Beethoven's Piano Sonatas

Started by George, July 21, 2007, 07:27:17 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

jlaurson

#2320
Quote from: Jay F on June 18, 2013, 11:54:48 AM
The new, skinny box set, with recordings made 1971-1978, looks like this:

And then there is the European cheapo AMSI version (with a different set of PCs), of course:



...I'm not unaware... but the finer details of the earlier packaging escaped me.

http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2009/05/beethoven-sonatas-survey-of-complete_29.html

Todd

#2321
Quote from: Brian on June 18, 2013, 12:10:31 PMSteven Masi is starting a new cycle, self-released on CD Baby. Sound samples available for every track.
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevenmasi


Noted.


Quote from: jlaurson on June 18, 2013, 12:13:26 PM


That's possibly the best combo to have from Brendel.  I've got both sets of recordings, though in the old, ugly, fat box sets. 
The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

kishnevi

#2322
Quote from: Todd on June 18, 2013, 01:03:52 PM

Noted.



That's possibly the best combo to have from Brendel.  I've got both sets of recordings, though in the old, ugly, fat box sets.

The penalty of being an early adopter.....

Another question, more subjective this time:
I've got the 80s cycle, and some of the Vox cycle (some sonatas and a box from Brilliant that contains the variations, bagatelles, etc.), but no recording of Brendel in the concertos

So really two questions:
Would you say it would be worth getting the seventies set?
And are any of Brendel's concerto cycles worth getting?  I have more than a few PC cycles, but none of them by Brendel.

For context of the sonatas, I've got Backhaus(stereo), Gulda (Amadeo, I think), Schiff, Lewis, Kempff, besides Brendel III, most of Gould's recordings, and all that Pollini has gotten around to recording.

Todd

Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on June 18, 2013, 07:06:07 PMWould you say it would be worth getting the seventies set?


I wouldn't say it is essential, but overall I find the 70s sonata cycle to be the best of his three, and less quirky, though a bit colder, than the third set.  I'm slowly working my way through it again now, and while some sonatas just miss for me, when he is on, like Op 22 for instance, he can be really on.  Op 28 was also a bit better than I recall. 



Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on June 18, 2013, 07:06:07 PMAnd are any of Brendel's concerto cycles worth getting?


The cycle with Levine is very good overall.  The Emperor is a bit weak compared to someone like Pollini or Serkin or Katchen, but then, so are most recordings.
The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

kishnevi

Quote from: Todd on June 18, 2013, 07:22:13 PM

I wouldn't say it is essential, but overall I find the 70s sonata cycle to be the best of his three, and less quirky, though a bit colder, than the third set.  I'm slowly working my way through it again now, and while some sonatas just miss for me, when he is on, like Op 22 for instance, he can be really on.  Op 28 was also a bit better than I recall. 




The cycle with Levine is very good overall.  The Emperor is a bit weak compared to someone like Pollini or Serkin or Katchen, but then, so are most recordings.

Thanks, will add to the wishlist accordingly.

Wakefield

Quote from: Todd on June 18, 2013, 07:22:13 PM

I wouldn't say it is essential, but overall I find the 70s sonata cycle to be the best of his three, and less quirky, though a bit colder, than the third set.  I'm slowly working my way through it again now, and while some sonatas just miss for me, when he is on, like Op 22 for instance, he can be really on.  Op 28 was also a bit better than I recall. 

Off-topic: What do you think about his Schubert, Todd? I really like his Beethoven (actually I have his three complete cycles), but I consider even better his Schubert.
"One of the greatest misfortunes of honest people is that they are cowards. They complain, keep quiet, dine and forget."
-- Voltaire

Todd

Quote from: Gordon Shumway on June 18, 2013, 07:36:32 PMWhat do you think about his Schubert, Todd?



I find his Schubert to be better, and at his best, Brendel is on par with anyone.  I can think of no better D959 than his studio recording, for instance.
The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya


George

Quote from: Todd on June 18, 2013, 08:42:44 PM
I find his Schubert to be better, and at his best, Brendel is on par with anyone.  I can think of no better D959 than his studio recording, for instance.

I also find his Schubert to be better (though I don't like his Beethoven) and really like his live D959. His Haydn I like most of all.
"It is a curious fact that people are never so trivial as when they take themselves seriously." –Oscar Wilde

kishnevi

Quote from: jlaurson on June 19, 2013, 01:08:52 AM
If you feel like adding the Levine/Brendel Concertos, they're cheaply had on this TRIO:





LvB, PCs. & Choral Fantasy, Brendel/Various/VSO

  L.v. Beethoven
The Piano Concertos
Alfred Brendel
Heinz Wallberg, Zubin Mehta et al.
Vox

German link - UK link


Thanks.   I'm fairly certain that Vox cover is the first picture I've ever seen of him at a relatively young age.

BTW, in ticking off cycles I own last night, I rather oddly forgot about FF Guy.

Wakefield

Quote from: George on June 19, 2013, 02:23:44 AM
I also find his Schubert to be better (though I don't like his Beethoven) and really like his live D959. His Haydn I like most of all.

Yes, those Haydn discs are great, too. I also love his Mozart piano concertos.
"One of the greatest misfortunes of honest people is that they are cowards. They complain, keep quiet, dine and forget."
-- Voltaire

valtys

Quote from: Fred on March 31, 2013, 01:36:52 AM
BEen listening to Byron Janis (op21, 17', 109) in the new box set.  What a stunning pianist he was in prime.  Terrible that he didn't record more beethoven.

I will have to look for this. Janis's Mussorgsky Pictures and Rachmaninov's piano concertos are some of my favorite recordings. I have never thought of looking for his Beethoven recordings.

As for Beethoven sonatas, I find myself turning to Annie Fischer the most, with Richter and Pollini not far behind.
I also own the Claude Frank set and find that to be a wonderful cycle.

Todd

Kempff III is now available.  (I suppose it is actually Kempff II.)  Will I buy?


The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

Brian

Quote from: Todd on June 30, 2013, 05:17:30 PMWill I buy?

Hah! Let's not kid ourselves. ;)

I listened to most of the brand-new Volume I of Steven Masi's cycle today. The 'Pathetique' was good, I think, because I am almost totally burned out on the sonata but Masi made me listen with appreciation. Unfortunately the 'Pastorale' and Op. 79 were bogged down by first movements slow enough to be both eccentric and pedantic.

Todd

Quote from: Brian on June 30, 2013, 05:26:06 PMHah! Let's not kid ourselves.



Between this and the even more expensive Badura Skoda, it looks like I have to come up with some money for a big HMV Japan haul.  Must think, must think . . .
The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

Holden

Quote from: Todd on June 30, 2013, 05:17:30 PM
Kempff III is now available.  (I suppose it is actually Kempff II.)  Will I buy?




I read somewhere that Kempff is one of those pianists who relishes an audience and his performances really come to life when performing on the concert platform. The couple of live performances of his that I"ve heard would certainly back this up. Looking at the cover I am assuming that these were recorded in concert so maybe you should give it a go Todd.
Cheers

Holden

jlaurson

#2336
Quote from: Holden on July 01, 2013, 12:33:45 PM
I read somewhere that Kempff is one of those pianists who relishes an audience and his performances really come to life when performing on the concert platform. The couple of live performances of his that I"ve heard would certainly back this up. Looking at the cover I am assuming that these were recorded in concert so maybe you should give it a go Todd.

It was (probably) the first LvB-Sonata Marathon, Stewart Goodyear notwithstanding. Seven concerts in, I believe, as many nights. Caught by the NHK on tape for radio broadcasts, so I don't know whether it's stereo. I think FM stereo broadcasting in Japan didn't take off until the end of the 60s and certainly not before 1963. But those limitations wouldn't necessarily have precluded them from catching & mixing it in stereo on the ground.


"Beethoven Sonatas - A Survey of Complete Cycles" updated accordingly... ditto parts 2 through 4. (New available versions of Barenboim I, Buchbinder I, Badura-Skoda I, and Grinberg added... some pictures cleaned up and formatting a bit nicer, perhaps, in places.
http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2009/05/beethoven-sonatas-survey-of-complete.html

Todd

Quote from: Holden on July 01, 2013, 12:33:45 PMI read somewhere that Kempff is one of those pianists who relishes an audience and his performances really come to life when performing on the concert platform. The couple of live performances of his that I"ve heard would certainly back this up.



Based on my experience with Kempff's live recordings, I would have to agree with this.  His live Emperor with Ozawa from the 60s, while not the best technically, is rather more inspired than his roughly contemporaneous DG recording.

I'm pretty certain I will get Kempff III.  While I am at it, I'm thinking the Badura Skoda HIP and Ichiro Nodaira cycles may very well make their way across the Pacific.  Might as well go big to save on shipping, and take advantage of the weaker yen. 
The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

George

Quote from: jlaurson on July 01, 2013, 12:48:41 PM
It was (probably) the first LvB-Sonata Marathon, Stewart Goodyear notwithstanding. Seven concerts in, I believe, as many nights. Caught by the NHK on tape for radio broadcasts, so I don't know whether it's stereo. I think FM stereo broadcasting in Japan didn't take off until the end of the 60s and certainly not before 1963. But those limitations wouldn't necessarily have precluded them from catching & mixing it in stereo on the ground.


"Beethoven Sonatas - A Survey of Complete Cycles" updated accordingly... ditto parts 2 through 4. (New available versions of Barenboim I, Buchbinder I, Badura-Skoda I, and Grinberg added... some pictures cleaned up and formatting a bit nicer, perhaps, in places.
http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2009/05/beethoven-sonatas-survey-of-complete.html

I think I noticed a typo Jens:

Quotepossibly at the height of his powers at 66, recorded live on seven consecutive nights in 1961, at the height of his powers?
"It is a curious fact that people are never so trivial as when they take themselves seriously." –Oscar Wilde

Todd

Quote from: jlaurson on July 01, 2013, 12:48:41 PM"Beethoven Sonatas - A Survey of Complete Cycles"



You should add Yusuke Kikuchi and Ichiro Nodaira, both now complete.
The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya