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Beethoven piano sonatas

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Posted on March 22, 2015 at 08:52:45
rws
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I've been thinking about the sonatas played by Gilels, what are your thoughts on them. I currently have the set by Kempff(stereo), I know some like the mono edition better.




"Sometime I will have to give account of myself. How would the Father in heaven judge me if I followed others and not Him", Anton Bruckner

 

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Beethoven piano sonatas..., posted on March 22, 2015 at 09:36:20
musetap
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Not familiar with the Gilels.

Do like and appreciate the Kempff (also have the stereo).

My touchstone for these pieces though, are the Paul Lewis recordings.

I find them a pleasure on all levels, they flow with a beauty, passion
and "correctness" that completely works for me and connects me to
the music so naturally that I haven't ventured much beyond them for
a few years now.

Mr. Gilels' interpretations will have to continue to wait.


Not sure if any of this helps.
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

You know Schnabel's yet, posted on March 22, 2015 at 10:26:07
I'm going through the EMI lp box set right now.

Fast mov'ts are so physical and dance-like, slow mov'ts are gorgeous. Every passing mood is captured.

I also like Solomon's Hammerklavier as an alternative, and Arrau's 70's Philips op 111, for the ethereal trills.

 

RE: Beethoven piano sonatas, posted on March 22, 2015 at 10:42:14
bluemooze
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You wrote,
"I've been thinking about the sonatas played by Gilels, what are your thoughts on them..."

What are your thoughts?

 

my thoughts..., posted on March 22, 2015 at 11:07:41
rws
Audiophile

Posts: 303
Location: Minnesota
Joined: September 7, 2004
I briefly listened to a few Gilels, it has been a while, at the time they seemed got but the pace was a bit slow for me. Then I read a Penquin Guide review of Kempff and opted for those in part because Gilels was not able to record the full cycle before he died and I wanted a full cycle. Now I am thinking about Gilels again




"Sometime I will have to give account of myself. How would the Father in heaven judge me if I followed others and not Him", Anton Bruckner

 

RE: You know Schnabel's yet, posted on March 22, 2015 at 16:17:22
goldenthal
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Emphatically endorse Schnabel.


Jeremy

 

RE: Beethoven piano sonatas, posted on March 22, 2015 at 16:21:04
Utley1
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Posts: 1609
Location: NYC
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RICHTER-HAASER and Gieseking complement the great Kempff mono set: Backhaus
is a wonderful player with a brusque bar room style.. I do not like Richter Gould, and the few recorded cycles of modern players that I have heard. Over played and under thought! The best modern recordings are Charles Rosen's of late Beethoven

 

Agree about Paul Lewis, posted on March 22, 2015 at 16:25:09
Paul_A
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They speak more directly than other performances.

 

RE: my thoughts..., posted on March 23, 2015 at 00:04:42
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My feeling is that by the time he recorded the Beethoven Sonatas, Gilels had slowed down quite a bit (that seems to be your impression too), and, in terms of tempo at least, you aren't going to get too far from the moderation of Kempff (stereo, I assume?). If you want a big contrast with Kempff, there's always HJ Lim's debut recording with its rapid-fire tempos throughout, but she glosses over SO many details, that I wouldn't recommend it.

I have the complete Beethoven Sonatas played by Eric Heidsieck on French EMI - I like the set overall, but I think he's generally better in the earlier sonatas than in the later ones - he re-recorded many (all?) of these sonatas in Japan, and the one Japanese disc I heard of some of the late sonatas is pretty free-wheeling interpretively. It's certainly not for everyone. Another Japanese set I would love to hear is by the Russian pianist, Irina Mejoueva - many of her performances I've heard of other repertoire are just magical.

Other than that, I'm not too inclined to get complete recordings of the Beethoven Sonatas, so I know this post probably doesn't help you too much - sorry!

 

Also, posted on March 23, 2015 at 06:56:47
jec01
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The sound quality on the Lewis set is top notch.

Happy listening,

Jim

"The passage of my life is measured out in shirts."
- Brian Eno

 

RE: Beethoven piano sonatas, posted on March 23, 2015 at 09:56:01
bald2
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Location: Oregon
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My favorite complete set is the later Gulda. I've owned the Schnabel and Kempff mono (still have it on CD) and the stereo on LPs. Gilels, Haskil, and Richter are wonderful in certain sonatas as well...

Harry

 

RE: my thoughts..., posted on March 23, 2015 at 11:09:28
Analog Scott
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I am not a fan of complete cycles. There are too many excellent recordings that are not part of a cycle to limit the choice to complete cycles IMO. I can think of no greater example than the Beethoven piano sonatas.

 

IIRC Paul Lewis is one of Peter McGrath's favorites., posted on March 23, 2015 at 11:26:19
John Marks
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And perhaps IIRC his favorite in modern sound.

THAT SAID, I think that PMcG has a favorite pianist or recording for just about each individual Sonata.

I confess to not having a favorite complete set.

Though Philip O'Hanlon loves the SACD set by Peter Takács.

jm

 

RE: my thoughts..., posted on March 23, 2015 at 15:31:04
rws
Audiophile

Posts: 303
Location: Minnesota
Joined: September 7, 2004
Yes, I kind of knew complete sets had pitfalls, I will probably compile the better from different pianist

Bob




"Sometime I will have to give account of myself. How would the Father in heaven judge me if I followed others and not Him", Anton Bruckner

 

Yes - it's difficult to imagine living with just a complete cycle or two, posted on March 23, 2015 at 15:32:44
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I would think that supplemental individual performances of individual sonatas would be an absolute necessity, even if you did have a complete cycle too.

 

RE: my thoughts..., posted on March 23, 2015 at 15:57:36
Analog Scott
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check out Ivan Moravec

 

Have the Takács as well; prefer the Lewis... , posted on March 23, 2015 at 23:07:59
musetap
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because I just "hear" (or want to) the Lewis when listening to the Takács.

Unfair? Probably, but I don't care!

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE: Beethoven piano sonatas, posted on March 24, 2015 at 19:19:23
bald2
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Location: Oregon
Joined: January 21, 2006
Funny that no one has mentioned Claudio Arrau...

 

Why Lock Yourself Into A Single Set? Get Richter - Get Klien, posted on March 25, 2015 at 14:12:15
Mike Porper
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There are 32 sonatas. At least 3 distinct stylistic phases. I think it's too hard to get one guy to do justice to them all.

Besides, if you get one set, you'll miss out on Richter. His Beethoven is extremely great.

For the big name sonatas, I refuse to compromise, and you should too. Why? Cause there are zillions from which to choose. May's well choose the very best, and ignore the rest of the weeds and me-too's.

The very, very, very, very best?

There's only one: Walter Klien on Vox.

Super-fiery, Beethoven the revolutionary, Beethoven the heaven slayer, Beethoven from the lips of God. Leaves all the rest in the dust; makes HIPs sound like wimps.

 

RE: Beethoven piano sonatas, posted on March 25, 2015 at 21:17:03
SLee
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Annie Fischer.

 

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