Tuesday 06 October 2020, 23:10
I was simply indicating the availability of a recording, not recommending it! In this case beggars can't be choosers if one wants to hear the music...

Anyway, back to Narcisse et Echo.
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: Joachim Raff on Tuesday 06 October 2020, 23:25
You are quite right. The Piano Concerto needs some respect and the availability is criminal. Its a shame that particular recording will probably put more people off than explore the composer further.
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: Alan Howe on Wednesday 07 October 2020, 08:04
I don't agree. I have the recording and it's never put me off.
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: Mark Thomas on Wednesday 07 October 2020, 09:08
Quite, I have it too. The CD's sound is perfectly adequate, if not top notch. You shouldn't judge it by the YouTube transfer, which is much degraded compared with the original.
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: Gareth Vaughan on Wednesday 07 October 2020, 09:41
Thank you very much, everyone, for your information and comments.
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: eschiss1 on Wednesday 07 October 2020, 13:14
Oh. Since you'd remarked on the Scriabin and Rachmaninoff recordings as being garbage too, I assumed you'd (JR) auditioned the whole recording over Apple or Amazon music or Spotify or somesuch. Clearly the Scriabin and Rachmaninoff concertos eux-mêmes aren't garbage.

Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: Christopher on Wednesday 07 October 2020, 16:48
There's an aria with orchestra (possibly from an opera?) on this CD https://www.amazon.co.uk/300-Years-Opera-Brussels-Various/dp/B0000589I5 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/300-Years-Opera-Brussels-Various/dp/B0000589I5) "300 Years Opera in Brussels" - it's called "Oh le calme des nuits d'été".
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: Joachim Raff on Thursday 08 October 2020, 00:38
Quote from: Mark Thomas on Wednesday 07 October 2020, 09:08
Quite, I have it too. The CD's sound is perfectly adequate, if not top notch. You shouldn't judge it by the YouTube transfer, which is much degraded compared with the original.
Hmm.. never mentioned YouTube.. There are loads of streaming services which produce high quality audio which is as good as cd quality if not better. I must admit, I used a pair of headphones that basically show any imperfections in audio output. They can really show mediocre recordings for what they are. If you are happy, who am I to criticise?
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: Joachim Raff on Thursday 08 October 2020, 01:09
Quote from: eschiss1 on Wednesday 07 October 2020, 13:14
Oh. Since you'd remarked on the Scriabin and Rachmaninoff recordings as being garbage too, I assumed you'd (JR) auditioned the whole recording over Apple or Amazon music or Spotify or somesuch. Clearly the Scriabin and Rachmaninoff concertos eux-mêmes aren't garbage.


Yep garbage. If you want either work there are many alternatives, which are in many of a collectors' library that supersede these performances. My guess you being an avid enthusiast you have them as well. 
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: Mark Thomas on Thursday 08 October 2020, 07:42
Quotenever mentioned YouTube
My mistake.
Title: Re: Narcisse et Echo Tcherepnin on CPO
Post by: Alan Howe on Thursday 08 October 2020, 07:59
Nevertheless, the main point here stands: the available recording is a perfectly satisfactory way of exploring the Piano Concerto and there's absolutely no reason to be put off investigating the composer further through listening to it.