The ONE Beethoven Violin Sonata Cycle to Rule Them All!

[mn dave]

Kremer & Argerich seems to be there.

Thanks. I will sample it.

[Gurn Blanston]

Which one of these would I like? Preferably available on iTunes. I don't care about HIP.

Kremer and Argerich, no doubt. It is very well played and modern sound that sounds modern because it IS modern. Why, the players are even alive still!    

[mn dave]

Kremer and Argerich, no doubt. It is very well played and modern sound that sounds modern because it IS modern. Why, the players are even alive still!    

I always think of Kremer as some wildman. Not sure why.

[Gurn Blanston]

I always think of Kremer as some wildman. Not sure why.

That being said, who better to play Beethoven for you?  He's actually a highly skilled and sensitive fiddler, but he can do 'wild' if need be.

[Karl Henning]

. . . Why, the players are even alive still!    

Fancy that!

[Karl Henning]

That being said, who better to play Beethoven for you?  He's actually a highly skilled and sensitive fiddler, but he can do 'wild' if need be.

Testify, O Gurn!

[Gurn Blanston]

Fancy that!

One of my peculiarities. Dead composers, live players. I predict that after your death you will be on top of the 21st century world, Karl.

Testify, O Gurn!

  I like Kremer,  I must say. I won't mention other stuff he has done that I like, since it is too OT, but there certainly IS some! 

[Wanderer]

Which one of these would I like? *Preferably available on iTunes.* I don't care about HIP.

Cerovsek/Jumppanen
Kremer/Argerich

[mn dave]

Cerovsek/Jumppanen
Kremer/Argerich

Thanks!

[SonicMan46]

Cerovsek/Jumppanen
Kremer/Argerich

@ Dave - be sure to sample Cerovsek & Jumppanen - all of the works are on 3 discs in a goofy wallet foldout package but w/ a superb booklet; both musicians are impressive, especially Cerovsek - from Indiana University (my son's Alma Mater), he received B.A. degrees in mathematics & music at 15 y/o, Masters degrees in both his next year, and completed his doctoral work in both at 18 years of age!  Dave

[mn dave]

@ Dave - be sure to sample Cerovsek & Jumppanen - all of the works are on 3 discs in a goofy wallet foldout package but w/ a superb booklet; both musicians are impressive, especially Cerovsek - from Indiana University (my son's Alma Mater), he received B.A. degrees in mathematics & music at 15 y/o, Masters degrees in both his next year, and completed his doctoral work in both at 18 years of age!  Dave

I'll review samples of both cycles and make my decision. Thanks!

[North Star]

Oh yes, definitely listen to Cerovsek & Jumppanen, fantastic musicians whom I've heard live (Jumppanen several times in a couple of concertos, some chamber music & solo piano)

[Geo Dude]

Schröder/Immerseel.

[Wakefield]

Which would be splendid if it was a cycle. I greatly enjoy that disk, both of the players are among my favorites and they do well together, too. 

I think the same goes for Sepec/Staier.

[mszczuj]

Seiler/Immerseel

[Drosera]

Another, much needed, vote for Schneiderhan/Kempff

[prémont]

Another, much needed, vote for Schneiderhan/Kempff

Thanks.

[Marc]

Leertouwer & Reynolds:

[Que]

Leertouwer & Reynolds:

What?! You too? I guess it had very little circulation outside the Dutch realm....

Q

[Marc]

What?! You too? I guess it had very little circulation outside the Dutch realm....

I got interested in Leertouwer in 2002, after reading a very positive review of a live concert at the Holland Festival Oude Muziek. In the years after, I enjoyed a Matthäus-Passion under his direction, and a Mozart concert, where he both conducted and played the violin. All very fine experiences, so I purchased his boxset with the Mozart violin concertos.
It took some years before I got hold of the two Beethoven 2-cds, after I joined the Dutch central library site Muziekweb. Maybe Leertouwer is not an international household name, but I find him very reliable in the World of HIP. In this particular recording, the mid-19th century pianoforte played by Reynolds is also a bonus. It's a beautiful sounding instrument and I definitely prefer it to a Steinway. I have the Seiler/Immerseel set and I like that one, too, but, in this oeuvre, Van Immerseel's Walter copy (late 18th century) is just a bit too thin for my likings.

I don't know that many integrals (no Kremer/Argerich and Faust/Melnikov f.i.), but other Beethoven violin/piano sonata sets that I rate high (despite sometimes too much violin vibrato) are Menuhin/Kempff, Grumiaux/Haskil (though the violin is too dominant) and Barati/Würtz. Overall, I think Perlman/Ashkenazy is a very solid, more robust romantic, set, too.