Beethoven's Piano Sonatas

[George]

Thanks for catching that!!!

My pleasure! Thank you for your ongoing work in this series.

[jlaurson]

You should add Yusuke Kikuchi and Ichiro Nodaira, both now complete.

Incidentally I don't have much info on those, Todd...

Yusuke Kikuchi - ? - ?, Triton
Ichiro Nodaira -  1998 - ?, Nami

Do you? (How many CDs, recording begin & end...)


These are some of the others I've not yet added, for various reasons (mostly lack of effort on my part, or lack of info, availability, completeness et al.)

...
François-Frédéric Guy, WWP, ZigZag Territories
...

[kishnevi]

If WWP means something like "work in progress",  then FF Guy needs to be changed to "finished".

[Brian]

If WWP means something like "work in progress",  then FF Guy needs to be changed to "finished".

Weird Wonderful Pianist?
World's Wittiest Pianist?
White Wicker Piano?

[jlaurson]

If WWP means something like "work in progress",  then FF Guy needs to be changed to "finished".

It does... and now I have no clue anymore, why I thought that "WWP" was somehow an appropriate abbreviation for that. Strange!!!

Oh... I think in the furthest recesses of my mind must have been "WwO" -- but even that is really WoO. Maybe I'm just very confused. In any case, yep... noted that FFG has finished already. These kids. Just don't take time for things anymore. Lim is missing from the above, too.

[Todd]

Yusuke Kikuchi - Rec 2010-2011; 8 discs/4 Volumes; Triton

Ichiro Nodaira -  Rec Unknown; 11 discs/11 volumes; Livenotes

[jlaurson]

Yusuke Kikuchi - Rec 2010-2011; 8 discs/4 Volumes; Triton

Ichiro Nodaira -  Rec Unknown; 11 discs/11 volumes; Livenotes

thanks!

[Mandryka]

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.

Is it absolutely certain that these are live concerts in front of an audience, not radio concerts? If yes, I'll get it.

[jlaurson]

Is it absolutely certain that these are live concerts in front of an audience, not radio concerts? If yes, I'll get it.

You wouldn't give encores in a radio concert, right? From everything I understand, those were live, in front of an audience. With critics present. (Which is, obviously, what counts.  ) )

[Holden]

From what I can gather, reading on another forum, these were performed live in a series of concerts (between August 10th and 30th) and simultaneously broadcast by NHK Japan. As I like Kempff's LvB I might also look at getting this set. The only concern is the liner notes probably not being in English.

Here is a website where it's offerd for sale

http://tower.jp/item/3276466/Wilhelm-Kempff---The-Beethoven-Piano-Sonatas-Cycle-1961-in-Japan

A number of Japanese sites have a button where you can read an English version of the page. Is anyone au fait enough with the Tower site to work out if this is the case?

[Mandryka]

It's listed at hmv.jp, which has an english website. also at amazon.jp, which is more expensive, but I've not investigated shipping charges. The release date is 10 Aug 2013. I'll wait til it's released I think, it may become available in Europe, or itunes and spotify.

I want this.

[Holden]

Thank you for that. Unfortunately any review material is still in Kanji. Like you I might also wait to see if it appears on Spotify or iTunes

[Fred]

There was a discussion a while ago about the great beethoven cycles that will never be. Can I add the name of Nelson Freire. What a tragedy he has recorded so little beethoven.  Masculine, sensitive (when required) with a stunning technique. Oh, Nelson, you have let us down.
Certainly, much prefer him to say, Kempff, who I find much too lyrical/poetic.  It sounds like Kempff rather than Beethoven

[jlaurson]

Barenboim Questions

Barenboim's EuroArts DVD Sonata Cycle (recorded at Palais Lobkowitz, Palais Rasumovsky, Palais Kinsky & Schloss Hetzendorf, Vienna, Austria in 1983-84) is the same as his DG cycle recorded on between 1981 and 1984?? Is the date "1983" simply wrong?

... much the way that Barenboim's EMI DVD Sonata Cycle (recorded Unter den Linden, 2005) is identical to his new Decca CD cycle...

How many sonatas did Barenboim ever finish recording for Westminster???

[George]

Jens, when you say the EMI is identical to the new Decca do you mean in style or are they literally the same performances?l

[jlaurson]

Jens, when you say the EMI is identical to the new Decca do you mean in style or are they literally the same performances?l

Identical performances. The Westminster recordings apart, he's not got 5 cycles, but "only" 3... EMI recordings...  and then DG is identical with EuroArts DVD/Bluray (Metropolitan Munich, Jean-Pierre Ponnelle), and the EMI DVDs are identical with the Decca performances.

[George]

Identical performances. The Westminster recordings apart, he's not got 5 cycles, but "only" 3... EMI recordings...  and then DG is identical with EuroArts DVD/Bluray (Metropolitan Munich, Jean-Pierre Ponnelle), and the EMI DVDs are identical with the Decca performances.

Good to know, thanks!

[12tone.]

This one is for Todd, but then it's for anyone who knows.  Here are some new names for Beethoven PS cycles.  What do you think of these sets?:

- Jean-Bernard Pommier
- Maria Grinberg
- Michael Korstick
- Eric Heidseick
- Anne Oland

[12tone.]

By new I mean new to me 

[Todd]

Jean-Bernard Pommier - First six discs or so sound spectacular (a great venue is used), and the playing is generally elegant and a bit light.  Okay, though some individual sonatas are fine (eg, Op 22).

Maria Grinberg - Hard to harsh at times, in mediocre to poor sound.  Not my cup of tea.

Michael Korstick - Masterfully played, alternating between very fast and very slow.  Good overall, but not a favorite.

Eric Heidseick - Willful but insightful and brilliant.  A great cycle.

Anne Oland - Terrible.  Along with HJ Lim, the worst cycle I've heard.