The 32 Beethoven Sonatas - Compile Your Own Unique Set Using Your No. 1 Faves

[George]

A discussion in another thread prompted the creation of this one.

Goal - get as many people to vote on their favorite performance of each of the 32 piano sonatas.

Please list by Opus number, not "sonata number 3" but instead Op.2, No.3.

Ties are allowed.

[Todd]

I'll flesh mine out a bit, listing my "top" five for each sonata.  (This list is of course subject to change.)


Gulda = Amadeo cycle unless noted
Fischer = Annie Fischer, Hungaroton cycle unless noted
Backhaus = Mono cycle unless noted
Kempff  = Mono cycle unless noted


2/1 – Fischer, Gulda, Pollini, Perahia, Schnabel

2/2 – Schnabel, Fischer, Gulda, Gulda (Orfeo), Hungerford

2/3 – Perahia, Fischer, Gulda, Backhaus, Brautigam

7 – Michelangeli (BBC Legends), Kempff, Hungerford, O'Conor, Backhaus

10/1 – Frank, Gulda, Fischer, O'Conor, Pollini

10/2 – Frank, Gulda, Fischer, Kovacevich, Pollini

10/3 – Kovacevich, Fischer, Frank, Gulda, Zacharias

13 – Serkin (1945), Serkin (1960s), Nat, Moravec, Schnabel

14/1 – Backhaus, Silverman, Gieseking (Tahra), Richter (BBC Legends), Nat

14/2 – Backhaus, Richter (BBC Legends), Willems, Pludermacher, Foldes

22 – Pommier, Michelangeli (Lugano, 1981), Heidsieck, Gulda, Brendel II

26 – Willems, Frank, Michelangeli (BBC Legends), Gulda, Silverman

27/1 – Lucchesini, Kempff, Gulda, Nakamichi, Levinas

27/2 – Backhaus, Arrau, Fischer (EMI, stereo), Gieseking (EMI), Firkusny

28 – Kempff (stereo), Kempff, Silverman, Levinas, Nakamichi

31/1 – Gulda, Frank, Kuerti, Sherman, Silverman

31/2 – Gulda, Backhaus (stereo), Backhaus, Nat, Fischer

31/3 – Gulda, Gieseking (Tahra), Fischer, Nat, Lucchesini

49/1,2 – Heidsieck, Kovacevich, O'Conor, Kempff, Lewis

53 – Gulda, Silverman, Gilels, Pollini (1997), Serkin

54 – Richter (RCA), Fischer, Kempff, Heidsieck, Ciani

57 – Fischer, Richter (RCA), Serkin (1947), Lipkin, Casadesus

78 – Backhaus (stereo), Silverman, O'Conor, Kempff, Lucchesini

79 – Backhaus (stereo), Lucchesini, Silverman, O'Conor, Kempff

81a – Serkin, Backhaus (stereo), Kempff, Lucchesini, Badura-Skoda (Gramola)

90 – Fischer, Kovacevich, Moravec, Lucchesini, Brendel II

101 – Schnabel, Kovacevich, Kempff, Barenboim III, Lipkin

106 – Pollini, Serkin, Fischer, Gulda, Frank

109 - Serkin, Gieseking (EMI), Brendel II, Kempff, Horszowski

110 - Gieseking (EMI), Fischer, Kempff, Silverman (Orpheum), Levinas

111 – Pollini, Serkin, Fischer, Sheppard, Silverman (Orpheum)

[George]

I'll flesh mine out a bit, listing my "top" five for each sonata.  (This list is of course subject to change.)

Are your five in any order?

[Todd]

Are your five in any order?

Yes, more or less first favorite to fifth favorite, though some may be jumbled.  It's certainly not etched in stone.

[aquablob]

You know, I'm not even going to try... too much effort! 

That said, I'm glad to see Hungerford's name appear a few times on Todd's list. I would add his recording of Op. 27/1, if only for the warp-speed and über-exciting finale!

My favorites for various sonatas would be mainly comprised of Gulda (Amadeo), Kempff (mono), Solomon, Richter, and Brendel III, the latter of which my opinion of has changed drastically over the past few months.

Gieseking, Serkin, Pollini, and Hungerford would make more than a few cameos!

[George]

All favorites are in order, the first one being my #1 pick, second one being #2, etc.

Ties are indicated by a slash  /

Fischer = Annie Fischer on Hungaroton
Gulda = Friedrich Gulda on Brilliant Classics
Schnabel = Artur Schnabel on Naxos
Kovacevich on EMI


Op 2/1 – Fischer/Schnabel, Gulda, Ciccolini, Kovacevich, Backhaus, Barenboim, Nat, Serkin, Goode , Richter (Live Moscow, 1979)

Op 2/2 – Fischer/Schnabel/Hungerford, Casadesus, Gulda, Goode, Gilels, Barenboim, Backhaus, Nat

Op 2/3 – Goode/Gulda – Gilels, Richter (Live Prague), Kempff(m), Backhaus, Barenboim, Solomon(Pearl) Kovacevich, Solomon, Nat

Op 7 – Richter – Barenboim, Nat, Gulda, Kempff(m), Hungerford, Gilels, Backhaus, Goode

Op 10/1 – Kovacevich – Fischer, Gulda, Gilels, Hungerford, Nat, Yudina, Kempff(m), Goode, Backhaus

Op 10/2 – Kovacevich – Fischer, Backhaus, Hungerford, Gulda, Schnabel, Goode, Serkin, Kempff (m)

Op 10/3 – Schnabel – Kovacevich, Gilels, Fischer, Richter, Kempff(m)/Backhaus /Gulda

Op 13 - "Pathetique" -  Moravec – Richter(Melodiya), Serkin(m), Serkin(st), Fischer, Gilels, Nat, Kovacevich, Gulda, Backhaus, Schnabel

Op 14/1 – Gulda – Fischer,  Backhaus,  Gieseking,  Kovacevich,  Schnabel

Op 14/2 – Barenboim – Richter, Gulda, Ciccolini, Backhaus, Kempff(m), Goode

Op 22 – Goode/Barenboim – Gulda, Serkin, Gilels, Kempff(m), Richter, Nat, Backhaus

Op 26 – Richter – Barenboim, Yudina, Gilels,  Gulda,  Goode,  Backhaus, Nat

Op 27/1 – Fischer – Gilels, Gulda, Goode, Solomon, Schnabel, Hungerford, Serkin

Op 27/2 – "Moonlight" - Lupu/Fischer/Roberts – Gilels/Rubinstein/Serkin(m),  Moravec, Gulda, Serkin (st), Solomon, Hungerford, Backhaus, Nat

Op 28 – "Pastoral" - Kovacevich – Gulda,  Kempff(st),  Gilels,  Schnabel

Op 31/1 – Fischer – Gulda,  Kempff(m),  Gilels,  Goode,  Yudina, Roberts, Backhaus, Nat

Op 31/2 – "Tempest" - Fischer – Richter,  Gilels,  Gulda,  Schnabel,  Nat, Goode,  Backhaus,  Roberts,  Haskil

Op 31/3 – Fischer – Goode,  Kovacevich(gpotc),  Kempff(m),  Backhaus,  Haskil

Op 49/1 – Gulda – Richter,  Hungerford,  Fischer,  Schnabel, Goode, Barenboim 

Op 49/2 – Gulda – Schnabel, Hungerford, Ciccolini, Kempff(m), Goode, O'Conor, Backhaus, Nat

Op 53 – "Waldstein" - Serkin (m) - Fischer/Gilels, Horowitz, Schnabel,
Backhaus, Nat, Gieseking,  Kempff(m)

Op 54 – Fischer – Richter, Solomon, Kempff(m), Yudina

Op 57 – "Appassionata" - Fischer – Arrau/Richter, Roberts, Goode, Horowitz,
Serkin(m), Nat, Kempff(m)

Op 78 – Barenboim/Kempff(m)/Serkin(m) – Schnabel, O'Conor

Op 79 – Goode/Kempff(m) – Schnabel,  Gilels,  Barenboim,  Gulda

Op 81a – "Les Adieux" - Gilels/Fischer – Barenboim/Moravec/Serkin (m), Roberts, Rubinstein, Schnabel, Kovacevich

Op 90 – Fischer – Barenboim/Kempff(m)/Gilels,  Gulda,  Richter, Backhaus, Yudina

Op 101 – Fischer – Kempff(st), Pollini, Yudina, Goode, Gilels, Barenboim   
"Hammerklavier"   Pollini – Gulda, Fischer, Solomon, Serkin, Yudina, Barenboim, Nat, Backhaus, Kempff(m), Gilels

Op 109 – Fischer/Pollini/Serkin(m) – Gulda, Schnabel, Barenboim, Richter, Backhaus, Serkin(st), Gilels, Nat, Kempff(m), Ciccolini

Op 110 – Serkin(st,1960) - Fischer/Kempff(st)/Gilels/Roberts , Pollini,  Nat, Schnabel,  Barenboim,  Richter,  Backhaus, Hungerford

Op 111 – Yudina(studio) - Fischer/Kempff(st)/Gulda,  Pollini/Barenboim/Richter/Schnabel/Serkin(st), Nat, Backhaus, Hungerford

[Mandryka]

I'm kind of surprised that Gould is so absent from these lists? Don't you guys  like his Hammerklavier, or his Pastoral?

[aquablob]

I'm kind of surprised that Gould is so absent from these lists? Don't you guys  like his Hammerklavier, or his Pastoral?

Haven't heard them, but I can only imagine that his Op. 106 finale is stellar!

[George]

I'm kind of surprised that Gould is so absent from these lists? Don't you guys  like his Hammerklavier, or his Pastoral?

Haven't heard them, I'm afraid.

[Todd]

I'm kind of surprised that Gould is so absent from these lists?

Why?  I like Gould in Bach, but nothing else really.

[Wanderer]

You know, I'm not even going to try... too much effort! 

Me, neither (for now); a very interesting topic to read, nonetheless. 

[George]

May I take this moment to invite all spectators to participate in the near future.  0:)

[Sergeant Rock]

I'm kind of surprised that Gould is so absent from these lists? Don't you guys  like his Hammerklavier, or his Pastoral?

You haven't seen my list yet.  To arrive shortly 

Sarge

[George]

You haven't seen my list yet.  To arrive shorty 

Sarge

Mandryka is a female? 

[Sergeant Rock]

Kept it simple; one choice per sonata (unless there was a compelling reason to mention a second). The Barenboim recordings are from his EMI cycle. The choice of Gould performances is serious. In the early sonatas I love his crisp fast movements and extended, lovingly caressed, slow movements. I've got Fischer's box but I'm the odd one out I guess; she's not a first choice in any of the sonatas.

2/1 – Barenboim

2/2 – Gould

2/3 – Gould

7 – Barenboim

10/1 – Pollini

10/2 – Pollini

10/3 – Gould

13 – Gilels

14/1 – Barenboim

14/2 – Gould

22 – Barenboim

26 – Barenboim

27/1 – Gilels

27/2 – Gould (or Fischer when I'm in a romantic mood)

28 – Barenboim

31/1 – Gulda (but Barenboim, too, for a fascinating Adagio of heavenly length)

31/2 – Grimaud

31/3 – Gulda (or Gould when I'm in a mischievous mood)

49/1 – Kempff

49/2 - Barenboim

53 – Gilels

54 – Pollini

57 – Gilels

78 – Pollini

79 – Barenboim

81a – Gilels

90 – Barenboim

101 – Grimaud

106 – Gould (seriously, as I explained in Holden's thread)

109 - Gilels

110 - Grimaud

111 – Pollini


Sarge

[George]

I've got Fischer's box but I'm the odd one out I guess; she's not a first choice in any of the sonatas.

You just lost my attention...

[Sergeant Rock]

You just lost my attention...

I knew I would...sorry.

Sarge

[Holden]

This is off the top of my head without listening. You also have to realise that I only have three box sets of the PS; Barenboim (EMI), Annie Fischer and Schnabel. I'm going to try and limit it to one or two where I can.

Op 2/1 Richter

Op2/2 Hungerford, Richter-Haaser, Schnabel

Op 2/3 Barenboim

Op 7 Hungerford, Brendel (VOX)

Op10/1 Schnabel

Op 10/2 Richter

Op 10/3 Gilels, Solomon

Op 13 Moravec, Richter, Rubinstein

Op 14/1 Sokolov

Op 14/2 Sokolov, Richter

Op 22 Fischer, Barenboim, Schnabel

Op 26 Richter

Op 27/1 Barenboim

Op 27/2 Solomon

Op 28 Sokolov, Gilels

Op 31/1 Renard

Op 31/2 Hungerford, Richter

Op 31/3 Rubinstein, Richter

Op 49/1 Fischer

Op 49/2 Kempff, Fischer

Op 53 Tomsic, Kovacevich, Gilels (live '66), Hungerford, Serkin. (all are very good in their own special way)

Op 54 Richter

Op 57 Richter (Moscow live), Rubinstein (1945)

Op 78 Fischer

Op 79 Barenboim

Op 81a Gilels

Op 90 Moravec

Op 101 Kovacevich, Argerich, Schnabel

Op 106 Solomon, Sokolov

Op 109 Hess, Richter (Leipzig), Levy

Op 110 Hess, Hungerford, Levy

Op 111 Arrau (on DVD), Barenboim

[Mandryka]

Why?  I like Gould in Bach, but nothing else really.

I like Gould in Beethoven. Nothing else really  

Mandryka is a female? 

Guess 

[Sergeant Rock]

I like Gould in Beethoven. Nothing else really