Artur Schnabel

[George]

Yes,I have it (not here at the moment) - I found it hard to attend to properly because of noise and distortion, especially in op.78.

Totally.

[mjwal]

Probably -- I like the drama and the moment when times stands still about three quarters of the way through. All the others I can think of are flawed (I like Goldberg and Ferras  more than most other violinists,  but  Balsam and Barbizet not as much as many other pianists.)

Richter+Kagan in Op 78 special though.

I'd take that as my preferred modern recording of the work, too.

[Bogey]

Now playing, and enjoying, I might add:

[Bogey]

In stock right now;

http://cgi.ebay.com/Artur-Schnabel-Audio-CD-Complete-Beethoven-Piano-Son-/230558210573?pt=Music_CDs&hash=item35ae571a0d#ht_788wt_1140

[George]

Since Schnabel's been getting so much airtime in the Beethoven Sonata thread, I thought I'd give his thread a gentle bump.

Is there anyone interested in exploring Schnabel's recordings a bit more closely using this forum? You know the sort of thing: choosing a piece (Schubert or Beethoven or Bach or Mozart, concerto, chamber solo: -- I don't mind)  to listen to and posting reactions, whatever they may be.

Good idea. Anyone want to suggest a work to begin with?

[early grey]

A third volume of the Beethoven Sonata Series, Volume 4, to complement Volumes 2 and 11, is available on my website
              www.cliveheathmusic.co.uk
                                                                            Volume 11 comprises Sonatas 4 and 16, Volume 2 sonatas 9,13 and 30 and the latest volume has Sonatas 2,14 ( not given as  "Moonlight" on the labels) and 26 which is titled "Les Adieux" . You need to follow "Transcriptions of 78 rpm records" and then "Classical".
                                                           

[mjwal]

But, Early, Op.81a is "Les Adieux", not Op.90 (which is quite different from the one on your site). By the way, I just love the jazz on your site - very good transfers! I haven't listened to any of the other classical stuff yet, but I assume the same high standards apply.

[RJR]

"Despite the fact that Schnabel never performed contemporary music, his own music is extremely modern and individualistic, and greatly influenced his piano playing. The plasticity of phrase and timing that he is so known for in Beethoven is seen clearly in his compositional concerns, which led him to write totally unbarred music, as well as music of extreme rhythmical sophistication."
- Paul Zukofsky

[early grey]

Apologies for my error,mjwal, my eye slid down to the Opus number for the following Sonata in my Urtext edition on the page where all Sonatas are listed with the opening  bars.

[George]

Decided to try and listen to as much as I can in the "unheard pile" over the next few weeks. This one popped out at me tonight. Unfortunately, Music and Arts (Maggie Payne is credited) has once again moved too much of the noise. No sparkle in the tone, but luckily the performances (at least the Schumann, haven't got to the Schubert yet) are great enough to shine through. Here's a link to the Classics Today review.

[Mandryka]

A complete edition of Schnabel's recordings for EMI, in special transfers, was published in 25 volumes (about 30 CDs) by Shinseido with EMI in Japan. This has been hard to find but has been recently uploaded oon a blog called ahhfwww. The quality of the transfers is the best I have heard ever. There is some stuff which I have never heard before too -- Beethoven's Op 119 bagatelles, a CD of Schubert duets with Carl Ulrich Schnabel.

[George]

A complete edition of Schnabel's recordings for EMI, in special transfers, was published in 25 volumes (about 30 CDs) by Shinseido with EMI in Japan. This has been hard to find but has been recently uploaded oon a blog called ahhfwww. The quality of the transfers is the best I have heard ever. There is some stuff which I have never heard before too -- Beethoven's Op 119 bagatelles, a CD of Schubert duets with Carl Ulrich Schnabel.

I was also impressed with those transfers but have since decided that I prefer the Naxos. .aybe I should listen again, but I recall that the Naxos had more high frequency info.

[Mandryka]

I was also impressed with those transfers but have since decided that I prefer the Naxos. .aybe I should listen again, but I recall that the Naxos had more high frequency info.

I ddn't compare with Naxos -- I only have a couple of their Cds. But I thought it was much tighter in the lower registers than Pearl.

[George]

I ddn't compare with Naxos -- I only have a couple of their Cds. But I thought it was much tighter in the lower registers than Pearl.

Definitely, and much less noisy too. Though I feel they went too far with the noise reduction.

[Coopmv]

I was also impressed with those transfers but have since decided that I prefer the Naxos. .aybe I should listen again, but I recall that the Naxos had more high frequency info.

And these Schnabel recordings on Naxos Historical were mostly reconstructed/ remastered by MOT ...   

[George]

For those who want to hear samples of 8 different transfers of the Schnabel Beethoven Sonatas (including the newly added Musical Concepts sample), you can download them here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?lvppl6vj4omdj