Beethoven Violin Sonatas

[DavidRoss]

One of my favorite acquisitions in the past year is the Dumay/Pires set of Beethoven sonatas. 

[Zhiliang]

One of my favorite acquisitions in the past year is the Dumay/Pires set of Beethoven sonatas. 

How is the Dumay set like?

[bwv 1080]

The performances of the Violin Sonatas in this set are by Pinchas Zukerman/Mark Neikrug

plus you get the complete Symphonies, SQs, Piano Sonatas, trio sonatas etc





Phillips has Grumeiux on a complete Mozart set, which is hard to beat

[DavidRoss]

How is the Dumay set like?

The only other complete set I have is Frank/Frank, which seems a bit leaden in comparison.  The word that comes to mind to characterize Dumay/Pires is "graceful," followed by "warm."  (You could throw in "light on its feet" and "nimble," too.) The playing is, of course, effortlessly virtuosic, the interplay between them seems more spontaneous than studied, Dumay's tone is sweet and somewhat dark, his intonation secure, and his vibrato modest.  Pires has a relatively light touch and I love her sparkling, bell-like tone, which complements the violin beautifully without overwhelming it--due partly to the recording mix, I imagine, which puts Dumay front and center.  The sound is open and natural.

[George]

I am quickly becoming a Pires fan, I should check those out at some point, David.

At the other end of the spectrum, we have the boiling hot Kremer/Argerich set. I borrowed this one from the library a few years ago and liked it so much I bought it. Then there's the much more classical, lovely interpretations by Casadesus and Francesacatti (sp) (OOP)  Also the ever beautiful and smaller scaled readings of Grumiaux/Haskil, reissued by Decca and Brilliant.

For Mozart, I only have one but I love it very much. Lupu/Goldberg on Decca. 

[Mandryka]

The recordings which have given me the greatest pleasure are those by Szigeti.

But then he is my favourite violinist of all time, and I can see that he may not be everyone's cup of tea. He's a strong personality with a rather unusual fiddle tone.  So try before you buy!

[Todd]

I had a hankerin' for some Beethoven Violin Sonatas, so I figured I'd try the new set from Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov.  The set is a bit hit and miss.  Some of the works – especially Op 96, but also some of the Op 12 works – strike me as just a touch too too soft and lacking in energy.  But the Op 30 sonatas and especially the Kreutzer sonata are blockbuster performances.  The sound is a bit problematic for a modern recording.  When listening through my main system, Faust sounds somewhat small and anemic compared to Melnikov, and the piano sounds too "large," encompassing the whole acoustic space at times.  When I listen through headphones, though, the problems mostly disappear.  (Of course, Walter Klien's Brahms sounds tolerable through the same set-up).  Sound isn't bad, per se, it's just not what I had hoped for.  Overall, among recent sets, the Cerovsek / Jumppanen cycle on Claves is more my speed, both performance- and sound-wise.  Still, this new one does have some superb performances.

[Antoine Marchand]

I had a hankerin' for some Beethoven Violin Sonatas, so I figured I'd try the new set from Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov.  The set is a bit hit and miss.  Some of the works – especially Op 96, but also some of the Op 12 works – strike me as just a touch too too soft and lacking in energy.  But the Op 30 sonatas and especially the Kreutzer sonatas are blockbuster performances.  The sound is a bit problematic for a modern recording.  When listening through my main system, Faust sounds somewhat small and anemic compared to Melnikov, and the piano sounds too "large," encompassing the whole acoustic space at times.  When I listen through headphones, though, the problems mostly disappear.  (Of course, Walter Klien's Brahms sounds tolerable through the same set-up).  Sound isn't bad, per se, it's just not what I had hoped for.  Overall, among recent sets, the Cerovsek / Jumppanen cycle on Claves is more my speed, both performance- and sound-wise.  Still, this new one does have some superb performances.

Thanks, Todd, very useful review. Several times I have noticed that soundstage of certain recordings shows amazing differences depending if you are using speakers or headphones. IMO, it is probably a consequence of the recording sessions, where sound engineers and performers are permanently using headphones.     

[ccar]

OK, my curiosity got the best of me. I dug out the EMI set and put on the Beethoven numbers (again, we're talking 4 & 5 only). According to the notes, these performances were given in concert in 1976 in Munich and apparently recorded by EMI engineers (and even if not, they're clear that EMI holds the copyright).
This makes me even more curious to hear the Live Classics version for comparison. donwyn has already said that he no longer has the disc, but does anyone else here have it? And can you tell me what numbers are played and what information is given about dates?
Oh...and yes, I enjoyed the performances. In fact, I think I'll go back for another listen to #4 right now.
Dirk

While reading this old topic I found a few posts with comments and doubts about the Richter-Kagan/Oistrakh versions of the Beethoven Violin Sonatas.

Below is a list with the commercially available recordings (AFAIK) with Sviatoslav Richter at the piano – I hope it may help to clarify the usual Richter labyrinth.
 
These are recordings I listened throughout the years and I always cherished them as very special. But I was surprised by a previous post with a negative comment about the Live Classics release. I am curious if there are any further opinions of the Forum on the actual performances.

V. SONATA  No.1
May 1970 / Moscow - Oistrakh  (DOREMI)   

V. SONATA  No.2
Oct-Nov 1975 / Moscow - Kagan  (LIVE CLASSICS)
Aug 1976 / Helsinki - Kagan (INTAGLIO)

V. SONATA  No.3
May 1970 / Moscow - Oistrakh (DOREMI / EMI-VHS)

V. SONATA  No.4
Oct-Nov 1975 / Moscow - Kagan  (LIVE CLASSICS)
Feb-Mar 1976 / Munich - Kagan (EMI)
Aug 1976 / Helsinki - Kagan (INTAGLIO)

V. SONATA  No.5
Oct-Nov 1975 / Moscow - Kagan   (LIVE CLASSICS)
Feb-Mar 1976 / Munich - Kagan   (EMI)
Aug 1976 / Helsinki - Kagan  (INTAGLIO)

V. SONATA  No.6
Oct 1967 /  Moscow (?) - Oistrakh  ( BRILLIANT)
Apr 1969 / Moscow - Oistrakh   (RUSSIAN MASTERS)  *
Mar 1970 / New York -  Oistrakh  (VAI-DVD)

V. SONATA No.10
May 1970 / Moscow - Oistrakh   (DOREMI)

* I don't have this release


   

[DarkAngel]

I had a hankerin' for some Beethoven Violin Sonatas, so I figured I'd try the new set from Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov.  The set is a bit hit and miss.  Some of the works – especially Op 96, but also some of the Op 12 works – strike me as just a touch too too soft and lacking in energy.  But the Op 30 sonatas and especially the Kreutzer sonata are blockbuster performances.  The sound is a bit problematic for a modern recording.  When listening through my main system, Faust sounds somewhat small and anemic compared to Melnikov, and the piano sounds too "large," encompassing the whole acoustic space at times.  When I listen through headphones, though, the problems mostly disappear.  (Of course, Walter Klien's Brahms sounds tolerable through the same set-up).  Sound isn't bad, per se, it's just not what I had hoped for.  Overall, among recent sets, the Cerovsek / Jumppanen cycle on Claves is more my speed, both performance- and sound-wise.  Still, this new one does have some superb performances

Really great new set for me also, agree that it is preferable to the highly rated (10/10 by classics today)  Faust / Melnikov set.
Sound is best I have heard for any set, and Claves packaging is super deluxe with large digibook format with amazing B/W photos......like an art project, if I could keep only 1 set this is it!

[SonicMan46]

Really great new set for me also, agree that it is preferable to the highly rated (10/10 by classics today)  Faust / Melnikov set.
Sound is best I have heard for any set, and Claves packaging is super deluxe with large digibook format with amazing B/W photos......like an art project, if I could keep only 1 set this is it!

 

Well, I was just storing a Beethoven 'new' acquisition in my collection and noticed the Violin Sonatas that I own - just the same ones as owned back in the spring of 2007 when this thread was started! 

Way back then I was interested in a 'period instrument' performance - a small number have been mentioned - so, just curious now over 3 yrs later whether any more recent 'complete' sets, esp. as HIP performances, have appeared?  Thanks for any comments & recommendations - 

[czgirb]

As title ...
Please recommend a recordings ...
My friend recommend DGG Argrerich & Kremer ... is that right?

[Holden]

I have Grumiaux/Haskil which is excellent but the Decca  incarnation I've got has sonic issues - I believe that the Brilliant Classics issue is far better. You might also like to consider:

Claude and Pamela Frank
Perlman/Ashkenazy

If you can make up a complete set by Francescatti and Casadeus you will be well satisfied.

[Josquin des Prez]

Francescatti/Casadeus > all.

[Daverz]

I've always been happy with Casadesus/Francescatti.  It's too expensive right now, but maybe it will show up on a Sony/BMG reissue.

I haven't heard Argerich/Kremer.  I should probably rectify that.

[George]

I have Grumiaux/Haskil which is excellent but the Decca  incarnation I've got has sonic issues - I believe that the Brilliant Classics issue is far better.

Agreed on the Grumiaux/Haskil recommendation (their Mozart is even better IMO) and the poor sound on the Decca. I have read that the OOP original Philips set has the far better sound and that the Brilliant has only a bit better sound.

If you can make up a complete set by Francescatti and Casadeus you will be well satisfied.

Indeed. I also like Kremer/Argerich.

[Brahmsian]

Kremer/Argerich

[SonicMan46]

Well, I've been culling these for years - the only older set that I own is Perlman-Ashkenazy from the early 1970s.

Of newer sets acquired: Cerovsek-Jumppanen (2006) on 3 discs; and Immerseel-Schroder (1986-87) for hipsters (also 3 discs) - 


 

[Todd]

A most excellent set, and probably my favorite among the various digital versions I've heard.  Francescatti / Casadesus, though, remains my personaly favorite.  I listened to the whole cycle again a couple months ago and was reminded anew of how good it is.

[Opus106]

Few other threads to consider for opinions from members present and past, active or otherwise.

Beethoven Violin Sonatas

Beethoven Violin Sonatas

Best Beethoven Violin Sonatas [Notice the subtle but smart variation in the title.  ]

which Beethoven violin sonatas on DG?