Author Topic: Beethoven's Piano Sonatas (Read 739447 times)

Todd · « **Reply #4120 on:** March 23, 2019, 05:56:41 AM »

Another new cycle starts. Guessing this is a 2027 completion. I'm excited.

Todd · « **Reply #4121 on:** April 13, 2019, 12:29:40 PM »

No announcement of recordings yet, but Dasol Kim is performing the entire cycle over the next four years. Hopefully, that means a cycle will be recorded in time for 2027. The benefit for me is that I get to attend a recital next January where he will be playing the last three sonatas.

J.A.W. · « **Reply #4122 on:** April 15, 2019, 07:41:06 AM »

Sony will release Igor Levit's complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas in September 2019. Looking forward to that cycle, I immensely enjoyed his recording of the last three sonatas a few years ago.

Brian · « **Reply #4123 on:** April 15, 2019, 12:26:51 PM »

Oooh! That is major news, even if I've not yet become convinced by any of Levit's recordings to date. He is certainly marketed as, and seen as by some critics I admire, a super-huge artistic talent. Bring it on.

Ghost of Baron Scarpia · « **Reply #4124 on:** April 15, 2019, 12:31:53 PM »

Quote from: Brian on April 15, 2019, 12:26:51 PM

Oooh! That is major news, even if I've not yet become convinced by any of Levit's recordings to date. He is certainly marketed as, and seen as by some critics I admire, a super-huge artistic talent. Bring it on.

I liked his recording of the late sonatas. But I realize my listening to Beethoven is so skewed towards his late period that complete sonata sets are sort of superfluous to me.

amw · « **Reply #4125 on:** April 15, 2019, 01:05:55 PM »

I assume the late sonatas are the same recordings as the ones already released? Not sure this will be of interest to me either but almost every professional track pianist I know thinks they’re great so I am probably the one having the wrong reaction. (I found his Beethoven anonymous and a little anodyne, if beautifully played.)

(: premont :) · « **Reply #4126 on:** April 15, 2019, 01:33:24 PM »

Quote from: amw on April 15, 2019, 01:05:55 PM

I assume the late sonatas are the same recordings as the ones already released? Not sure this will be of interest to me either but almost every professional track pianist I know thinks they’re great so I am probably the one having the wrong reaction. (I found his Beethoven anonymous and a little anodyne, if beautifully played.)

Well, I share your view. Anonymous is spot on, I think.

Despite this I shall probably get the complete set.

Brian · « **Reply #4127 on:** April 15, 2019, 01:37:23 PM »

Just relistened to his Op. 101. The late trio of 109-111 was fairly anonymous, but very competent; 101 is super eccentric, but generally in the sense of going soft and quiet in places where you might not expect. Bit of rubato in first movement. I thought some of his "poetic" touches were precious and overthought, but I really dug the way he deliberately monotoned his way through the finale fugue bits at an unchanging dynamic level, as if playing some sternly sexy harpsichord.

Edit: wtf I sound like Mandryka

Ghost of Baron Scarpia · « **Reply #4128 on:** April 15, 2019, 02:14:28 PM »

Reviewed my notes on Levitt's set of late sonatas, "assured and elegant." Then I listened to Pollini, which seemed to be in a class above.

Mandryka · « **Reply #4129 on:** April 16, 2019, 12:51:43 AM »

I saw most of the cycle he did in London, anonymous it wasn't, it was more like the emmotional effusion of an alpha-male. Muscular, marked dynamic and tempo changes. Flashy technique.

Horrible, but maybe that's Beethoven.

amw · « **Reply #4130 on:** April 16, 2019, 01:59:28 AM »

I hope not. It's also possible he's Pogorelichified at some point in the last decade or so.

While I'm here: does anyone rate the Angela Hewitt cycle? It's on Hyperion, so can't be streamed, but the penultimate volume is coming next month with the last (Op.106 and 111, presumably) to follow in 2020.

JBS · « **Reply #4131 on:** April 16, 2019, 10:44:02 AM »

Quote from: amw on April 16, 2019, 01:59:28 AM

I hope not. It's also possible he's Pogorelichified at some point in the last decade or so.

While I'm here: does anyone rate the Angela Hewitt cycle? It's on Hyperion, so can't be streamed, but the penultimate volume is coming next month with the last (Op.106 and 111, presumably) to follow in 2020.

Remember what you said about Levitt?

Quote

(I found his Beethoven anonymous and a little anodyne, if beautifully played.)

I think it applies to Hewitt rather well. (That won't keep me from getting the rest of her cycle.)

amw · « **Reply #4132 on:** April 16, 2019, 10:48:41 AM »

That’s what I suspected yes, probably why I thought of them together.

Ghost of Baron Scarpia · « **Reply #4133 on:** April 16, 2019, 11:37:44 AM »

Quote from: amw on April 16, 2019, 01:59:28 AM

I hope not. It's also possible he's Pogorelichified at some point in the last decade or so.

While I'm here: does anyone rate the Angela Hewitt cycle? It's on Hyperion, so can't be streamed, but the penultimate volume is coming next month with the last (Op.106 and 111, presumably) to follow in 2020.

I like Hewitt's cycle (the parts I've listened to). It is just what you'd expect given her other non-Bach recordings - technically assured and emphasizes the texture of the music rather than histrionic gestures.

rickardg · « **Reply #4134 on:** April 17, 2019, 05:07:45 AM »

Sorry for being semi-off-topic, but are these

https://www.amazon.com/Friedrich-Gulda-Beethoven-Piano-Sonatas/dp/B07N46SYZF

Gulda's Amadeo recordings in some strange digital release?

The reason I ask is that I'd like to stream them and none of the instantly recognisable releases seem to be available.

George · « **Reply #4135 on:** April 17, 2019, 07:57:44 AM »

Quote from: rickardg on April 17, 2019, 05:07:45 AM

Sorry for being semi-off-topic, but are these

https://www.amazon.com/Friedrich-Gulda-Beethoven-Piano-Sonatas/dp/B07N46SYZF

Gulda's Amadeo recordings in some strange digital release?

The reason I ask is that I'd like to stream them and none of the instantly recognisable releases seem to be available.

My Brilliant Box (Amadeo recordings) says recorded in 1967. This link you provided says January 1966. However, the timings are almost the same, so they could be the same. Maybe they altered the date to disguise where they "borrowed" them from?

rickardg · « **Reply #4136 on:** April 17, 2019, 11:58:05 PM »

Quote from: George on April 17, 2019, 07:57:44 AM

My Brilliant Box (Amadeo recordings) says recorded in 1967. This link you provided says January 1966. However, the timings are almost the same, so they could be the same. Maybe they altered the date to disguise where they "borrowed" them from?

Thanks for your time, George.

Maybe I'll have to bite the bullet and get the Decca Eloquence release instead, but I don't really have space or time for 12 more CDs...

Also, it says "Remastered" on the cover, I can't help wondering: better or worse?

SurprisedByBeauty · « **Reply #4137 on:** April 18, 2019, 06:52:15 AM »

Quote from: rickardg on April 17, 2019, 11:58:05 PM

Thanks for your time, George.

Maybe I'll have to bite the bullet and get the Decca Eloquence release instead, but I don't really have space or time for 12 more CDs...

Also, it says "Remastered" on the cover, I can't help wondering: better or worse?

I have both; a result of geographic displacement. Never did a side-by-side but wasn't disappointed by the Decca after having discovered these on the Brilliant set.

Todd · « **Reply #4138 on:** April 20, 2019, 04:22:50 AM »

Quote from: J.A.W. on April 15, 2019, 07:41:06 AM

Should be better than Rasch or Williams.

SurprisedByBeauty · « **Reply #4139 on:** April 20, 2019, 10:25:44 PM »

Quote from: Todd on April 20, 2019, 04:22:50 AM

Should be better than Rasch or Williams.

Just too hard to imagine how it wouldn't be better than Rasch, which was such a full-on crashing bore.

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Author Topic: Beethoven's Piano Sonatas (Read 739447 times)

Ghost of Baron Scarpia

Ghost of Baron Scarpia

Ghost of Baron Scarpia