David Hurwitz

[Daverz]

If you can't get enough Dave, here's a brief interview of everyone's favorite record critic by Brian Hannah:

[Belle]

Dave has recently nominated Ronald Brautigam as one of his "5 Greatest Beethoven Pianists".  He provides the criteria and I have to agree with him about his number 5 choice, Brautigam:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ_Z9tM3fKo&list=PLxV6VwFCe969lLGWQDkrPsdkjCUWKGdq3&index=26

[Kalevala]

Dave has recently nominated Ronald Brautigam as one of his "5 Greatest Beethoven Pianists".  He provides the criteria and I have to agree with him about his number 5 choice, Brautigam:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ_Z9tM3fKo&list=PLxV6VwFCe969lLGWQDkrPsdkjCUWKGdq3&index=26

Thanks for posting it.  I enjoyed his performance!

K

[Belle]

Brautigam's complete Beethoven Klaviersonaten are available, in separate movements, on YouTube and I've been listening to these.  I've tried unsuccessfully to buy that set through Amazon, for reasons I don't understand.

Not everybody likes these works played on fortepiano and I get that, but Brautigam makes a compelling case for that instrument with his performances (as Dave says).  We mustn't overlook the fact that the 'piano' evolved even during Beethoven's lifetime but he was unable to hear most of those changes in his later years!!

[Karl Henning]

Brautigam's complete Beethoven Klaviersonaten are available, in separate movements, on YouTube and I've been listening to these.  I've tried unsuccessfully to buy that set through Amazon, for reasons I don't understand.

Not everybody likes these works played on fortepiano and I get that, but Brautigam makes a compelling case for that instrument with his performances (as Dave says).  We mustn't overlook the fact that the 'piano' evolved even during Beethoven's lifetime but he was unable to hear most of those changes in his later years!!

Yes, he heard the music in his inner ear on the instrument he knew.

[Belle]

Yes, he heard the music in his inner ear on the instrument he knew.

It's something which has stayed with me in my more than 70 years on planet earth.  The inner ear, yes, but a profound understanding of musical structure and theory which allowed him to compose without an aural point of reference.  As we know it's possible to compose using the 'rules' of harmony but what Beethoven did was on another level;  another planet.  I've formed the view that he was pushing the boundaries from a theoretical standpoint but I've also thought that if he could have heard his music composed when he was profoundly deaf he might have said, "well, that didn't work so I might change it".  You might understand this yourself as a composer!!   Or at least what I'm driving at!!!

[Todd]

Mr Hurwitz went over Barenboim's LvB cycles a couple days ago.  He repeats the claim that there are four cycles when there are five.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Mr Hurwitz went over Barenboim's LvB cycles a couple days ago.  He repeats the claim that there are four cycles when there are five.

Maybe he only had four skillets.

[Daverz]

Maybe he only had four skillets.

I know that an early cycle from his teenage years appeared on MCA CDs.  I can't find any evidence of it online.  Google AI says "Daniel Barenboim's first complete Beethoven piano sonata cycle was recorded between 1966 and 1969 for EMI (now Warner Classics), not MCA", which seems to imply there was no MCA cycle.

EDIT: Hmmm, I seem to have imagined a whole cycle.

[Philo]

I know that an early cycle from his teenage years appeared on MCA CDs.  I can't find any evidence of it online.  Google AI says "Daniel Barenboim's first complete Beethoven piano sonata cycle was recorded between 1966 and 1969 for EMI (now Warner Classics), not MCA", which seems to imply there was no MCA cycle.

From the @Todd Codex 

Daniel Barenboim (1980s), Argentina, Complete, Male, DG
Daniel Barenboim (2020), Argentina, Complete, Male, DG
Daniel Barenboim (1960s), Argentina, Complete, Male, EMI
Daniel Barenboim (2005), Argentina, Complete, Male, EMI
Daniel Barenboim (1984), Argentina, Complete, Male, EuroArts, DVD only

[Todd]

From the @Todd Codex 

Daniel Barenboim (1980s), Argentina, Complete, Male, DG
Daniel Barenboim (2020), Argentina, Complete, Male, DG
Daniel Barenboim (1960s), Argentina, Complete, Male, EMI
Daniel Barenboim (2005), Argentina, Complete, Male, EMI
Daniel Barenboim (1984), Argentina, Complete, Male, EuroArts, DVD only

That is the correct listing.  I have been in direct contact with a different well-known critic for the past few months on the complete discography, and we are in agreement on the list.  We did have an exchange earlier today about the 2005 cycle regarding the recording dates for the sonatas, but that is a fine point.  (The liner notes from the DVD version confirm 2005 as the recording year, and 2006 the first release year.)  The critic is only the second person I have encountered who has also heard Riefling's cycle, though others may have and just chose not to comment on it.

[Belle]

I find Barenboim a rather dull pianist for Beethoven, having heard him twice in Vienna in recital and in one of the concertos.

[Kalevala]

I find Barenboim a rather dull pianist for Beethoven, having heard him twice in Vienna in recital and in one of the concertos.

Who is your favorite pianist for the Beethoven sonatas @Belle?

K

[Belle]

Who is your favorite pianist for the Beethoven sonatas @Belle?

K

Yes, thanks for the complicated question!!  There's a rich history, as we know, of great artists and their relationships with Beethoven but I'll refer to the modern era and nominate Igor Levit.  After that Stephen Kovacevich.

[Madiel]

From the @Todd Codex 

Daniel Barenboim (1980s), Argentina, Complete, Male, DG
Daniel Barenboim (2020), Argentina, Complete, Male, DG
Daniel Barenboim (1960s), Argentina, Complete, Male, EMI
Daniel Barenboim (2005), Argentina, Complete, Male, EMI
Daniel Barenboim (1984), Argentina, Complete, Male, EuroArts, DVD only

You do realise that until recently Todd himself was repeating the claim that there were 4 cycles and dismissing the existence of a fifth, and others including myself had to demonstrate the existence of the DVD cycle while he dismissed it?

Please do not give Todd the slightest credit for knowing more than David Hurwitz. Because this involves rewriting forum history.

[Todd]

You do realise that until recently Todd himself was repeating the claim that there were 4 cycles and dismissing the existence of a fifth, and others including myself had to demonstrate the existence of the DVD cycle while he dismissed it?

Please do not give Todd the slightest credit for knowing more than David Hurwitz. Because this involves rewriting forum history.

LOL

[Madiel]

Accurate memory is apparently funny, or to be mocked.

The more factual posts of the investigation of the DVD cycle still exist. Some of Todd's responses were deleted by moderators but you can probably get the gist.

As you were.

[Todd]

Accurate memory is apparently funny, or to be mocked.

The more factual posts of the investigation of the DVD cycle still exist. Some of Todd's responses were deleted by moderators but you can probably get the gist.

As you were.

Oh, no, you see, I do admit and did admit in my summation of Barenboim's DVD cycle recorded in fancy palaces that I had previously made a mistake, and indeed, that I was ashamed.  David Hurwitz is a professional critic, has a massive collection, connections in the industry, and so on.  He should definitely know better.  You have some truly bizarre fixation on my posts.  It's really rather adorable.

[Karl Henning]

Accurate memory is apparently funny, or to be mocked.

The more factual posts of the investigation of the DVD cycle still exist. Some of Todd's responses were deleted by moderators but you can probably get the gist.

As you were.

Whatsizzname cannot be bothered by mere fact.

[Belle]

For those unfamiliar with Levit's Beethoven Klaviersonaten:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5WW0ji3R4g&list=PL1IXBSY4jc2tE5w8zZ_Pwf10vO3a5zuCT&index=84