The ONE Beethoven Piano Sonata Cycle to Rule Them All!

[Gurn Blanston]

EMI's big box (50cd) hides the jewel of the crown: frenchman Eric Heidsieck's traversal of the 32. Never has a series of Beethoven interpretations sounded so natural, so sui generis as this one. IMHO of course  . And that box is quite cheap, too!

Which Big Box is that, André? There are so many these days! Todd has mentioned that set several times, but I never ran across it as a freestanding entity. 

[Todd]

but I never ran across it as a freestanding entity.

Amazon lists it at a premium price, though the marketplace knocks a few bucks off.

I assume the big box referenced is this one, and it is a beauty, with not only Heidsieck's LvB sonatas, but the Heidsieck/Tortelier Cello Sonatas, the Ferras/Barbizet Violin Sonatas, the Hungarian Quartet string quartets (not sure if mono or stereo), and the Cluytens symphonies, along with other items.  One of the best big boxes of its sort on the market.

[kishnevi]

Amazon lists it at a premium price, though the marketplace knocks a few bucks off.

I assume the big box referenced is this one, and it is a beauty, with not only Heidsieck's LvB sonatas, but the Heidsieck/Tortelier Cello Sonatas, the Ferras/Barbizet Violin Sonatas, the Hungarian Quartet string quartets (not sure if mono or stereo), and the Cluytens symphonies, along with other items.  One of the best big boxes of its sort on the market.

+1, although I'm not as enthusiastic about the Heidsieck as Andre. 
Copyright date for the Hungarian Quartet recordings is given as 1966, so it should be the stereo.
Other pearls included Guilini's masses,  Karajan's Fidelio, and the chamber works for mandolin,  which fall into the category of unexpected little gems.

[Gurn Blanston]

Amazon lists it at a premium price, though the marketplace knocks a few bucks off.

I assume the big box referenced is this one, and it is a beauty, with not only Heidsieck's LvB sonatas, but the Heidsieck/Tortelier Cello Sonatas, the Ferras/Barbizet Violin Sonatas, the Hungarian Quartet string quartets (not sure if mono or stereo), and the Cluytens symphonies, along with other items.  One of the best big boxes of its sort on the market.

Ah, that one. Very nice. Almost makes me wish I was a Big Box fan and it was still 1975....    Looks awfully nice though...

Thanks,

[prémont]

The mythical Cortot would be my number one, but I've only been able to hear a few from it.

Next up would be Kuerti.

Why not Gould? Oh, of course - he is not complete.

[mn dave]

The mythical Cortot would be my number one, but I've only been able to hear a few from it.

Next up would be Kuerti.

Kuerti is your vote?

[mn dave]

Indeed, unless the mythical Cortot becomes unmythical or Jenny Lin sits down to record the cycle.

A Fischer 5
Barenboim (first cycle/EMI) 3
Kempff (mono) 3
Badura-Skoda 3
Gulda (Amadeo) 3
Schnabel 2
Arrau 1
P Lewis 1
R Goode 1
FF Guy 1
O'Conor 1
Lortie 1
Malcolm Bilson et al. 1
Ashkenazy 1
Brendel '70s 1
Heidsieck 1
Kuerti 1

[André]

Amazon lists it at a premium price, though the marketplace knocks a few bucks off.

I assume the big box referenced is this one, and it is a beauty, with not only Heidsieck's LvB sonatas, but the Heidsieck/Tortelier Cello Sonatas, the Ferras/Barbizet Violin Sonatas, the Hungarian Quartet string quartets (not sure if mono or stereo), and the Cluytens symphonies, along with other items.  One of the best big boxes of its sort on the market.

That's the one, and it s quite cheap to acquire if you look well. What Todd has mentioned is the cream of the crop, really. The Hungs 4tet traversal is the stereo one.

[George]

Why not Gould? Oh, of course - he is not complete.

Definitely missing a few marbles.

[G. String]

Kovacevich

[mn dave]

Kovacevich

A Fischer 5
Barenboim (first cycle/EMI) 3
Kempff (mono) 3
Badura-Skoda 3
Gulda (Amadeo) 3
Schnabel 2
Arrau 1
P Lewis 1
R Goode 1
FF Guy 1
O'Conor 1
Lortie 1
Malcolm Bilson et al. 1
Ashkenazy 1
Brendel '70s 1
Heidsieck 1
Kuerti 1
Kovacevich 1

[struwwelpeter]

I'm really impressed by the Kempff live cycle from Japan - probably my top pick at the moment.

Honourable mentions to Gulda (Orfeo), Arrau, Gilels and Gould.

[mn dave]

A Fischer 5
Barenboim (first cycle/EMI) 3
Kempff (mono) 3
Badura-Skoda 3
Gulda (Amadeo) 3
Schnabel 2
Arrau 1
P Lewis 1
R Goode 1
FF Guy 1
O'Conor 1
Lortie 1
Malcolm Bilson et al. 1
Ashkenazy 1
Brendel '70s 1
Heidsieck 1
Kuerti 1
Kovacevich 1
Kempff (live in Japan!) 1

[mszczuj]

Brautigam

[xochitl]

since i havent heard the Badura-Skoda on fortepiano i'm also voting for Brautigam

[Geo Dude]

since i havent heard the Badura-Skoda on fortepiano i'm also voting for Brautigam

Agreed.

[mn dave]

3 in a row for Brautigam?

A Fischer 5
Barenboim (first cycle/EMI) 3
Kempff (mono) 3
Badura-Skoda 3
Gulda (Amadeo) 3
Brautigam 3
Schnabel 2
Arrau 1
P Lewis 1
R Goode 1
FF Guy 1
O'Conor 1
Lortie 1
Malcolm Bilson et al. 1
Ashkenazy 1
Brendel '70s 1
Heidsieck 1
Kuerti 1
Kovacevich 1
Kempff (live in Japan!) 1

[Moonfish]

3 in a row for Brautigam?

Perhaps BIS is writing fat checks to boost their sales....?   

[Ken B]

Perhaps BIS is writing fat checks to boost their sales....?   

I'm wondering if I made the right choice here or if I need to change my vote. Any Sweedes here want to discuss it?

[kishnevi]

I'm now playing CD 5 of the Lortie set,  the Opus 32 troika.  While it's good,  I have yet to hear anything that makes want to say it's better than the rest.