Beethoven's Piano Sonatas

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

Previous topic - Next topic

Hobby and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

George

Quote from: jlaurson on July 01, 2011, 10:57:19 AM
Nah, that's the MONO Backhaus that's impossible to get (last seen in Italy...)
The stereo was re-released four years ago in the US (a little before that in Germany)... and it's just magnificent.


Backhaus
Beethoven
Sonatas


FWIW, there was a period of time (which has since passed) that that set was getting expensive.
"I can't live without music, because music is life." - Yvonne Lefébure

Mandryka

I think Kempff's stereo cycle on DG is most remarkable for his beautiful sparling tone  f you dramatic, emotional contrasts, or interesting ideas about phrasing and voice leading, or indeed a "vision" , then maybe you will be disappointed.

I really have rarely enjoyed Backaus's stereo cycle, to me he sounds clunky and inelegant quite often. There are some moments which I think are good enough -- Op 27/1 for example -- but not enough of them.

I think if you want a good affordable set with reasonable sound, consider Claude Frank's.

My favourite set is Arrau -- and I would recommend this without hesitation as the one to get if artistry is the main consideration. But maybe the cost is prohibitive.

But at the end of the day you have to listen to everything and decide what you like -- let youtube be your tutor and then make an investment, take a risk.
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

jlaurson

Quote from: Mandryka on July 01, 2011, 12:06:28 PM

My favourite set is Arrau -- and I would recommend this without hesitation as the one to get if artistry is the main consideration. But maybe the cost is prohibitive.

Arrau sounded FANTASTIC on LP but not QUITE as good on CD. It will be re-released at the end of the year or early next. At low mid-price.

George

Quote from: jlaurson on July 01, 2011, 12:49:15 PM
Arrau sounded FANTASTIC on LP but not QUITE as good on CD. It will be re-released at the end of the year or early next. At low mid-price.

Thanks for the great news! I am glad I held out so long.
"I can't live without music, because music is life." - Yvonne Lefébure

kishnevi

Quote from: (: premont :) on July 01, 2011, 02:15:24 AM
I suppose, that you mean PI = period instruments sets.

Only four complete sets have been made AFAIK, and they are all rather expensive or unavailable.
Thank you.  I was afraid you would say that.  Will  keep my eyes posted for Badura Skoda
Quote
The incomplete set by Melvin Tan (Virgin) is cheap. Tans playing is perfectionistic and often earthbound.
You just reminded me:  I have a 4 CD set from Virgin in which Tan plays the concertos, the Choral Fantasy, and on the fourth CD, a selection of solo piano pieces.    I rather like the concertos, but I found the solo works to be rather dull. I probably haven't played that particular CD in about 3 or 4 years.   I don't even remember which ones are on it: I think they're a collection of variations and bagatelles. 

Quote from: Todd on July 01, 2011, 06:27:25 AM

  Seymour Lipkin's cycle is available for $20 in CD-ROM form and also comes with all of the scores.  The music is in MP3 format, so you'd have to sacrifice some sound quality. 

Is that available through the standard vendors, or just through some specialist venue?

jlaurson

Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on July 01, 2011, 01:47:25 PM
Lipkin:
Is that available through the standard vendors, or just through some specialist venue?

Available through standard vendors alright... (Also as regular CDs [three sets], if one were to prefer that.)


Beethoven Sonatas MP3 + Scores


kishnevi

#906
Quote from: jlaurson on July 01, 2011, 03:02:37 PM
Available through standard vendors alright... (Also as regular CDs [three sets], if one were to prefer that.)


Beethoven Sonatas MP3 + Scores


MY initial enthusiasm from this afternoon has worn off.  But I'll be keeping the option in mind.  In the meantime,  I'm thinking of a quadruple play:  ordering Kempff, Gulda,  Backhaus and (I know Todd will shudder) Gould.    But not for at least a week.  My credit card bill for this month is already ridiculously high.

ETA: Gould can wait.   The Sony budget box I noticed on Amazon is missing a number of the sonatas he recorded,   so it's not really so budgety.

Bogey

Has anyone here come across this recording:

There will never be another era like the Golden Age of Hollywood.  We didn't know how to blow up buildings then so we had no choice but to tell great stories with great characters.-Ben Mankiewicz

premont

Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on July 01, 2011, 01:47:25 PM
You just reminded me:  I have a 4 CD set from Virgin in which Tan plays the concertos, the Choral Fantasy, and on the fourth CD, a selection of solo piano pieces.    I rather like the concertos, but I found the solo works to be rather dull. I probably haven't played that particular CD in about 3 or 4 years.   I don't even remember which ones are on it: I think they're a collection of variations and bagatelles. 

Yes, Tan seems also to me more inspired in the concertos.

One important period pianist I forgot in the list for you, because his set even is incomplete so far, is Paul Komen (Globe), whom I mentioned earlier in this thread. His interpretatioms are conceived in a classical spirit, and are expressive without idiosyncrasies. His recordings are not just cheap but well worth the cost. Nobody knows if he is going to complete the set.

Link:

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/SESSIONID/22d46a7725f6c4527cdde565d1763a41/classic/search?rubric=classic&tracks=paul%20komen&pd_orderby=score&advancedsearch=1
γνῶθι σεαυτόν

Bogey

 Now taking in Piano Sonata No. 4, Op. 7 (The Grand Sonata and renamed "Verliebte").
There will never be another era like the Golden Age of Hollywood.  We didn't know how to blow up buildings then so we had no choice but to tell great stories with great characters.-Ben Mankiewicz

Antoine Marchand

Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on July 01, 2011, 07:00:55 PM
... I'm thinking of a quadruple play:  ordering Kempff, Gulda,  Backhaus and (I know Todd will shudder) Gould.    But not for at least a week.  My credit card bill for this month is already ridiculously high.

Internet is a wonderful tool to provide some spiritual relief. I am not alone; other people do the same crazy things.

What a gang of lunatics we have gathered here!  ;D :P :-*

George

Quote from: toñito on July 02, 2011, 05:49:14 AM
Internet is a wonderful tool to provide some spiritual relief. I am not alone; other people do the same crazy things.

What a gang of lunatics we have gathered here!  ;D :P :-*

"The things you own, end up owning you. "

- Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
"I can't live without music, because music is life." - Yvonne Lefébure

Antoine Marchand

Quote from: George on July 02, 2011, 05:57:50 AM
"The things you own, end up owning you. "

- Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club

Unfortunately I have not purchased the Palahniuk novel.  :D

George

"I can't live without music, because music is life." - Yvonne Lefébure

Antoine Marchand

Quote from: George on July 02, 2011, 06:06:55 AM
;D

Although perhaps the correct reply should be: Fortunately I have not purchased the Pahlianuk novel. I mean in order to be coherent with the author. ;D

George

Quote from: toñito on July 02, 2011, 06:14:50 AM
Although perhaps the correct reply should be: Fortunately I have not purchased the Pahlianuk novel. I mean in order to be coherent with the author. ;D

Of course. FWIW, the movie is better than the book.
"I can't live without music, because music is life." - Yvonne Lefébure

Antoine Marchand

Quote from: George on July 02, 2011, 06:26:54 AM
Of course. FWIW, the movie is better than the book.

You have a well-earned movie authority (based on excellent recommendations), so I will forget my natural aversion to Brad Pitt and I will watch this movie.  :)

karlhenning

Went ahead and pulled the trigger on this 'un:

[asin]B001CGJ3QS[/asin]

George

Congrats on scoring that classic set, k a rl:)
"I can't live without music, because music is life." - Yvonne Lefébure

karlhenning

Thanks, George!  Can hardly wait.  For the first time I can remember, I am in the mood to listen to the lot, straight through.