Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli—Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon
When my Bergmann Magne turntable was in for repair and out of action for a couple of months and my streamer went belly up, I was left with my mono record setup and the exceptional MBL CD/DAC. I rediscovered just how fabulous the CD/DAC sounded (Red Book only) and how lacking my actual CD collection was. And for good reason. In my haste and stupidity, I had given away about 500 CDs—most of my listening was on LP and my streaming/DAC setup sounded good. I wrote about the return of the CD in popularity and of my stupidity here.
During my stereo LP and streaming absence, I dug into replacing music on CD, with string quartets and piano solo/concerto my primary focus. There were lots of great, complete box sets from which to choose. I had a lot of fun researching and reviewing many of them on these pages. For a reasonable cost, and damn cheap in some cases, record companies were giving completists a field day. Quickly, I grabbed Alban Berg Quartett—The Complete Recordings, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra—Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon, and Maria João Pires—Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon. Along with the Pollini DG Beethoven sonatas box set, the large Pires box fulfilled my piano lust and quota. Almost. One glaring omission; probably my favourite pianist, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli.
Michelangeli (1920—1995) was the great, idiosyncratic Italian concert pianist and teacher of Maurizio Pollini, Martha Argerich and Ivan Moravec. Winner of the 1939 Geneva Competition, Michelangeli was a lover of the finer things in life as well as a professional racing driver and fighter pilot.
Renowned for his musical fastidiousness and adherence to attaining almost perfect and controlled piano mechanics, hall temperature and ambiance, his output was small and cancellations were plentiful. But what he did record, is among the very best for those works. The concertos in this set are recorded live. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a misstep.
This box set has fewer CDs than I expected. 10. I’m not sure why as I knew his output on major labels was tightly curated. Bootlegs and a plethora of other sources make up a large number of releases you can find online.
Anyway, let’s rejoice at what we do have on this DG collection—all his recordings for the label. Within, you’ll find Debussy, Chopin, Brahms and Schumann piano solo works and concertos by Mozart, Beethoven, and Schumann.
The performances range from the sublime to the downright heavenly. Some works, by Debussy especially, have never been bettered. There are some seminal recordings on EMI, the Rachmaninov 4 and Ravel concerto pairing, for instance, that match anything on this DG set. A full box set of everything one day? Dreaming. There is a Warner set of 14 CDs that has come under some criticism for the quality of the recording transfers, mono, etc. YMMV. Except for the Schumann Carnaval (a BBC mono recording from 1957), all the recordings in this set are in stereo.
If you pick and choose, there is another set from Document of 10 CDs featuring a youthful artist on the front cover. Again, lots of early mono. Also, a 6 CD set from EMI.
A youthful Michelangeli. Covert art from the Document box set.
Let’s begin with the concertos, all featuring 2nd-tier orchestras playing well with our superior soloist in very fine sound. We get Mozart Concerto Nos. 13, 15, 20 & 25, Beethoven Concerto Nos. 1, 3 and 5 (Emperor) and the Schumann.
Michelangeli’s long-time producer, Cord Garben, conducts the Mozart concertos. The NDR accompanies well and Michelangeli’s interpretations are famous for their beautiful phrasing, well-judged tempi and glorious piano tone. I also have many of the Mozart concertos with Perahia and Pires; they’re both exceptional Mozartians, but my favourite is the Michelangeli performances. The resonance of his lower notes in the lovely acoustic in contrast to his sparkling treble makes for superb, dramatic Mozart.
The Schumann Concerto is the weakest of the concertos. It’s a little reticent in character and recording quality. Like a fine run-through but missing any excitement or special feeling from a live show.
The 3 Beethoven Concertos could not be more different than the Schumann—characterful, full of joy and great spirit with lively, rhythmic accompaniment by a very good-sounding Vienna Symphony conducted by the great Guilini. You’ll only have to hear the first few bars of Piano Concerto No. 1 to realize you are in for a special event. The Michelangeli tone jumps through the speakers, a 180 from the soporific Schumann. These are Rolls Royce live performances that are at least as good as those considered the very best. The orchestra plays beautifully and Michelangeli gives us very refined performances in glorious sound.
The solo works range from very fine Beethoven Sonatas (only 4 and 32), a somewhat inhibited mono BBC live Schumann Carnaval, a beautiful Schubert Sonata in A minor—his crystal clear technique on show with perfectly judged dynamics and so very musical—and some excellent Brahms. The Brahms Op. 10 Ballades sound effortless yet with gravitas under his tutelage. Even streamed on my lifestyle full SONOS system and Apple Music, nothing diminishes his spectacular tone.
But it’s Chopin and Debussy where you’ll hear performances at the top of the heap. And on my reference system, his Chopin and Debussy sound as always—incredible and not bettered. I use his Debussy “Des pas Sur la neige” from Preludes 1 as a reference test disc where great equipment not only replicates a fabulous performance in beautiful DG sound but the intent of his musicianship. A rare occurrence, even in the world of super high-end audio.
It was a recent Debussy/Michelangeli demo in front of one of Canada’s greatest concert pianists (and passionate audiophile) where he pointed out to me a Michelangeli mannerism that may or may not bother you. Me, no. My guest, a big yes! The maestro tends to arpeggiate chords almost imperceptibly, but it’s consistent and may be annoying.
Be aware before investment that Michelangeli does get a lot of piano flack—cold, superficial, etc. My opinion is those descriptions are completely wrong. His playing and interpretations transport me to otherworldly places. A master pianist and recorded beautifully by DG.
There is no perfect Michelangeli collection, but this is very fine and worthy of your investment.
Release Date: 2nd Sep 2016
Catalogue No: 94796277
