Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

[val]

George l

That's precisely my point. If you have range across genres, then I figure that you must have range within each genre. Therefore, no one pianist is going to "be the one for you" leaving room for many types of interpretations. That's why I have well, lets just say "many" different interpretations, for I have range as well. In fact, if I had to choose between my favorite set (A. Fischer) and the rest, I would take the rest because I feel that I don't really see those works clearly without looking at them through a number of pianist's eyes.

I agree with that. The Sonatas are very different and require different qualities. Even Sonatas composed in the same period. Sometimes even in the same Sonata. Solomon, for example, is extraordinary in the first movement of the opus 111 but has not the rhythmic imagination in the Arietta (Gulda !!!!). Another good example would be Brendel in the opus 28: the first movement is perfect, but in the Andante he takes a tempo too fast and cannot prepare the abrupt explosion in the coda.

But there are, at least to me, some exceptions: the ideal version of the opus 10/3 by Schnabel, of the opus 27/1 by Kempff (1951), the opus 57 by Backhaus, the opus 90 by Solomon.

[George]

But there are, at least to me, some exceptions: the ideal version of the opus 10/3 by Schnabel,

Yes, absolutely! This is his one of his very greatest LvB sonatas, along with Op. 2, No's 1 and 2.

[uffeviking]

Crystal clear. Danke!

D Minor: Having supper sitting at my table, made using mashed potatoes as a metaphor for the Diabelli Veränderungen only logical! It worked! 

[BachQ]

For those interested, an entire book has been written about the Diabelli Variations (file this under the "I HAD NO IDEA" folder):



"William Kinderman is a very rare bird. His book on Beethoven's Diabelli Variations must be one of the best monographs a musical masterpiece has ever received" - Alfred Brendel


Says William Kinderman:  "[The Diabelli Variations] represent Beethoven's most extraordinary single achievement in the art of variation writing, and their originality and power of invention stand beside other late masterpieces such as the Ninth Symphony, Missa Solemnis, and the last String Quartets."¹   In publishing the Diabelli Variations, Anton Diabelli introduced them with the following statement: "We present here to the world variations of no ordinary type, but a great and important masterpiece worthy to be ranked with the imperishable creations of the old classics . . . . All these variations, through the novelty of their ideas, care in working out, and beauty in the most artful of their transitions, will entitle the work to a place beside Johann Sebastian Bach's famous masterpiece in the same form."

¹ William Kinderman,The Evolution and Structure of Beethoven's "Diabelli" Variations,  Journal of the American Musicological Society, Vol. 35, No. 2 (Summer, 1982).

[Haffner]

I dislike Wellington's Victory, and I don't think I am in the minority.

You're not. But I sympathise with Lv's need for accessibility at the time. Gotta make money sometime, right?

[Haffner]

Harnoncourt wouldn't go for the Schnittke cadenze, eh? 

[George]

You're not. But I sympathise with Lv's need for accessibility at the time. Gotta make money sometime, right?

Yes, but its also important to save some time for your friends, no? 

Welcome home! 

[Haffner]

Yes, but its also important to save some time for your friends, no? 

Welcome home! 

Thanks, George!


Have you posted your feelings in regard to the Gould LvB yet?

[George]

Thanks, George!


Have you posted your feelings in regard to the Gould LvB yet?

Only on sonata #1 (in the listening thread.) I still have my complete Goode and Brendel Vox sets to crack open.   

[Haffner]

Only on sonata #1 (in the listening thread.) I still have my complete Goode and Brendel Vox sets to crack open.   

Sounds you're going to be happy!

[George]

Sounds you're going to be happy!

Yes, I was going to do a side by side comparison of each sonata, but the last time I tried that (with Kempff, Backhaus and Schnabel) I actually got sick of the music for awhile.   

[Haffner]

Yes, I was going to do a side by side comparison of each sonata, but the last time I tried that (with Kempff, Backhaus and Schnabel) I actually got sick of the music for awhile.   

YOU?!!!

[George]

YOU?!!!

Its true. 

[BachQ]

A 1954 recording by Serkin of the Diabelli & Op. 109 (Piano Sonata no. 30) was released on May 8, 2007.



Release Date: 05/08/2007
Label:  Music & Arts Programs Of America Catalog #: 1200   Spars Code: ADD 
Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven  0:)
Performer:  Rudolf Serkin  0:)
Recorded in: Mono 
Length: 1 Hours 16 Mins.

[BachQ]

Also releasing on May 8, 2007:   Richter The Master Volume 1 – Beethoven

Piano Sonatas 19,20
Piano Sonatas 22,23 ("Appassionata")
Piano Sonatas 30, 31, 32

[BachQ]

And no person should be without Bedroom Bliss with Beethoven,to be released by RCA May, 15  2007.



Featuring Sviatoslav Richter, Vladimir Horowitz, et al.
And these orchestras: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by André Previn, Fritz Reiner, Marek Janowski.

Place your order today . . . . . . .

[George]

A 1954 recording by Serkin of the Diabelli & Op. 109 (Piano Sonata no. 30) was released on May 8, 2007.



Release Date: 05/08/2007
Label:  Music & Arts Programs Of America Catalog #: 1200   Spars Code: ADD 
Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven  0:)
Performer:  Rudolf Serkin  0:)
Recorded in: Mono 
Length: 1 Hours 16 Mins.

FWIW, I believe that that Diabelli is available on SONY. I recommend getting their transfer, as they have access to the original tapes. The 109 was also released on SONY, coupled with superb versions of 3 other sonatas. Music and Arts hasn't impressed me as of late with their transfers.

[George]

Also releasing on May 8, 2007:   Richter The Master Volume 1 – Beethoven

Piano Sonatas 19,20
Piano Sonatas 22,23 ("Appassionata")
Piano Sonatas 30, 31, 32

Discussion is underway...

[Mozart]

And no person should be without Bedroom Bliss with Beethoven,to be released by RCA May, 15  2007.



Featuring Sviatoslav Richter, Vladimir Horowitz, et al.
And these orchestras: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by André Previn, Fritz Reiner, Marek Janowski.

Place your order today . . . . . . .

Thinking about Beethoven in bed just might slow you down you eager beaver!

[George]

Thinking about Beethoven in bed just might slow you down you eager beaver!

Classic MM!