LvB Op 2/1 in F minor

[Holden]

Shades of Haydn (Beethoven's teacher) all over the place but at the same time a very individual style was already in evidence. Many composers first works tend to be somewhat immature in both style and form (take Haydn's own early keyboard works) but LvB showed right away that this 26 year old already had what it took to become a great composer.

I have over a dozen different recordings of this work yet one has really impressed me over the others. What's your top recommendation?

[ezodisy]

For me it'll always be Kempff (mono). First one I ever heard, funnily enough I was thinking about it yesterday. There's something about the softness and playfulness of it that is adorable.

[val]

My choice goes to three versions:

Schnabel, with a sublime slow movement, Arrau very powerful and Brendel (VOX) very simple and musical.

Gulda seems sometimes (the Finale) a little abstract.

[Todd]

Annie Fischer - her aproach is perhaps a bit gruffer and harder than this early work generally needs, but she thunders through it (especially the last movement) with such conviction that I can't resist.

[ezodisy]

lightweight creation - Claudio Arrau (Philips Box)

anyone else notice something odd about this?

[George]

I can't choose between Annie Fischer and Schnabel here, both bring so much to the table that I wouldn't be without either one.

[scarpia]

The notion that one should listen to this simple piece in a "historical" recording in execrable sound strikes me as bizarre in the extreme.  Is there any trained pianist in the world that can't play this piece just fine?  We have to go back to the '30s? 

Lately I've been listening to the Beethoven Sonatas in a set that no one seems to like, Pommier's cycle, issued by Erato.  Pommier's approach could be characterized as "classical," emphasizing lightness and wit, rather than the perpetual scowl that seems to permeate Beethoven's music.  The recordings of the late sonatas in this set don't strike me as truly outstanding, but these early ones come off very well, with excellent audio engineering.  Op 2/1 is a little gem in this set.