Sergey Taneyev's Piano Quintet

[GoranTch]

Not sure if this particular piece would qualify as "unsung", as it is one of Taneyev's most known works and by now we do have a selection of excellent recordings , including videos of live concerts such as a recent (and very good one) in Utrecht:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhlJ_McHp7Y&list=RDIhlJ_McHp7Y&start_radio=1&t=1493s

However, Taneyev in general still qualifies as a composer largely unknown to wider audiences. Which is sad, considering that his best music (chamber music in particular), IMHO is comprised of works that stand as equals to that of any other composer and any other work for the ensemble in question, primus inter pares being his monumental Piano Quintet...

Any other admirers of the Piano Quintet (and Taneyev's chamber music in general) here? What are your favorite recordings of the piece?

[Alan Howe]

It's a great piece. I have the all-star performance on DG (Vadim Repin, Ilya Gringolts, Lynn Harrell, Nobuko Imai & Mikhail Pletnev).

No need to hesitate about posting on Taneyev; while there have been quite a few recordings of his music he's all-but unknown to the general public, not to mention any number of (so-called) critics.

My own favourite Taneyev work is his 4th Symphony - a really fine, original piece.

[eschiss1]

Yes (was just listening to the Beethoven Quartet recording of the Op.19 B-flat quartet yesterday, partially trying to figure out why the YouTube video gave such an outside length for a 35-minute piece - apparently there's another work, in B minor (maybe one of Taneyev's string trios, come to think of it? following it - but enjoying it besides* , ) and very much a fan of the piano quintet

*Edit: indeed: that youtube video, judging at least from the opening of the next piece, is filled out by his unfinished 1913 string trio in B minor, a work that from just the opening I believe I shall also enjoy to bits...

[Jonathan]

It's a great piece. I have the all-star performance on DG (Vadim Repin, Ilya Gringolts, Lynn Harrell, Nobuko Imai & Mikhail Pletnev).

I have this recording too - it's magnificent!  There aren't many CDs of his works about which is a real shame.  The 4th symphony is indeed excellent, Alan - I believe I sent you an off air recording of it more than a decade ago 

[Alan Howe]

believe I sent you an off air recording of it

I'd forgotten that! Much obliged!

[GoranTch]

No need to hesitate about posting on Taneyev; while there have been quite a few recordings of his music he's all-but unknown to the general public, not to mention any number of (so-called) critics.

Great. I will remember that.

My own favourite Taneyev work is his 4th Symphony - a really fine, original piece.

Agree, together with Rachmaninov's Second it's my favourite Russian symphony of the period. If I remember correctly, Rimski-Korsakov held it to be the greatest symphony written by a living Russian composer.

This is my favorite recording (well, at least for the slow movement, which is really given the breadth and depth it deserves here), performed by the State Symphony Orchestra of the Soviet Union, conducted by Jevgeny Svetlanov:

[GoranTch]

It's a great piece. I have the all-star performance on DG (Vadim Repin, Ilya Gringolts, Lynn Harrell, Nobuko Imai & Mikhail Pletnev).

I have this recording too - it's magnificent!  There aren't many CDs of his works about which is a real shame.  The 4th symphony is indeed excellent, Alan - I believe I sent you an off air recording of it more than a decade ago 

Yes, a great recording. Here is an another wonderful, very recent recording (I think it's currently the youngest available), paired with the charming Violin Sonata:

[Alan Howe]

I'd thoroughly recommend Neeme Järvi's recording of Symphony No.4 on Chandos: the audio is unmatched and the orchestral response from the Philharmonia almost overwhelmingly powerful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0CgJ5B18GE

Is this not one of the finest unsung romantic-era symphonies?

[GoranTch]

Is this not one of the finest unsung romantic-era symphonies?

Will listen to this recording as soon as I'm back home. But yes, Taneyev's Fourth is a high peak by any standards... and again, never once did I see it programmed in Germany...

[GoranTch]

And an another fine recent performance of the Piano Quintet, at ChamberFest Cleveland in 2023:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNofHicUs9Q&list=RDmNofHicUs9Q&start_radio=1