Claudio Arrau

[dirkronk]

I believe that the two you have pointed out are, in fact, different packagings of the same performances by Arrau, originally recorded in the mid-1960s. The recordings from the late 1980s appear to be in this set:
http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Piano-Sonatas-Claudio-Arrau/dp/B00007L64T/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1282236478&sr=8-6

This, at least, is borne out by the personal reviewers' comments at the bottom of each Amazon page listing.

If you are already an Arrau fan and determined to get his Beethoven, it's probably the earlier set that you want. Me, I do have copies of his '60s cycle but must admit that--with a handful of exceptions--I dislike his way with the sonatas. But that's just me. Fact is, with the exception of some Liszt and Chopin, Arrau's recordings after the early 1960s do almost nothing for me at all (whereas I like his earlier recordings quite a bit...go figure).

Good luck, whatever your quest may be.

Cheers,

Dirk

[Mandryka]

I think they both contain the 60s cycle. As far as I know the 80s recordings he made for Philips is only available branded as "Arrau Heritage"

The 60s set is my favourite Beethoven survey. There are no duds: every sonata is played in an interesting way, often intense, always stimulating, sometimes challenging. And the sound quality is excellent.

[Verena]

I think they both contain the 60s cycle. As far as I know the 80s recordings he made for Philips is only available branded as "Arrau Heritage"

The 60s set is my favourite Beethoven survey. There are no duds: every sonata is played in an interesting way, often intense, always stimulating, sometimes challenging. And the sound quality is excellent.

I wonder whether there exists an even earlier cycle? I think I once read something to that effect in Gramophone, but I'm not sure. At least there are some earlier recordings: I have the Waldstein and Les adieux sonatas on the defunct label "united archives"; and Sonatas Nos 24 and 31 on the Arrau/Klemperer Testament recording of Beethoven Concertos 3-5.

[ccar]

Is this version of the Beethoven sonatas :
http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Complete-Piano-Sonatas-Concertos/dp/B0017P4C9W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1282235121&sr=8-1
the same as this:
http://www.amazon.com/32-Piano-Sonatas-Eroica-Variations/dp/B00000E4TV/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1282235398&sr=8-9

I think Arrau recorded them twice but info online is skimpy in these matters. The later set from the 80s seems to be another CD set with a grey cover from 'Heritage' ?

The 2 box-sets you refer - Philips "Arrau Edition" (432301-2 / Germany) and the Philips "Beethoven - The Complete Piano Sonatas & Concertos - Claudio Arrau" (462358-2 / Germany) - include the same 1960's recordings of the sonatas (1962-1966, 1968)

The Philips "Arrau Heritage" ( 473782-2 – France) mostly includes latter 1980's recordings (1984-1989, 1990); only the Moonlight and the Hammerklavier were taken from the previous 1960's recordings.

And for those who would like to explore there are many other more "occasional" recordings (studio and live) of the LVB Sonatas by Arrau published in CD - 1930's (Music&Arts) 1950's (EMI; United Archives; Aura; Testament), 1960's (BBC), 1970's  (APR; Hanssler; Aura), 1980's (Orfeo; Music&Arts).

[Mandryka]

Maybe the sonata which divides opinion the most is the Waldstein. I have three of his recordings.


1947 on United Archives
1956 on EMI
1963 on Philips

There is also a late one in the Heritage Edition and a DVD

I like the 1963 one most -- I just find the first movement a bit less challenging than in the earlier ones.

My favourite Beethoven recording from him isn't on Cd at all -- it's the Op 111 on DVD from VAI.

In the arietta he takes the spiritual "time standing still" approach -- and he does it very well.

Not to be confused with his later DVD: I can't watch it -- it shows how  his aging fingers are having difficulty managing the trill.


There's another Op 111 on APR which I haven't heard. The two APR recordings I have heard are very good though.

Another favourite is the 1952 Eroica variations. If you get the Philips set it may be worth supplementing it with that -- it's easily and cheaply got here. AFAIK this is the only place to get it and it is very good.

http://a1.phobos.apple.com/us/r1000/006/Music/8f/69/32/mzi.fssraywj.100x100-75.jpg

[ongakublue]

Hey thanks a lot for the info guys. Most helpful.

I personally love the Waldstein. I think my favourite Beethoven sonata and I was impressed by Arrau's version from the 60s.

[Holden]

My favourite Beethoven recording from him isn't on Cd at all -- it's the Op 111 on DVD from VAI.

In the arietta he takes the spiritual "time standing still" approach -- and he does it very well.

Not to be confused with his later DVD: I can't watch it -- it shows how  his aging fingers are having difficulty managing the trill.


There's another Op 111 on APR which I haven't heard. The two APR recordings I have heard are very good though.

I have the EMI Classic Archives Op 111 which is the best I've ever heard. It's the "time standing still" Arietta that really makes this recording such a stand out. He recorded this in 1970 and if it is that other DVD you are talking about I am puzzled as to why you don't like it. Is the VAI so much better?

I own the APR Op 111 and while it's an excellent performance it doesn't match the DVD I watched (and listened to).

[Mandryka]

Thanks for telling me about the APR Op111 Holden.

I must say I do prefer the VAI one  If you want me to be clear wbout why, that's a different matter. You'll have to give me a few days to listen to the both of them.

In the meantime, try the VAI Arietta for yourself.

http://www.goear.com/files/external.swf?file=fcfcab1

[Holden]

Thanks for telling me about the APR Op111 Holden.

I must say I do prefer the VAI one  If you want me to be clear wbout why, that's a different matter. You'll have to give me a few days to listen to the both of them.

In the meantime, try the VAI Arietta for yourself.

http://www.goear.com/files/external.swf?file=fcfcab1

Thanks for the listen. I too will have to go back to my EMI DVD for a comparison. One thing that does strike me is the remarkable consistency of performance by Arrau of this sonata. Two other performances of the Arietta have this slower approach and are well worth a listen. Barenboim's EMI recording and the one by Ernst Levy.

[Verena]

Anyone here who shares my enthusiasm for Arrau's recordings of Mozart sonatas? Usually I don't like Mozart's piano sonatas too much, but when played by Arrau I can really enjoy (many of) them.

Sorry - Just saw that the Mozart has been mentioned in this thread one year ago already ..

[Holden]

Hey thanks a lot for the info guys. Most helpful.

I personally love the Waldstein. I think my favourite Beethoven sonata and I was impressed by Arrau's version from the 60s.

Some other Waldsteins for you to check out.

Rudolf Serkin (mono)

Dubravka Tomsic

Kovacevich

[George]

Some other Waldsteins for you to check out.

Rudolf Serkin (mono)

Strongly seconded!

Also (and I know you know this, Holden, but I will share it for the OP's benefit), Hofmann's live Casimir recital performance is very special. It's on Marston Records.

[Mandryka]

Two other performances of the Arietta have this slower approach and are well worth a listen. Barenboim's EMI recording and the one by Ernst Levy.

Have you heard Ugorski? Or Elly Ney?

Hey thanks a lot for the info guys. Most helpful.

I personally love the Waldstein. I think my favourite Beethoven sonata and I was impressed by Arrau's version from the 60s.

The thing about his Waldstein which I love is the power of the climax in the first movement.  And the way he doesn't play it like a fast  bravura piece. The spiritual intensity of the movement comes from the interaction among the notes, rather than from the tempo.

Anyone here who shares my enthusiasm for Arrau's recordings of Mozart sonatas? Usually I don't like Mozart's piano sonatas too much, but when played by Arrau I can really enjoy (many of) them.

Sorry - Just saw that the Mozart has been mentioned in this thread one year ago already ..

Yes. I like Arrau's Mozart because he takes the music seriously. It's not light elegant comedy.

I expect you know the recordings on Orfeo.

[Verena]

Yes. I like Arrau's Mozart because he takes the music seriously. It's not light elegant comedy.

I expect you know the recordings on Orfeo.

Yes, I know these. They are great.

[Gabriel]

If I'm not mistaken, Arrau's Beethoven set (EMI) of the 1950s was not complete. The set of the 1980s wasn't complete either, as he didn't record the Moonlight and the Hammerklavier (this set is currently available in the Heritage set only). So the only complete Arrau Beethoven set we have is the one recorded in the 1960s.

[david-jw]

Hello all,

I've lurked at this wonderful forum for quite a while, but thought I would unlurk here 

Although I have Arrau's wonderful Debusey Preludes and Images on Phillips, I have not explored his Beethoven previously, due to them being OOP and very expensive.

However I heard  an extract from Arrau's Diabelli (variation 31) on youtube recently and was floored by it- I have Brendel (88), Kovacevich (68) and Anderszewski, all of whom I admire for different reasons, but this was just of a different order in terms of transcendent feeling-I found it profoundly moving.

From doing a little research I think what I heard must have been from Arrau's 1952 recording of the Diabelli. I also understand that this is available in the 100th Aniversary boxset or the Arrau Heritage 1980's Beethoven piano cycle boxset.

Does anyone here have this 1952 recording. If so I would love if they could share their thoughts.

David

[Mandryka]

Hello all,

I've lurked at this wonderful forum for quite a while, but thought I would unlurk here 


Although I have Arrau's wonderful Debussy Preludes and Images on Phillips, I have not explored his Beethoven previously, due to them being OOP and very expensive.

However I heard  an extract from Arrau's Diabelli (variation 31) on youtube recently and was floored by it- I have Brendel (88), Kovacevich (68) and Anderszewski, all of whom I admire for different reasons, but this was just of a different order in terms of transcendent feeling-I found it profoundly moving.

From doing a little research I think what I heard must have been from Arrau's 1952 recording of the Diabelli. I also understand that this is available in the 100th Aniversary boxset or the Arrau Heritage 1980's Beethoven piano cycle boxset.

Does anyone here have this 1952 recording. If so I would love if they could share their thoughts.

David

Welcome David 

I think that Arrau's Debussy is always searching and sometimes wonderful -- in the second half of Book one there are some very fine preludes. And in Book 2 too, he is even more successful .  The tempos are at times  a bit on the slow side for me though. Still. that may not be too problematic in these pieces. Best to be a glass half full person: «Les fées sont d'exquises danseuses» is, in his hands, quite exquisite.


The 50s Arrau diabellies are memorably good in the C minor variations towards the end. I think you can get it on Naxos now -- and well worth having if you are interested in  this music.

[George]

Hello all,

I've lurked at this wonderful forum for quite a while, but thought I would unlurk here 

Although I have Arrau's wonderful Debusey Preludes and Images on Phillips,

I agree. His Debussy is very nice indeed. 

Welcome to GMG! 

[david-jw]

Hi George and Mandryka,

thanks for the welcome.

David

[Holden]

Hello all,

I've lurked at this wonderful forum for quite a while, but thought I would unlurk here 

Although I have Arrau's wonderful Debusey Preludes and Images on Phillips, I have not explored his Beethoven previously, due to them being OOP and very expensive.

However I heard  an extract from Arrau's Diabelli (variation 31) on youtube recently and was floored by it- I have Brendel (88), Kovacevich (68) and Anderszewski, all of whom I admire for different reasons, but this was just of a different order in terms of transcendent feeling-I found it profoundly moving.

From doing a little research I think what I heard must have been from Arrau's 1952 recording of the Diabelli. I also understand that this is available in the 100th Aniversary boxset or the Arrau Heritage 1980's Beethoven piano cycle boxset.

Does anyone here have this 1952 recording. If so I would love if they could share their thoughts.

David

His 1960s Diabellis are also excellent. What Arrau manages to do (and I haven't heard any other pianist do this) is make them seem like a complete/linked set as opposed to 34 disparate little works. And like the 50s recording the final variations are just jaw droppingly good playing.