Beethoven's Piano Sonatas

[George]

And time is running out on him ...

True.

[Coopmv]

Has Sokolov recorded any of the sonatas?

[Mandryka]

Has Sokolov recorded any of the sonatas?

He certainly has and they are VERY good I think There's a CD with Opus 7 and Opus 101. And this DVD -- which has the Pastoral and Opus 14/2 and Opus 22 --  is outstanding.

There must be bootlegs of other sonatas around. Anyone know?

[Peregrine]

There must be bootlegs of other sonatas around. Anyone know?

There's quite a lot of his stuff around; Operashare seems to have a fair bit IIRC.

Whilst we're on the subject of pianists completing cycles of the 32, Deacon (RMCR) keeps going on about Pollini having two cycles 'locked in the vaults' with DG, but refuses to allow them to be released. Whilst I think his 'star' has faded a bit of late, would be interesting to hear what he has done. His 2cd of late Beethoven is quite special IMO.

[Mandryka]

There's quite a lot of his stuff around; Operashare seems to have a fair bit IIRC.

Whilst we're on the subject of pianists completing cycles of the 32, Deacon (RMCR) keeps going on about Pollini having two cycles 'locked in the vaults' with DG, but refuses to allow them to be released. Whilst I think his 'star' has faded a bit of late, would be interesting to hear what he has done. His 2cd of late Beethoven is quite special IMO.

Interesting to say his star is fading -- I was really impressed by his recent CD of Mozart Concertos -- PC24 and another (PC13 I think)

[jlaurson]

Whilst I think his 'star' has faded a bit of late...

He's busy becoming a grand seigneur. Not quite the same as fading. Hearing him in recital is still an event I'd leave any other concert in the dust for.

(And his late LvB might simply never be surpassed. Op.111 with Pollini is like reading Dr.Faustus in 28 (or so) minutes.

[Peregrine]

Interesting to say his star is fading -- I was really impressed by his recent CD of Mozart Concertos -- PC24 and another (PC13 I think)

Don't get me wrong, I'm a 'Pollini lover', but compared to his rather special Chopin recital from EMI, as well as hid DG recordings from the 70's etc. I don't feel he is quite the pianist he once was. IMO of course...

Haven't heard the above recordings though....

[Coopmv]

Don't get me wrong, I'm a 'Pollini lover', but compared to his rather special Chopin recital from EMI, as well as hid DG recordings from the 70's etc. I don't feel he is quite the pianist he once was. IMO of course...

Haven't heard the above recordings though....

I have heard the same about Yehudi Menuhin, that his early recordings were much better than his mid-career recordings.  Is that possible that a virtuoso loses his/her virtuosity in mid to late career?

[George]

Don't get me wrong, I'm a 'Pollini lover', but compared to his rather special Chopin recital from EMI, as well as hid DG recordings from the 70's etc. I don't feel he is quite the pianist he once was. IMO of course...

Me too.

[jlaurson]

 

I have heard the same about Yehudi Menuhin, that his early recordings were much better than his mid-career recordings.  Is that possible that a virtuoso loses his/her virtuosity in mid to late career?

Yes, of course. (Especially with violinists [all but Milstein, actually], but with pianists, too.] But in this case, I should think that's not what is going on.. Pollini live will still make your jaw drop. Menuhin live late in his life made you cringe and/or cry with the sad memories of what once had been. Judging based on recordings can slightly skew one's view. And if you don't know his late LvB, you [anybody] should explore. Un-f^&*(-believable stuff. Vertical Beethoven, not horizontal. Climbing mountains with Ludwig.


LvB, Sonatas 28-32, Maurizio Pollini
- DG Originals

[Coopmv]

Yes, of course. (Especially with violinists [all but Milstein, actually], but with pianists, too.] But in this case, I should think that's not what is going on.. Pollini live will still make your jaw drop. Menuhin live late in his life made you cringe and/or cry with the sad memories of what once had been. Judging based on recordings can slightly skew one's view. And if you don't know his late LvB, you [anybody] should explore. Un-f^&*(-believable stuff. Vertical Beethoven, not horizontal. Climbing mountains with Ludwig.


LvB, Sonatas 28-32, Maurizio Pollini
- DG Originals

Afflicted with senility or even dementia?

[Holden]

Has Sokolov recorded any of the sonatas?

Yes, they include:

Op 7*
Op 10/3
Op 14 Nos 1& 2*
Op 28*
Op 31/2*
Op 90 (LP only)
Op 101*
Op 106*
Op110
Op 111

I've asterisked the ones I have.

[Holden]

Mine too!  

Mine was the EMI set (LP) which I think is vastly better than the DG (which I owned briefly waiting for the EMI to appear on CD)

[ChamberNut]

Mine was the EMI set (LP) which I think is vastly better than the DG (which I owned briefly waiting for the EMI to appear on CD)

Oops, I was mistaken.  It is the Barenboim EMI CD set that I have, not the DG.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

...and preferably without attitude...

You'll get no respite here.

[Mandryka]

Yes, they include:

Op 7*
Op 10/3
Op 14 Nos 1& 2*
Op 28*
Op 31/2*
Op 90 (LP only)
Op 101*
Op 106*
Op110
Op 111

I've asterisked the ones I have.

Do you have a links to the late ones --110 and 111?

There's quite a lot of his stuff around; Operashare seems to have a fair bit IIRC.

How do I break in  to Operashare?

[Valentino]

Don't get me wrong, I'm a 'Pollini lover', but compared to his rather special Chopin recital from EMI, as well as hid DG recordings from the 70's etc. I don't feel he is quite the pianist he once was. IMO of course...

Me too.

Well.
His two recent Mozart PC discs with VPO are outstanding (and recorded live, incidentally).
On topic: His also quite recent LvB op. 2 is a must hear. Cowwebs out!

[Holden]

Do you have a links to the late ones --110 and 111?


How do I break in  to Operashare?

From a quick tour of Google, Sokolov also has these PS in his repertoire some of which have been recorded.

Op 2/2
Op2/3
Op 22
Op27/1
Op 31/1

[jlaurson]

Thanks, Jens.  This is the place, and I look forward to reading your thoughts in future installments.  This is more a survey of recordings made and available (more or less) on CD, but not a comprehensive critical evaluation.

Correct, although I will make asides to sets I have (a few, but no more than your grandmother fabrics) or know something about.

Incidentally, does anyone have cover-art for some of the OOP cycles?

For Robert Riefling (Valois) specifically? That would be most appreciated.

Ditto exact dates (taken from the actual recordings, where possible) on Riefling's sonatas and when Ciani's earliest sonatas of his set were recorded.


Edit: It's up now, Riefling's cover art be da&#ed (for the time being).

Beethoven Sonatas - A Survey of Complete Cycles
Part 2, 1967 - 1975



   Maria Grinberg
1964 - 1967 - Melodiya

   Friedrich Gulda II
1964 - 1967 - Amadeo

   Dieter Zechlin
1960 - 1969 (?) - Eterna / Berlin Classics

   Daniel Barenboim I
1965 - 1969 - EMI

   Robert Riefling
1960 - 1970 (?) - Valois

   Claude Frank
1967 - 1969 - RCA Victrola / Music & Arts

   Paul Badura-Skoda I
1969 - 1970 - Gramola

   Dino Ciani
196? - 1970 - Dynamic

   Eric Heidiseck
1967 - 1973 - EMI

   Anton Kuerti
1974 - 1975 - Analekta

Any corrections (on dates, for example, and preferably, maybe without attitude) most welcome.

[Coopmv]

Well.
His two recent Mozart PC discs with VPO are outstanding (and recorded live, incidentally).
On topic: His also quite recent LvB op. 2 is a must hear. Cowwebs out!

Are you familiar with Pollini's Chopin Nocturnes?  Your opinion?