LvB Op 106 'Hammerklavier'

[Holden]

Surely this is one of the hardest LvB works to play and also one of the most profound (along with Op 111). There are a few recordings of this work that are considered as great and I have three that I think are better than anyone elses. I'm listening now to a performance that is completely new to me that has made me seriously reevaluate the other two that I really rate highly. So once again, please give your top choice but this time feel free to add others that you rate along with it.

[Todd]

Pollini.  Perfect execution, with a somewhat cool take on the great slow movement that actually enhances it. 

[ezodisy]

Pollini.  Perfect execution, with a somewhat cool take on the great slow movement that actually enhances it. 

Yeah for me too. The other remarkable one I like is by the young Sokolov for the slow-starting, transparent fugue. This was only ever available on a Mobile Fidelity CD and usually sells for a ridiculous price when it appears up for sale.

How about the Schnabel Hammerklavier?

[Todd]

How about the Schnabel Hammerklavier?

Too sloppy in the faster portions.  The slow movement is superb, though.

[mn dave]

Too sloppy in the faster portions.  The slow movement is superb, though.

Schnabel is known to miss notes for the music's sake. So are you talking "extra sloppy?"

[Todd]

So are you talking "extra sloppy?"

Yes, here "too" = "extra".

[prémont]

One can argue, that the Hammerklavier Sonata must be performed "muscular", but in the long run I tend to prefer more lyrical approaches like Kempff of course (mono preferably), but also O´Connor and Lortie.

[dirkronk]

It's time for me to do another review of the Hammerklavier now that my collection has expanded. Last time I listened, it must have been ten years ago...maybe more...and everything considered was on vinyl. It was also far enough back that I didn't then feel competent to make a true critical evaluation of the performances--I was simply trying to get familiar with the music itself and decide whose versions I personally liked. Frankly, I found the piece itself to be daunting, and I have no doubt that I still will today. I made myself listen to each version in its entirety, but I found myself able to appreciate only portions of each one. That said, my remembered impressions were as follows:

I listened to some biggies--Schnabel and Arrau--and did not care for either.
I listened to one that was critically acclaimed and that I expected to love--Solomon--but while I like portions of it a great deal, the appeal of the performance as a whole eluded me. Had a similar reaction to Kempff mono.
Two versions I listened to get little mention these days--Egon Petri and Webster Aitkin--and each offered some distinctive (weird, even) and interesting things, but again, as a whole they failed to captivate.
Pollini was the one I settled on at the time, and seeing it show up as a favorite of Todd and Tony now makes me smile: maybe my taste back then wasn't as unrefined as I think.


A few years after that comparison, a good friend played for me a recording of the Hammerklavier from the BMG/Melodiya Emil Gilels Edition--and it impressed me most favorably. However, I've never put it up against the Pollini.

I now have plenty of others to review. I still have my LP contenders and maybe a few additional in that format (Backhaus and Nat, to name two). And my CD list informs me that I now have Annie Fischer, Gilels (x2), Gulda, Kempff stereo, Ernst Levy, Elly Ney (excerpts only), Richter (x2), Richter-Haaser, Schnabel, and Sokolov (live '75). Damn. When will I ever find the time?


And hey...I'm not even counting the ones that this thread will no doubt unearth!

For now, I'll stick with my early choice--Pollini--and see who else comes up.

Cheers,

Dirk

[PSmith08]

Pollini. I'll echo Todd on this one. Pollini (in this, and some equally challenging material) is very technically proficient and very, very good. There have been other recordings I have liked (see below), but none as much as this one.

A couple of others that I very much like, even if I don't rate them as high as Pollini, are Gould (from 1970) and Backhaus (1952 or 1956, take your pick). I almost like Mitsuko Uchida's recent performance of the work, but I haven't made the jump to liking it wholeheartedly.

[ezodisy]

On Youtube there's a fascinating masterclass given by Barenboim on the finale of this piece. Not sure if it's available on DVD.

[Don]

My top pick is Pollini as well.

[mn dave]

Looks like we have a winner. I have wishlisted the Pollini.

Thanks, mateys.

[ezodisy]

Has Pollini rerecorded this yet or are we all talking about the DG Originals release?

Sokolov (live '75)

Dirk give this one a try and let us know what you think of the 25 year old!

[rubio]

Pollini has also recorded a live version on Arkadia which I think I have seen someone here rave about (a long time ago). This one is rare, but there are some copies available.

http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Sonatas-Nos-adieux-Hammerklavier/dp/B000005O6A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1214942636&sr=1-1

[ezodisy]

man those Arkadia discs are usually exceedingly rare. The one I always looked for was the Weissenberg/Celibidache Prokofiev PC 3 but I could never find it. In fact I never had any confirmation it existed but someone once mentioned it and I just kept looking for it like an idiot. Someone here should buy the Pollini

[rubio]

I have the above Pollini Hammerklavier, but I don't have the DG one... And I have heard too few Hammerklaviers and Beethoven sonatas to give a qualified comment at this moment. I have been listening much more to the solo piano music of Chopin, Schumann and Schubert so far.

[Holden]

Has Pollini rerecorded this yet or are we all talking about the DG Originals release?

Dirk give this one a try and let us know what you think of the 25 year old!

I'm with you on this one Tony and I believe that Dirk has a copy of that Sokolov performance as well. I was very taken with the whole structure of the work in Sokolov's hands and thought that both the slow moveent and the fugue would be very hard to beat by anyone (haven't heard the Pollini). The Schumann Op11 that goes with it is excellent as well.

[George]

Pollini. 

Seconded. While I may not love all of this pianists Beethoven, here he does incredibly well.

[George]

Looks like we have a winner. I have wishlisted the Pollini.

Thanks, mateys.

Nice move. (and now you have one more vote of approval)

>>>>move to cart.

[Josquin des Prez]

Pollini is the most accessible version of all (pity the rest of his Beethoven isn't too exiting), but don't miss out on Gilels, and if you need a performance which truly brings out the contrapuntal refinery of this work, try Vladimir Feltsman.

From my part, i'm really hoping Krystian Zimermann does the whole set before he kicks the bucket. That might just become the crowning achievement of contemporary piano playing.