Beethoven's Piano Sonatas

[Mandryka]

No, I haven't.  What is it like?

Oh . . . I was hoping you'd tell me.

[Brian]

It's a stretch to call it a book, as it's a Kindle Single that's only 56 pages long.
Beethoven's Shadow
A Pianist Under the Influence (his Single about Schumann)

At $1.99 each, hardly a risky investment if you have a Kindle or another device that can read Kindle files.

[NJ Joe]

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being Beethoven's Piano Sonatas. We should all be thankful for those people Sonatas who rekindle the inner spirit. -Albert Schweitzer, philosopher, physician, musician, Nobel laureate (1875-1965)

This pretty much sums it up for me since the beginning of March, when I encountered Gulda's set.  Now working my way through it for the second time.  I can barely listen to anything else!

[Coopmv]

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being Beethoven's Piano Sonatas. We should all be thankful for those people Sonatas who rekindle the inner spirit. -Albert Schweitzer, philosopher, physician, musician, Nobel laureate (1875-1965)

This pretty much sums it up for me since the beginning of March, when I encountered Gulda's set.  Now working my way through it for the second time.  I can barely listen to anything else!

I zipped through Gulda's set probably a bit too fast.  I need to find time for a second listen ...

[Oldnslow]

I just ordered the Maria Grinberg set of Beethoven sonatas, recently reissued on Melodiya.  What I heard of them on youtube sound interesting (as does her Chopin). I don't know much about her, except Wikipedia notes she had a good sense of humor (quite remarkable considering Stalin executed both her husband and father...) I believe she may be the only Soviet pianist to record all the sonatas (unless Ashkenazy is considered a Soviet).....

[Coopmv]

I just ordered the Maria Grinberg set of Beethoven sonatas, recently reissued on Melodiya.  What I heard of them on youtube sound interesting (as does her Chopin). I don't know much about her, except Wikipedia notes she had a good sense of humor (quite remarkable considering Stalin executed both her husband and father...) I believe she may be the only Soviet pianist to record all the sonatas (unless Ashkenazy is considered a Soviet).....

She was a real gutsy lady as she stood up against Uncle Joe ...

[Oldnslow]

yeah, she and Maria Yudina must have been something else. Too bad they never had a chance to put a bullet in his brain....

[Coopmv]

I just ordered the Maria Grinberg set of Beethoven sonatas, recently reissued on Melodiya.  What I heard of them on youtube sound interesting (as does her Chopin). I don't know much about her, except Wikipedia notes she had a good sense of humor (quite remarkable considering Stalin executed both her husband and father...) I believe she may be the only Soviet pianist to record all the sonatas (unless Ashkenazy is considered a Soviet).....

Is the set mono?

[Oldnslow]

No, stereo. Gramophone, April issue, replay section)  described the sound as good, with a few obvious edits.  I assume it was recorded in the 60's. The sound from  youtube clips (which has most of the sonatas or at least part of them available) seems fine.

[prémont]

I zipped through Gulda's set probably a bit too fast.  I need to find time for a second listen ...

One will always get through Gulda´s set too fast. 

[Coopmv]

One will always get through Gulda´s set too fast. 

But Gulda was not exactly a speed demon ...

[Mandryka]

But Gulda was not exactly a speed demon ...

I think his Diabelli Variations are the fastest I've heard == maybe some take less time, but I bet they take fewer repeats (like Helene  Lebebvre) I played Gulda's record recently.

Does anyone know how many times he recorded the Diabellies? Is the one that was released with the sonatas on Orfeo the same as the one on Harmonia Mundi?

[Coopmv]

I listened to Alice Sara Ott's Beethoven Sonata disc this morning and was not much impressed.  At times it sounded as if she were treading water.

I don't know.  It seems like record companies these days just want to record some young pretty face and hope the CD will sell ...

[Brian]

But Gulda was not exactly a speed demon ...

I think he means that Gulda is so good you can't stop listening.

[xochitl]

I think his Diabelli Variations are the fastest I've heard == maybe some take less time, but I bet they take fewer repeats (like Helene  Lebebvre) I played Gulda's record recently.

Does anyone know how many times he recorded the Diabellies? Is the one that was released with the sonatas on Orfeo the same as the one on Harmonia Mundi?

gulda's was the first diabelli vars i ever heard and still cant really stand any others.  too slow 

[Mandryka]

gulda's was the first diabelli vars i ever heard and still cant really stand any others.  too slow 

I enjoyed Gulda's very much. From memory Backhaus is fast too and is also good.

It turns out Gulda recorded it twice, 1970 for Harmonia Mundi and in 1957, which is the one on Orfeo. Looks like I'm going to have to get my hands on that Orfeo set after all, just for the Diabellies.

[Octave]

Oh no...am I going to have to get that whole Orfeo cycle to hear Gulda's early DIABELLIES?  Not saying I don't relish the prospect, but...this is madness.

[Mandryka]

Somebody who has the set may care to post comparing and contrasting the 1957 and the 1970.

[DavidRoss]

Somebody who has the set may care to post comparing and contrasting the 1957 and the 1970.

See http://www.magle.dk/music-forums/1016-beethoven-piano-sonata-cycle.html , post #1 & #4.

[kishnevi]

Oh no...am I going to have to get that whole Orfeo cycle to hear Gulda's early DIABELLIES?  Not saying I don't relish the prospect, but...this is madness.

Be aware that the Decca Eloquence box (Gulda spielt Beethoven), which is how I have the Orfeo cycle,  does not contain the Diabellis.

Of course, the Orfeo cycle is well worth getting even without the Diabellis.

Edited in light of Todd's response in the next post.