Classical Court

Moravec's 1965 Connoisseur recording.

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Daverz

In Reply to: RE: Favorite recording of Chopin Preludes? posted by jimbill on September 28, 2024 at 10:55:55

Note that Moravec also made a recording of the Preludes for Supraphon in 1976. I'm not sure where to find the 1965 one now. The CD I have is on the VAI label and long out of print.
https://archive.org/details/lp_preludes-opus-28_frederic-cho (Open in New Window)

Follow Ups:

Yes - That's all confused now! (or at least I'M confused!) - Chris from Lafayette 15:03:18 10/01/24 (2)
I recall reading a couple of years ago that Supraphon had actually licensed some of the Connoisseur Society recordings for use in some of the Moravec "tribute" issues which Supraphon did around 2020-21. For instance, there's a recording of the Chopin Preludes in the album "Ivan Moravec: A Portrait" which Supraphon issued in October 2020 - it's an 11-CD set which also includes a DVD. This album is on Apple Music, but, as so often with Apple, there's no access to the CD booklet. I haven't tried Qobuz, and it's possible that some better info might available there. I do have Supraphon's licensed reissue of the Chopin Nocturnes (i.e., licensed from Connoisseur Society) and the sound on Supraphon's incarnation is great. I'm sure there must be some information (somewhere!) as to which recording of the Preludes is in the "Portrait" set.

As you note, Moravec's second recording of the Preludes was recorded and released by Supraphon in 1976. That COULD be the one which was included in Supraphon's 2020 set, but I'm not sure. Of the two recordings, I think most listeners prefer the earlier Connoisseur Society recording, although I think this may partly be due to the more aggressive tonal balance in the frequency extremes (e.g., big bass!) preferred by Connoisseur Society. As I say, recent reissues have shown that Supraphon can get this kind of tonal balance these days on their own original recordings too - at least IMHO.
- The Portrait set has the 1976 recording. - Daverz 16:38:12 10/01/24 (1)
  I don't think Moravec ever made a bad recording of anything, but Supraphon's piano sound for the 1976 recording isn't as attractive as the 1965 Connoisseur recording.
  
  Discogs lists 2 CD issues of the 1965 recording
  
  Connoisseur Society - CD 4051
  VAI Audio - VAIA 1039
  
  (Also be aware that the studio Janacek recordings in the Portrait set are only included in the physical CD set. Apparently they couldn't license them for download/streaming.)
  - Thanks, Daverz! - Chris from Lafayette 18:06:33 10/01/24 (0)
    Geez - music contracts (per those Janacek recordings you refer to) are quite the intricate subject, aren't they? ;-) (BTW, it was part of Janacek's "On the Overgrown Path" that I played at the master class which Moravec gave in Palo Alto in the 70's - another real highlight of my musical life.)
    
    Also, this latest post of yours reminds me that I HAVE the Connoisseur Society CD of the Moravec Chopin Preludes. I don't think it was ever released in the US, despite Connoisseur Society being a US company - but the Connoisseur Society CD was produced in Japan, and I got it as a special import at Tower Records in Campbell, a San Jose suburb. I'd temporarily forgotten that I had it! (Now if I can just remember where I've got it stored!)

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