Jakob Gimpel

JAKOB GIMPEL
Polish pianist (1906 - 1989)

Jakob Gimpel studied piano with Eduard Steuermann and theory with none lesser than Alban Berg. He made his debut in 1923 playing the Rachmaninoff second concerto under Pierre Monteux conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra. As a chamber musician, he toured with violinists Bronisław Huberman, Erika Morini, Nathan Milstein, and his brother, Bronislav.

Jakob Gimpel was one of the founders, along with Huberman, of the Palestine Symphony Orchestra, the precursor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, in 1937. In 1938, he came to New York and later moved to Los Angeles where he was often the featured pianist in film soundtracks.

Among my favorite of Jakob Gimpel's performances is that of Chopin's Andante Spianato. This a work I have always loved. In this performance it sparkles, every note shines, every subtlety underscored. And the pianist's extraordinary technical ability is never more evident. Another is his live recording of the Liszt Mephisto Waltz.

I find his Beethoven to be splendid and devoid of even an iota of stodginess. The same might be said for his Mendelssohn and his Schumann. And unlike some who make those two Germanic composers sound like an unsuccessful Chopin, Jakob Gimpel's approach is fresh and new to my ears while being entirely idiomatic. I would love to hear his Bach which I am certain I would enjoy greatly.

Follow this link to hear Gimpel play concerti.

Beethoven 15 Variations and a Fugue on an Original Theme in E♭ major, Op 35 "Eroica Variations"

recorded live in the late 1950s

beginning

continuation

conclusion

Beethoven 15 Variations and a Fugue on an Original Theme in E♭ major, Op 35 "Eroica Variations"

recorded live in 1977 or 1979

Beethoven Rondo in G major, Op 51~2

recorded in the late 1950s

Beethoven Piano Sonata 26 in E♭ major, Op 81a "Les Adieux"

recorded in the late 1950s

i Das Lebewohl (Les Adieux) - Adagio. Allegro

ii Abwesenheit (L'Absence) - Andante espressivo

iii Das Wiedersehen (Le Retour) - Vivacissimamente

Mendelssohn from Songs Without Words

recored in 1977 or 1979

in E major, Op 38~3

in C major, Op 67~4 :Spinning Song"

Mendelssohn from Three Etudes, Op 104b

recored in 1977 or 1979

Chopin Études, Op 10

3 in E major (filmed in 1947)

8 in F major

Chopin Variations Brillantes in B♭ major, Op 12
(on "Je vends des scapulaires" from Hérold's Ludovic)

recorded live in 1978

Chopin Scherzo 1 in B minor, Op 20

recorded in 1978

Chopin Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Brillante, Op 22

Chopin Étude in A♭ major, Op 25~1

recorded live in 1978

Chopin Préludes, Op 28

8 in F♯ minor - Molto agitato
16 in B♭ minor - Presto con fuoco

10 in C♯ minor
24 in D minor

12 in G♯ minor
(a comparison in which my faves, different as they are, are Moiseiwitsch and Gimpel)

Benno Moiseiwitsch
01:11 Vladimir Sofronitsky
02:27 Jakob Gimpel
03:41 Shura Cherkassky
04:59 Emil Gilels
06:06 Rudolf Kerer
07:17 Halina Czerny-Stefanska