mickj1 Posted June 20, 2008 Posted June 20, 2008 Hi Have had a pleasant late evening listening to Anne-Sophie Mutter - Beethoven violin concerto & Romances w. NYP and Kurt Masur recorded live on DG SACD. Cheers Mick
mickj1 Posted June 21, 2008 Posted June 21, 2008 Hi Currently listening to Schubert: string Quartet 14 in Dmin by Julliard String Quartet after some wonderfully light and breezy Patrick Gallois flute: flotenkonzerte aus SanSouci on DG. Cheers Mick
Geoffwiggle Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 I've recently bought two recent recordings of Beethoven piano sonatas, Paul Lewis doing some middle-period sonatas, and Jenifer Hewitt (of Bach fame) doing some early ones, including the Waldstein. Hewitt's version of Opus 10 No. 3 is astounding. I think both recordings are terrific. Lewis is definitely doing a complete Beethoven cycle, and I hope Hewitt is too. I really like clean, dynamic modern 21st Century approaches to these old repertoire war horses. Does anyone else have favorite recordings of Beethoven sonatas, both in terms of the performance and recording quality?
Keith_W Posted June 23, 2008 Author Posted June 23, 2008 Beethoven piano sonatas! My favourite subject!!! I have the Hewitt disc. She plays tastefully and in a restrained fashion, emphasizing beauty of tone. Kind of like Brendel but she's not as boring as Brendel. But I do not think she has as much insight into the music as some other interpreters. My favourite sonata interpreters would have to be Artur Schnabel and Sviatoslav Richter. The Schnabel recording (last time I checked) was $60 for 8 discs (some sonatas are missing however). The recording quality is extremely poor, but Schnabel's reading is something else. I bought my Schnabel in the mid 1990's, and several times a year I still play the whole thing from start to finish. Schnabel is very poor technically, he often slips up. When things get too complex for him he simply omits notes. But NOBODY has the same musical insight that he had - he was not afraid to thunder out fortissimos that he lacked the skill to play. One feels that he did it because he felt it was necessary, despite his own limitations as a pianist. His interpretation of the last 4 Sonatas is otherworldly, and as the Arietta from the Op. 111 draws to a close you are left with a feeling that is impossible to describe. Richter is vastly different to Schnabel. For one, he is a proper pianist and can easily play the passages that Schnabel found so difficult. His readings may not match Schnabel's in insight, but he more than makes up for it in intensity. In his slow movements Richter's metronome-perfect rhythm has a hypnotic quality, with the spell only broken by his unquestionably violent and forceful (and not to mention, breathtakingly fast) modulations. Many Richter recordings exist, but they are of variable quality. And they are getting increasingly difficult to hunt down. Other outstanding Beethoven interpreters: Walter Gieseking, Wilhelm Kempff, Emil Gilels. Some people would put Brendel up there, but I have sampled discs from both his cycles (the earlier 70's cycle and the newer 90's cycle) and I just don't "get" him. Some others would include Richard Goode but I have never heard him play so I don't know.
Audiobugged Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 Beethoven sonatas is an early favourite topic as I was made to listen to many many many versions when I was toiling away on them - My 2 cents: Favourite interpreter: Murray Perahia (less than common but my all time favourite pianist for bach, mozart, beethoven, and chopin, in that order). Touch that floats like a butterfly and (almost) stings like a bee. Almost because he lacks ultimate power but his delicacy more than makes up for it. Others: Ashkenazy - also a favourite of mine for a lot of works including, (dare i say it?) especially for beethoven Baremboim - interpretations bit staid/sterile for me, i feel his best days were when he was much younger (and debonair)... (much younger includes one of my favourite ever recordings of the mozart double piano concerto with ashkenazy) Richter - up there but not, in my opinion, preferred compared to perahia (a dangerous/contentious call given the reputation his recordings have, but hey this is my 2cents...) Brendel - don't get him either, to be unkind I find a lot of his playing quite boring, unlike... Glen Gould - hee hee... Usually you either get it or you don't. I choose not to - just enjoy his (very eccentric) playing (he didn't record the complete set but only a selection). Phenomenal technique, but everything he plays he makes his own, with the composers wishes secondary... and he frequently (but not always) gets away with it unlike some other wannabe different try-hards... Haven't heard hewitt - is it angela hewitt? (don't know a jennifer hewitt unless she's new(er) or the actress). To be honest I find Angela Hewitt's playing doesn't really grab me (speaking purely on her bach renditions as i've not heard beethoven). I don't get the "Ah ha! that was a very interesting spin on that section" Just writing off the top of my head from memory. It's been a long time since I've played/studied any of the sonatas and there may be a number of new(er) pianists that have exceptional recordings... AB
Audiobugged Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 And re-reading Keith's post, I must say that glad I'm not the only one who thinks brendel is boring...
brumby Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 Kovacevich has a complete set of the Beethoven sonatas out (2004 release) that might be interesting. I don't particularly find Brendel boring, but having said that, I don't think he's a top class Beethoven interpreter. My particular favourite for the late sonatas is Gilels. I haven't heard Parahia's Beethoven but I have two discs of him doing Schubert sonatas and he is excellent on both.
Audiobugged Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 hmm, perhaps we should have sub-thread on favourite performers for certain works... Anyone else have any opinion on beethoven sonatas - must hear recordings and why? Certain works needs to be explicit... I am the first to admit that my all time favourite pianist Perahia is my favourite only in the works that i prefer to listen to (baroque to romantic period works). His version of the Goldbergs stands to my mind, above any other version. However, in my opinion his is rather shite for late and post romantic composers (have his version of grieg's piano concerto and wish i hadn't got it... not a patch on say, Arrau's version) AB
Keith_W Posted June 23, 2008 Author Posted June 23, 2008 For the Goldbergs, I must admit I am quite partial to Andras Schiff's version. He is more Perahia-like than Perahia himself I have the Ashkenazy boxed set which I bought for cheap early in my journey. Can't understand why I bought it now ... it is the Toyota Camry of Beethoven Sonatas. Reliable, but predictable and dull.
Audiobugged Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 For the Goldbergs, I must admit I am quite partial to Andras Schiff's version. He is more Perahia-like than Perahia himself I have the Ashkenazy boxed set which I bought for cheap early in my journey. Can't understand why I bought it now ... it is the Toyota Camry of Beethoven Sonatas. Reliable, but predictable and dull. Hmm, won't buy another set of goldbergs, but will certainly look to hear Schiff's version to see what you are on about then... With Ashkenazy, i guess we must part ways here and agree to disagree... "reliable, but predictable and dull" is for me "well thought out and just right with very good execution" though i must admit that exhilaration is not something that you look to experience with Ashkenazy. For the wild ride and the "WTF!" moments... there's always glen gould (speaking of which, my interest piqued, i'm playing his recordings of the said sonatas now and... the gall of the man must have caused beethoven to turn in his grave!) AB
Super Mustud Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 For the Goldbergs, I must admit I am quite partial to Andras Schiff's version. You just saved me money! I have the Schiff Goldbergs and have always liked that cd and was thinking of trying another version. Can now not bother (well, for now, anyway). Ashkenazy a Camry! Hmm...will have to think on that one. I am quite partial to his Chopin.
Audiobugged Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 You just saved me money! I have the Schiff Goldbergs and have always liked that cd and was thinking of trying another version. Can now not bother (well, for now, anyway).Ashkenazy a Camry! Hmm...will have to think on that one. I am quite partial to his Chopin. Well, at least have a listen to the perahia version... I have that, the glen gould, and the angela hewitt. Will trade the hewitt version for your schiff since i simply cannot listen through that whole cd Hunt around also, (perhaps on you tube), in addition to the cd, I have the documentary and performance of glen gould's goldbergs (video). That was a very very inspiring video - his take on why he decided to record the goldbergs again, and how it is different this time around (his debut album was the goldbergs, and i believe this is the only piece of music that he's recorded twice). He had a stroke and died one year after this 1983 recording. Heart wrenching to watch when you realise this. A very very gifted pianist with stupendous technique (certainly not an all rounder but he can do things that no one else bothers to even attempt) who was a social miscreant and so very incredibly eccentric... AB
Super Mustud Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 Well, at least have a listen to the perahia version... I have that, the glen gould, and the angela hewitt. Will trade the hewitt version for your schiff since i simply cannot listen through that whole cd Hunt around also, (perhaps on you tube), in addition to the cd, I have the documentary and performance of glen gould's goldbergs (video). That was a very very inspiring video - his take on why he decided to record the goldbergs again, and how it is different this time around (his debut album was the goldbergs, and i believe this is the only piece of music that he's recorded twice). He had a stroke and died one year after this 1983 recording. Heart wrenching to watch when you realise this. A very very gifted pianist with stupendous technique (certainly not an all rounder but he can do things that no one else bothers to even attempt) who was a social miscreant and so very incredibly eccentric... AB You have sent me back on the hunt!
Geoffwiggle Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 AB said: "Haven't heard hewitt - is it angela hewitt? (don't know a jennifer hewitt unless she's new(er) or the actress). To be honest I find Angela Hewitt's playing doesn't really grab me (speaking purely on her bach renditions as i've not heard beethoven). I don't get the "Ah ha! that was a very interesting spin on that section" Yeah, sorry, of course it's Angela, I had a bit of a senior moment there:o I've heard quite a few of the recordings everyone has mentioned, and I still think that there is a lot to be said for Paul Lewis and Angela Hewitt's new recordings. Until near the end of the 20th Century Beethoven was approached as an unassailable genius, and I feel that many interpretations are too reverential. I like it cooler, funnier, more dynamic. I don't like it too prayerful and respectful. Beethoven was a firebrand and a stirrer, and I like more modern quirkier interpretations. Plus in later life Beethoven was deaf and a stubborn uncompromising bastard, so he didn't really care if his music was beautiful. I think performances of the late music that emphasise its difficulty, and its thorniness, are better than those that smooth it out into something acceptable. Having said that, neither Hewitt nor Lewis have released recordings of the late sonatas, so it will be interesting to see if my enthusiasm remains after they (hopefully:)) come out. BTW: great to hear other people's views, especially you guys who are all so clearly seriously into it.
hired goon Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 G'day, I have the Gould 1982 and Schiff and Perahia versions of the Goldberg. I find myself turning to the Perahia most often. I did hear the Dinnerstein a little while back and enjoyed it despite the romantic and languid reading. --Geoff
brumby Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 I'm listening to this one right now: Beautifully recorded and very fine playing. I have Schiff doing the Well Tempered Clavier. Haven't heard his Goldberg.
hired goon Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 G'day, I used to have Tatiana Nikolayeva's recording of Shostakovich's 24 Preludes And Fugues, on Melodiya. Can't find the bloody thing anymore, which is a shame as it was not a cheap set. Apparently Shostakovich was so impressed by Tatiana playing Bach's WTC in a competition that he wrote the 24 for her. And many years later she died while performing them. --Geoff
Kevin Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 G'day,I used to have Tatiana Nikolayeva's recording of Shostakovich's 24 Preludes And Fugues, on Melodiya. Can't find the bloody thing anymore, which is a shame as it was not a cheap set. Apparently Shostakovich was so impressed by Tatiana playing Bach's WTC in a competition that he wrote the 24 for her. And many years later she died while performing them. --Geoff Didn't know she died while playing the Shostakovitch - we have the Hyperion which is one of the few cds we have that has been affected by the labelling "bleeding" through - need to replace this set. The Schiff take on the Goldbergs is my go to - when in doubt play the Goldberg. I will take the recommendation on the Perahia and try that too. The Goldberg is like the Cello Suites - you can't have too many versions. Kevin
hired goon Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 G'day, Goldberg is like the Cello Suites - you can't have too many versions. I've had Yo Yo Ma's Cello Suites for years, and have probably played it twice. But there just are not enough stars in the sky to rival the number of times I've played the Goldberg Variations, Well-Tempered Clavier, or Art of Fugue. --Geoff
Keith_W Posted June 24, 2008 Author Posted June 24, 2008 Heh you sound like a man after my own heart, HG My favourites: Bach Cello Suites: Pablo Casals, Mstislav Rostropovich Well Tempered Klavier: Sviatoslav Richter, Rosalyn Tureck, Andras Schiff (and also Glenn Gould though don't like him as much). Art of Fugue: Nobody beats Glenn Gould on organ. But also - Zoltan Kocsis (surprisingly good).
JCR33 Posted June 25, 2008 Posted June 25, 2008 After unpacking some boxes and was going through some old LPs. This is quite an interesting recording by Seiji Ozawa, playing William Russo: Three Pieces for Blues Band Orchestra. Turn up the volume and close your eyes, never mind about neighbours..
jrisles Posted June 25, 2008 Posted June 25, 2008 We all know the famous Opera's of Puccini, Verdi & Handel but i think Vivaldi's Operas are so under-rated especially with arias sung so beautifully by the amazing Philippe Jaroussky. If you haven't heard this guy sing do yourself a favour and look him up on YouTube .. but better still for the greatest of fidelity get this album. Track No's 2,4 & 7 are enough to warrant the purchase. Enjoy!
Super Mustud Posted June 26, 2008 Posted June 26, 2008 BTW: great to hear other people's views, especially you guys who are all so clearly seriously into it. Geoff, do not be fooled by Keith. He has a bad ear. He has said nasty things about Karajan's Mahler 9.
brumby Posted June 26, 2008 Posted June 26, 2008 Keith - and any other Beethoven Piano Sonata fanatics out there. Has anybody heard any of the the Paul Lewis set on Harmonia Mundi? There are four multi disc sets with all 32 sonatas on them. I have read glowing and not so glowing reviews of his playing on these disks. What is unanimous is the quality of the instrument/recording, both said to be absolutely superb.
Marine Posted June 26, 2008 Posted June 26, 2008 Hi Brumby, I haven't heard Paul Lewis, but can confirm that everything I have on the Harmonia Mundi label is superbly recorded. e.g. Daniele Gatti, Andrew Manze
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