Best complete Beethoven piano sonatas?
Doggy
Matthew B. Tepper
news:6604a869.02031...@posting.google.com:
> What do you think is the best collection of the complete Beethoven
> sonatas? Thanks.
No, Matthew Best hasn't recorded these.
--
Matthew B. Tepper: WWW, science fiction, classical music, ducks!
My personal home page -- http://home.earthlink.net/~oy/index.html
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evan johnson
wrote:
>theartf...@bonbon.net (Doggy) wrote in
>news:6604a869.02031...@posting.google.com:
>
>> What do you think is the best collection of the complete Beethoven
>> sonatas? Thanks.
>
>No, Matthew Best hasn't recorded these.
That just gets funnier and funnier...
evan
SanV
wrote:
>What do you think is the best collection of the complete Beethoven sonatas? Thanks.
One of the best is Annie Fischer's set on Hungaroton. You can get it
for $180 at Amazon.com, $130 at Qualiton.com or for $90 at jpc.de.
I also like Daniel Barenboim's first cycle on EMI (about $60). The
cycle by Artur Schnabel, recorded in the 1930s, is very interesting,
but may not be the ideal starting point (it's available for less than
$30 at broinc.com as a 14cd set on Dante in an ok transfer, with the
complete piano concertos).
William D. Kasimer
Doggy <theartf...@bonbon.net> wrote in message
news:6604a869.02031...@posting.google.com...
> What do you think is the best collection of the complete Beethoven
sonatas? Thanks.
The topic comes up pretty frequently, so check the archives.
If you want good sound, fine performances, and a great price, visit a French
site and pick up Eric Heidsieck's set on EMI.
Bill
--
====================
William D. Kasimer
wkas...@attbi.com
wkas...@quincymc.org
Matthew B. Tepper
@news.bellatlantic.net:
Only because people keep asking the same durn question!
Tansal Arnas
6604a869.02031...@posting.google.com, "Doggy"
<theartf...@bonbon.net> wrote:
> What do you think is the best collection of the complete Beethoven sonatas?
> Thanks.
If you want good sound, I have a couple of personal recommendations.
My first complete set was Richard Goode's. Some may quibble about the way
the piano is recorded, but I think it can sound damn good depending on the
system, or a bit distant or unfocussed or whatnot on other systems. The
performances seem to me to lack any obvious eccentricities and the playing
is very nicely adjusted towards the work, alternately fiery, playful, etc.
A set that I've been in the process of rediscovering is Gilels's
(unfortunately) incomplete set. Ever since I've taken up the piano again,
I've come to find much more to love about this set than before. The pianism
is conveyed with great sensitivity, complexity, thoughtfulness, power.
Another set I like a great deal, which is considerably cheaper than the two
above, but in monaural sound, is Yves Nat's. In any case, though, once you
have a complete set, you really must complement it with some additional
recordings of particular sonatas by other pianists. I'll only mention one,
among my very favorites, Stephen Kovacevich in Philips's Great Pianists of
the 20th Century series, which is a double-disc of mostly late sonatas.
(I generally prefer this to what I've heard of his newer EMI cycle.)
Tansal
Thomas Muething
>What do you think is the best collection of the complete Beethoven sonatas? Thanks.
>
Friedrich Gulda's set. Superb reading, rather constrained sound.
Thomas
Buzz Kutt
the newest Stephen Kovacevich on EMI.
Buzz
Matthew Silverstein
> That just gets funnier and funnier...
MBT replied:
> Only because people keep asking the same durn question!
Matthew, meet sarcasm. Sarcasm, Matthew.
Matty
vladimir
>6604a869.02031...@posting.google.com, "Doggy"
><theartf...@bonbon.net> wrote:
>
>> What do you think is the best collection of the complete Beethoven
sonatas?
>> Thanks.
>
>the piano is recorded, but I think it can sound damn good depending on the
>system, or a bit distant or unfocussed or whatnot on other systems. The
>performances seem to me to lack any obvious eccentricities and the playing
>is very nicely adjusted towards the work, alternately fiery, playful, etc.
>
including those by Annie Fischer, Schnabel, Arrau, Kempff(II), Perl, Kuerti,
Ashkenazy, or Brendel (I). The only set I liked less than Goode's was
Claude Frank's. Nikolayeva's is awful too, because of her technical
problems, but at least she made it interesting. Still haven't heard Nat's,
Heisdieck's or much of Gulda's (but I liked what I did hear of Gulda's.)
Calm down, Ray Hall!
Goode's seems unspirited to me, very tame. Try Schnabel on Dante, or Annie
Fischer on Hugaroton.
- Phil Caron
John Grabowski
They're already well-acquainted...
John
--
We may see the small value God has for riches by the people he gives
them to. --Alexander Pope
John Grabowski
> On 3/12/02 6:25 PM, in article
> 6604a869.02031...@posting.google.com, "Doggy"
> <theartf...@bonbon.net> wrote:
>
>
>>What do you think is the best collection of the complete Beethoven sonatas?
>>Thanks.
>>
>
> If you want good sound, I have a couple of personal recommendations.
>
> My first complete set was Richard Goode's. Some may quibble about the way
> the piano is recorded...
I quibble about the way the piano is *played.* Recording is fine.
Tansal Arnas
TQNj8.365551$Aw2.30...@bin7.nnrp.aus1.giganews.com, "vladimir"
<vlad...@vermontel.net> wrote:
> For me Goode's set is less appealing than almost any other set I've heard,
> including those by Annie Fischer, Schnabel, Arrau, Kempff(II), Perl, Kuerti,
> Ashkenazy, or Brendel (I). The only set I liked less than Goode's was
> Claude Frank's. Nikolayeva's is awful too, because of her technical
> problems, but at least she made it interesting. Still haven't heard Nat's,
> Heisdieck's or much of Gulda's (but I liked what I did hear of Gulda's.)
> Calm down, Ray Hall!
>
> Goode's seems unspirited to me, very tame. Try Schnabel on Dante, or Annie
> Fischer on Hugaroton.
I also own Schnabel, Kempff(II), and have a cross section of Kovacevich
(EMI), Fischer (Hungaroton), Pollini (DG), and a few others here and there,
including Fischer's earlier EMI recordings and Kovacevich's earlier Philips.
I prefer these earlier ones to the later ones they did, and in general,
though I appreciate Fischer's playing, ultimately it does not give me as
much pleasure as some others. Schnabel may be disqualified as a starter set
due to sound. Kempff was my second set, and I must say that I never really
adjusted to it favorably. There is some very good playing, it's generally
not how I like my Beethoven. I'd be curious to know more about some of the
pianists you mention: Arrau, Brendel, especially, and Kuerti, Perl, both of
whom I'm unfamiliar with. Not too interested in Ashkenazy, unless it's mind
bogglingly great. I've already got some wonderful historic recordings with
Petri and Gieseking as well, nearly forgot about those.
Tansal
notrump15-17
"Thomas Muething" <tmue...@t-online.de> wrote in message
news:3C8F11B5...@t-online.de...
Philip Peters
Doggy wrote:
>What do you think is the best collection of the complete Beethoven sonatas? Thanks.
>
This has been the subject of many threads here. You can find them
archived at Google.
You can also safely go out and buy Schnabel ;))
Philip
>
vladimir
variable sound. When he's good I really like what Ashkenazy does, but
sometimes he maddens me with strange rubatos and rhythms. He did some of
his best work in some of the "name" sonatas.
Brendel (i) on Vox is also variable in the same ways, though his whole
approach is entirely different that Ashkenazy's. He's good at expressing
the wit in Beethoven's music, and sometimes the drama. Sometimes his left
hand gets pretty muddy, especially when you listen to, say, Richter
immediately afterwards. :-)
Perl is pretty consistent, in a way; he gets better as the series goes on,
and seems at his best in some of the later sonatas and especially the
Diabelli Variations. At times in the early sonatas he's pretty bland.
Kuerti is interesting, but quirky. He chooses slower tempi a lot, and
phrases things in unexpected ways, ditto articulations. He's got an odd,
wooly sound (from pedalling I think) that takes some getting used to. But I
enjoy quite a few of his performances in his set.
Arrau is consistently . . . . Arrau. Good or better sound, nothing fast,
nothing frenetic, nothing witty, but big, serious, robust interpretations.
Good drama based on his excellent rhythmic sense and control of dynamics.
Good lyrical playing. I like Arrau, and have returned to his performances
fairly often. Not for everyone though.
A lot of Gilels on DG is good, especially when followed closely, but his
understated (for the most part) approach is not what I prefer. Some of
Gould's versions are spectacularly good (Op. 78) and some are unbelievably
awful (Op. 57). Edwin Fischer is God.
- Phil Caron
Matthew B. Tepper
@earthlink.net:
> Matthew Silverstein wrote:
>
>> Evan wrote:
>>
>>
>>>That just gets funnier and funnier...
>>>
>>
>> MBT replied:
>>
>>
>>>Only because people keep asking the same durn question!
>>>
>>
>> Matthew, meet sarcasm. Sarcasm, Matthew.
>
>
> They're already well-acquainted...
Silverstein, meet nuisance. Nuisance, Silverstein.
Rob N
You can purchase the complete Schnabel set at www.broinc.com for under
$30. This is the 'best set' with acceptable sound and an absolutely
ridiculous price. Get it now!
Beethoven, The 5 Piano Concerti {w.London Symph./ Sargent + 2nd
version of 5th concerto w.Philharmonia/ Galliera}; The 32 Sonatas;
'Eroica' & 'Diabelli' Variations; Variations Op.34; Bagatelles Opp.36
& 126; Fantasie Op.77; Fur Elise. (Artur Schnabel)
Add to cart | Price: $27.86 | 14 in set. | Country: FRANCE | D/A code:
M | Code: HPC 107/20 | BRO Code: 61242 | Label: DANTE
Rob N
Lena
> Doggy <theartf...@bonbon.net> wrote in message
> news:6604a869.02031...@posting.google.com...
>
> > What do you think is the best collection of the complete Beethoven
> sonatas? Thanks.
>
> The topic comes up pretty frequently, so check the archives.
>
> If you want good sound, fine performances, and a great price, visit a French
> site and pick up Eric Heidsieck's set on EMI.
Heidsieck is not a bad choice for a first set of Beethoven sonatas,
though my recommendation wouldn't be entirely wholehearted.
The set is cheap, the phrasing is ungimmicky but not understated, with
lively use of dynamics. On the negative side, there is (sometimes)
considerable rhythmic squareness in the playing, and many sonatas
don't seem to rise above a kind of average (but complete sets tend to
be like this). But it's still quite good.
You can get this for example from www.amazon.fr for under $30.
(Sound clips also available)
One could start with Heidsieck, because it's so cheap, then
investigate individual sonatas with different performers. But: if
you can tolerate very bad sound, I might go directly for Schnabel
and supplement it with another set of late sonatas.
For Schnabel the least lossy transfer is Pearl (expensive); an
inexpensive one (Dante) available at www.broinc.com .
Lena
DSTOL
Piano Sonatas, recorded in the seventies.
vladimir
>I like Best kosher meat products...I also like Pollini's DG set of
Beethoven
>Piano Sonatas, recorded in the seventies.
>
Buzz Kutt
the Beethoven piano sonatas I would recommend the CD with the three
Op. 31 sonatas. These are arguably the greatest interpretations of
these works ever put on disk. Listen to the last movement of the
"Tempest" sonata for an example of how this pianist reinvents rather
than simply reinterprets the music: thrilling, dangerous,
intellectually searching and ultimately deeply satisfying. Not that
there aren't some marvelous recordings of this sonata (Solomon, Gilels
both come to mind) but none of them benefit from such superb sound or
such a bold approach.
Buzz
Tansal Arnas
bb94eb50.02031...@posting.google.com, "Buzz Kutt"
<buzzku...@yahoo.com> wrote:
I too believe this disc to be the highlight so far.
Tansal
william d. kasimer
> The set is cheap, the phrasing is ungimmicky but not understated, with
> lively use of dynamics. On the negative side, there is (sometimes)
> considerable rhythmic squareness in the playing, and many sonatas
> don't seem to rise above a kind of average (but complete sets tend to
> be like this). But it's still quite good.
I agree with most of this, but as you suggest, it's one of the better
"completes" in modern sound, certainly better than the majority of the
more popular and much more expensive sets, like Brendel, Goode,
Ashkenazy, Barenboim, Kempff. I've yet to hear the Gulda set, except
for a few of the sonatas.
> One could start with Heidsieck, because it's so cheap, then
> investigate individual sonatas with different performers. But: if
> you can tolerate very bad sound, I might go directly for Schnabel
> and supplement it with another set of late sonatas.
Or all of the above. I started (after a very disappointing false
start with Ashkenazy's set) by buying both Schnabel and Heidsieck -
the total cost was under $60.
> For Schnabel the least lossy transfer is Pearl (expensive); an
> inexpensive one (Dante) available at www.broinc.com .
The Pearl has become quite difficult to find, and it appears that it
may be going out of print. Does anyone know where I might find a copy
of Pearl volume 2?
Bill
Lenya Ryzhik
On 15 Mar 2002, william d. kasimer wrote:
> The Pearl has become quite difficult to find, and it appears that it
> may be going out of print. Does anyone know where I might find a copy
> of Pearl volume 2?
>
> Bill
>
It did show up at Berkshire a couple of times, may be it will reappear.
Lenya
Matthew B. Tepper
news:20020315033859...@mb-mc.aol.com:
> I like Best kosher meat products...I also like Pollini's DG set of
> Beethoven Piano Sonatas, recorded in the seventies.
Empire chicken for me. Do you mean Pollini's lates? I loved those.
Lena
[Heidsieck]
> I agree with most of this, but as you suggest, it's one of the better
> "completes" in modern sound, certainly better than the majority of the
> more popular and much more expensive sets, like Brendel, Goode,
> Ashkenazy, Barenboim, Kempff.
Yes... (Or I should I guess only agree where I've heard the other set;
but where I haven't, I've at least heard enough excerpts to not have a
burning desire to acquire more...)
> I've yet to hear the Gulda set, except for a few of the sonatas.
Gulda is good; depending on taste of course. (But I'm guessing you
might like most of it, based on what you like generally.)
> > One could start with Heidsieck, because it's so cheap, then
> > investigate individual sonatas with different performers. But: if
> > you can tolerate very bad sound, I might go directly for Schnabel
> > and supplement it with another set of late sonatas.
>
> Or all of the above. I started (after a very disappointing false
> start with Ashkenazy's set) by buying both Schnabel and Heidsieck -
> the total cost was under $60.
Your idea of buying both Schnabel and Heidsieck is a very good
one. I never thought of it, but it might actually be an excellent
first solution for a lot of people.
> > For Schnabel the least lossy transfer is Pearl (expensive); an
> > inexpensive one (Dante) available at www.broinc.com .
>
> The Pearl has become quite difficult to find, and it appears that it
> may be going out of print. Does anyone know where I might find a copy
> of Pearl volume 2?
Amazon seems to claim they have it. The truly hard to find one is
Vol. 4 (I could never find it). Lenya is right; these were at
Berkshire at one point. (Though they disappeared fast...)
Lena
Lena
> What do you think is the best collection of the complete Beethoven sonatas?
So where's Simon? I slightly miss his thoughts. (On any subject.)
Lena
William D. Kasimer
Lena <len...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:6b33de45.0203...@posting.google.com...
> So where's Simon?
Probably out buying another complete set or two...
Richard Loeb
"Rob N" <rt...@swbell.net> wrote in message
news:94d8a871.02031...@posting.google.com...
Bob Lombard
wrote:
France, where his licentiousness doesn't harm his rep.
bl
Simon Roberts
Sitting in a cybercafe (or whatever they're called) next to the new HMV on
Oxford Street.
Simon
Steve Smith
news:Pine.LNX.4.33.020315...@otepaa.uchicago.edu...
And if it doesn't, MOT is about to start doing the whole series for Naxos.
I found the sound quality on the Pearl sets revelatory, but I can imagine
that Mark will do as well or better.
Steve
bal...@australia.edu
> On 3/12/02 6:25 PM, in article
> 6604a869.02031...@posting.google.com, "Doggy"
> <theartf...@bonbon.net> wrote:
> have a complete set, you really must complement it with some additional
> recordings of particular sonatas by other pianists. I'll only mention one,
> among my very favorites, Stephen Kovacevich in Philips's Great Pianists of
> the 20th Century series, which is a double-disc of mostly late sonatas.
> (I generally prefer this to what I've heard of his newer EMI cycle.)
>
> Tansal
Did Kovacevich record a complete cycle for Philips?
Cheers
Baldric
Lena
I would have hoped at least a cyberpatisserie...
Lena
Simon Roberts
me:
>>
>> Sitting in a cybercafe (or whatever they're called) next to the new HMV on
>> Oxford Street.
>
>I would have hoped at least a cyberpatisserie...
>
Not a good idea to eat puff pasty while reading, say, a post by bl....
Simon
Simon Roberts
wrote:
>
>
>Did Kovacevich record a complete cycle for Philips?
>
No; the Beethoven sonatas in the GPOC series are all he recorded (or at
least all that were released).
Simon
Nicolas Hodges
>> > For Schnabel the least lossy transfer is Pearl (expensive); an
>> > inexpensive one (Dante) available at www.broinc.com .
>>
>> The Pearl has become quite difficult to find, and it appears that it
>> may be going out of print. Does anyone know where I might find a copy
>> of Pearl volume 2?
>
>Amazon seems to claim they have it. The truly hard to find one is
>Vol. 4 (I could never find it).
MDT seems to list it for UKP19 (search on GEMMCD9139).
--
Nic
I reserve the right to use irony and obscure forms of humour without warning
John Grabowski
Be aware the sound on that set is not very good.
John
--
Human history becomes more and more a race between education and
catastrophe. --H.G. Wells
Frank Ulbricht
jean-bernard pommier is a very interessting beethoven player (a former
studenz of Yves Nat)...he has a great view for the structure and brings the
structure to life...not to mention his fabulous technique...he recorded all
the sonatas for erato in the 90s...
and yes ladies and gentleman---Crucify me: I love the beethoven of Glenn
Gould!!!
Call me Crazy call me Pervert---he had a great understanding for every
composition he played...very extreme---but beethoven was extreme
hisself--and i think he would have drank a beer with olĀ“glenn gould and
laugh about the "right" interpretation.
:-)
have a nice day
frank
"John Grabowski" <jg...@earthlink.net> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
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