@twoleftears I do agree with you regarding Trifonov he is an exceptional pianist but I think he still has a few years needed under his belt to reach what he will hopefully become. Talking about his recording of the Transcendental Etudes my favourite performers are Lazar Berman and Claudio Arrau who incidentally was 75 years old at the time. Of course he doesn't have the explosive nature of Berman but his virtuosity was always used for the expressivity of the piece and not to wow everyone . Where Arrau scores is in the quieter more reflective pieces like Vision, Eroica and my favourite Harmonies' du Soir which is truly exceptional. I never could understand how he could produce the rich sonorities and liquid sound that left you in rapt attention.
On a different theme now has anyone been listening to any late Beethoven String Quartets lately. I can recommend a wonderful Op.127 and 132 just now from The Hagen Quartet. The string tone is wonderful and I have to admit it doesn't get any better than this. The two slow movements are rapturous and their intonation is unbeatable and this from a man who for the last 40 odd years could not see past the Alban Bergs. Try if you can and listen to them it will definitely cleanse the soul.
On a different theme now has anyone been listening to any late Beethoven String Quartets lately. I can recommend a wonderful Op.127 and 132 just now from The Hagen Quartet. The string tone is wonderful and I have to admit it doesn't get any better than this. The two slow movements are rapturous and their intonation is unbeatable and this from a man who for the last 40 odd years could not see past the Alban Bergs. Try if you can and listen to them it will definitely cleanse the soul.