Beethoven's Piano Sonatas

[Brian]

Jando also does the electoral sonatas.

I feel like the incomplete Gilels does too.

[jlaurson]

I feel like the incomplete Gilels does too.

You feel correctly. And the Eroica Variations, too. (The Variations are so excellent... totally underrated. I would drop a few sonatas for them, if I had to trade.)


FYI: Beethoven Sonata Survey Somewhat updated and re-ordered.

[prémont]

I feel like the incomplete Gilels does too.

Only two of the three.

[Karl Henning]

Correct, karl.

I am not sure if it was remastered, but I haven't heard any bad things about the sound on that one. (and the price on that third party seller is excellent, less than $37? I paid $49 for mine and it didn't have the concertos) The Brilliant issue seems to have gone OOP.

Thanks for your help, George! I've gone ahead and pulled the ol' trigger . . . .

[George]

Thanks for your help, George! I've gone ahead and pulled the ol' trigger . . . .

Awesome! 

And good morning!

[Karl Henning]

Happy Friday, my friend!

[George]

Happy Friday, my friend!

Indeed it is! And same to you. Hope you got that nice, dry, 75 degree weather we have over here.

[Karl Henning]

Re-checking the sound now. Spot checked several discs. Sounds fine. Buy with confidence, Karl.

And warm thanks to you, Sarge, and to Dave & Todd as well.

[Karl Henning]

Indeed it is! And same to you. Hope you got that nice, dry, 75 degree weather we have over here.

Oh, but this is an exquisite morning! I cycled from the train station to the office . . . first time I've been on a bicycle in, oh, it has got to have been two decades.  I've been on a horse more recently than I had been on a bicycle!

[George]

Oh, but this is an exquisite morning! I cycled from the train station to the office . . . first time I've been on a bicycle in, oh, it has got to have been two decades.  I've been on a horse more recently than I had been on a bicycle!

Sounds wonderful! These are the days to treasure, the hot and sticky days will be upon us soon.

[Todd]

The Frenchest Beethoven yet.  All throughout Jean Efflam Bavouzet's first volume, one hears as perfect an example of the French School of pianism as I can recall hearing.  Elegant doesn't adequately describe Bavouzet's approach.  It is also swift, light, clean as a whistle, and just downright pretty.  This is meant as high praise, I hasten to add; I'm rather fond of French pianism and pianists.  Also, Mr Bavouzet's discs arrived at the right time, offering a much needed alternative to HJ Lim's crude banging and flailing.  Crude is a word one could not apply to this set.

The threefer is a straight shot through the first ten sonatas.  No fussy programming here.  The first disc, devoted to the Op 2 sonatas, is good, clean, light fun.  Here the Frenchness stands out.  The playing is light in texture, with nary a notable loud note to be heard until the slow movement of 2/3, where the tolling left hand notes ring out most satisfyingly.  Bavouzet's clarity is tip-top shelf, and the clarity of the left hand playing is as obvious as David Allen Wehr's, but it's more refined and blends even better.  Sure, Bavouzet's elegant approach means that the ending movement of 2/1 lacks the fire of other readings, and youthful prankishness can be hard to find, or at least it's more understated than is often the case, but everything is so lovely, it's impossible to complain. 

The second disc opens with a comparatively breezy Op 7, moves on to a light, lithe Op 13, and ends with delightful Op 14 sonatas.  The only misgivings here would have to be with the Pathetique, which is not an especially intense reading.  Rather, it's a marvel of the classical style, delivered most elegantly.  I tend to prefer more romantic readings, or at least more intense ones, but make no mistake, this is superbly well done. 

The final disc covers the Op 10 sonatas, and everything is there to enjoy.  Perfectly controlled, swift ascending arpeggios in the opener of 10/1, and an energetic, meticulously played closer?  Check.  Delightful 10/2, with repeat in the final movement?  Check.  High energy 10/3, with hints of drama in the slow movement?  Check.  Bavouzet throws in not one but two extra tidbits from 10/1 – WoO 52 and a reconstructed original version of the Prestissimo.  Both are superbly played.

So, this is a most enjoyable first installment to yet another new Elveebee sonata cycle.  I was most eager to here this set so as to compare it to Francois Frederic Guy's masterful first volume of his cycle.  Guy's style is more my thing, but Bavouzet's opener makes me want to hear the rest of the cycle just as soon as possible. 

SOTA sound.

[Kontrapunctus]

I'm very happy with Michael Korstick's series on the Oehms label. His latest volume, which contains the Op. 106 "Hammerklavier," will raise a few eyebrows due to the rather fast outer movements (he actually follows the printed MM tempos) and the glacial tempo of the sublime Adagio, which clocks in at 28:42! Some may find his playing a bit aggressive, but he can play poetically, too. Oehms' SACD audio is superb.

[Sergeant Rock]

I'm very happy with Michael Korstick's series on the Oehms label. His latest volume, which contains the Op. 106 "Hammerklavier," will raise a few eyebrows due to the rather fast outer movements (he actually follows the printed MM tempos) and the glacial tempo of the sublime Adagio, which clocks in at 28:42!

Listened to clips at Amazon. You can leave the room and go brew a pot of tea between some of the chords in that Adagio   He's faster than Lim in the first movement but he sounds cleaner. I may have to get this.

By the way, his the next volume (vol.11) has been released, at least in Germany. Contains 109, 110, 111.

Sarge

[Brian]

Listened to clips at Amazon. You can listen to HJ Lim's complete Op 27 between some of the chords in that Adagio

fixed

[Sergeant Rock]

fixed

[Todd]

By the way, his the next volume (vol.11) has been released, at least in Germany. Contains 109, 110, 111.

Excellent, maybe Oehms will box up the set soon.  I've got two volumes, and based on those I'm not interested in the expense of buying all of them one at a time.  A discounted box, on the other hand . . .

[Brian]

Subjecting myself to her Opp 27/2 and 79, I can't help thinking: god, HJ Lim must be terrible in bed.

[Kontrapunctus]

Listened to clips at Amazon. You can leave the room and go brew a pot of tea between some of the chords in that Adagio   He's faster than Lim in the first movement but he sounds cleaner. I may have to get this.

By the way, his the next volume (vol.11) has been released, at least in Germany. Contains 109, 110, 111.

Sarge

He makes it work...there's almost a suspended sense of time when listening to it. Good news about Vol.11--can hardly wait! (I'm in the US.)

[DavidRoss]

Subjecting myself to her Opp 27/2 and 79, I can't help thinking: god, HJ Lim must be terrible in bed.

 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Subjecting myself to her Opp 27/2 and 79, I can't help thinking: god, HJ Lim must be terrible in bed.

......while in an alternate universe the Lim posse is doing a victory dance over your grave....