Daniel Barenboim Plays Beethoven, Take 2, 3, 4, or 5 (your choice)

[Todd]

Turns out Danny Boy did record five complete LvB cycles.  For years, I thought the Euroarts VHS/DVD/BD cycle from the mid-80s was just the video presentation of the DG cycle.  Nope.  The Euroarts cycle was recorded in posh Viennese palaces.  The DG cycle was recorded in luxe French palaces.  How so very gauche to get such right and proper palaces mixed up.  I'm so ashamed.  Etc.

The cycle doesn't really deserve a detailed write-up.  Interpretively, it is basically identical to the DG cycle.  That makes sense as the DG cycle was recorded between 1981-1984 and this was recorded between 1983-1984.  Some movement timings are a few seconds apart, and the limited comparisons I performed sounded almost identical.  An accent here or a phrase there might be a smidge different, but that's it.  I suppose if I did a complete thirty-two sonata A/B I could find differences worth scribbling about.  Or not.  Really, if one wanted, one could mix and match movements within sonatas from the two cycles and not even know. 

Well, kind of.  Turns out the one noticeable difference is recorded sound quality.  The Euroarts set sounds mildly superior.  Evidently, the whole affair was captured on 35 mm film and the resulting sound is modestly clearer, fuller, more dynamic, and so on.  It's not really enough to give it the nod over the DG set, but the sound quality is modestly better.  This Euroarts cycle ends up right in the third tier, accompanying two other Danny Boy cycles. 

Since this set includes video, it is worth noting that videography/cinematography is ho-hum, with some awkward angles and too closely cropped headshots.  Also, a few too many sonatas are cited as being dedicated to Haydn, but whatchagonna do?

[hopefullytrusting]

Turns out Danny Boy did record five complete LvB cycles.  For years, I thought the Euroarts VHS/DVD/BD cycle from the mid-80s was just the video presentation of the DG cycle.  Nope.  The Euroarts cycle was recorded in posh Viennese palaces.  The DG cycle was recorded in luxe French palaces.  How so very gauche to get such right and proper palaces mixed up.  I'm so ashamed.  Etc.

See, this is what I find most interesting. For me, Barenboim might be the blandest pianist I've ever heard. Is he independently wealthy? How does he warrant 5 cycles? That is legitimately crazy to me. I cannot imagine the making money on this endeavor, so what gives? Does he possess blackmail material? Conspiracy?

[Todd]

Is he independently wealthy? How does he warrant 5 cycles? That is legitimately crazy to me. I cannot imagine the making money on this endeavor, so what gives? Does he possess blackmail material? Conspiracy?

To the first question, I believe he was born into a relatively privileged family as both of his parents were evidently professional pianists (per that unquestionably accurate source Wikipedia), but I do not believe he comes from great wealth.  (IOW, he ain't no Thomas Beecham or Eric Heidsieck.)  I could be wrong, though.  Your other questions are all solid and I do not have adequate answers.

[AnotherSpin]

See, this is what I find most interesting. For me, Barenboim might be the blandest pianist I've ever heard. Is he independently wealthy? How does he warrant 5 cycles? That is legitimately crazy to me. I cannot imagine the making money on this endeavor, so what gives? Does he possess blackmail material? Conspiracy?

In the 1960s, Daniel Barenboim's rise to fame may look a touch paradoxical, particularly if one dismisses him as a blandest pianist beside the era's flamboyant stars. Yet his ascent owed less to bravura and more to timing, taste, and institutions. A child prodigy at seven, he offered Mozart and Beethoven with a clarity and academic polish that suited post-war Europe's craving for a purified canon. Early ventures into conducting gave him breadth and gravitas, while his Argentine birth, Israeli upbringing, and European training made him the perfect poster boy for a guilt-free, cosmopolitan "new Europe." Add to that Arthur Rubinstein's blessing and the tireless machinery of impresarios like Sol Hurok, and the so-called paradox begins to look rather well-engineered.

[hopefullytrusting]

In the 1960s, Daniel Barenboim's rise to fame may look a touch paradoxical, particularly if one dismisses him as a blandest pianist beside the era's flamboyant stars. Yet his ascent owed less to bravura and more to timing, taste, and institutions. A child prodigy at seven, he offered Mozart and Beethoven with a clarity and academic polish that suited post-war Europe's craving for a purified canon. Early ventures into conducting gave him breadth and gravitas, while his Argentine birth, Israeli upbringing, and European training made him the perfect poster boy for a guilt-free, cosmopolitan "new Europe." Add to that Arthur Rubinstein's blessing and the tireless machinery of impresarios like Sol Hurok, and the so-called paradox begins to look rather well-engineered.

A seeming demonstration of Jung's synchronicity.

Reminds me of Steiner talking about Klee and the walking aqueducts (they were always walking, we just didn't know until Klee opened our eyes), or better yet Coleridge's hooked atoms of association (Lowes's Xanadu is a long book trying to figure Coleridge out by looking at his confluences), or, short and sweet - kairos (right person, right place, right time).

I find this interesting; I'm going to think on this further. Thanks, @AnotherSpin

[JBS]

In the 1960s, Daniel Barenboim's rise to fame may look a touch paradoxical, particularly if one dismisses him as a blandest pianist beside the era's flamboyant stars. Yet his ascent owed less to bravura and more to timing, taste, and institutions. A child prodigy at seven, he offered Mozart and Beethoven with a clarity and academic polish that suited post-war Europe's craving for a purified canon. Early ventures into conducting gave him breadth and gravitas, while his Argentine birth, Israeli upbringing, and European training made him the perfect poster boy for a guilt-free, cosmopolitan "new Europe." Add to that Arthur Rubinstein's blessing and the tireless machinery of impresarios like Sol Hurok, and the so-called paradox begins to look rather well-engineered.

There was also the romance and tragedy of being married to Jacqueline DuPre.
(Double checking the facts, I discovered they were married at the Western ("Wailing") Wall less than a week after the Six Day War, probably the first wedding and possibly the first religious ceremony held there since 1949.)

[AnotherSpin]

There was also the romance and tragedy of being married to Jacqueline DuPre.
(Double checking the facts, I discovered they were married at the Western ("Wailing") Wall less than a week after the Six Day War, probably the first wedding and possibly the first religious ceremony held there since 1949.)

And this too, of course.

[Holden]

I liked a lot of DB's first cycle for EMI. He was prepared to be different rather than mainstream but at the same time was not too idiosynchratic. His playing of the Waldstein Rondo, at a speed somewhat slower than most, captured my attention and he also did the same for the Arietta of Op 111. Maybe he'd heard Arrau play this (ina very similar fashion) which is quite possible as they were countrymen and I imagine that Arrau could have been a role model. The downside of that first cycle is that he didn't bring off the rest of the 'last 5' with any real authority.

[AnotherSpin]

I liked a lot of DB's first cycle for EMI. He was prepared to be different rather than mainstream but at the same time was not too idiosynchratic. His playing of the Waldstein Rondo, at a speed somewhat slower than most, captured my attention and he also did the same for the Arietta of Op 111. Maybe he'd heard Arrau play this (ina very similar fashion) which is quite possible as they were countrymen and I imagine that Arrau could have been a role model. The downside of that first cycle is that he didn't bring off the rest of the 'last 5' with any real authority.

I'm not sure Chile and Argentina are the same country .

Another fact I found curious - besides Israeli citizenship, Barenboim also holds Palestinian citizenship.

[ritter]

...
Another fact I found curious - besides Israeli citizenship, Barenboim also holds Palestinian citizenship.

And Spanish as well...