Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
Pristine Classical release: Backhaus Beethoven Edition 2 - Sonatas 5-9
21 views
Skip to first unread message
Andrew Rose
Feb 10, 2012, 10:41:07 AM2/10/12
to
This release follows last week's much-discussed Volume 1, Sonatas 1-4.
BEETHOVEN Piano Sonatas 5-9
Wilhelm Backhaus piano
Web page:
http://www.pristineclassical.com/Covers/PAKM052.pdf
Short notes
Here is the second volume of our major new series at Pristine, as we
exhume, dust off and - finally - restore to the catalogue Wilhelm
Backhaus's ground-breaking, and only complete, cycle of Beethoven Piano
Sonatas as part of our Backhaus Beethoven Edition for 2012.
These early 1950s recordings, the first complete Beethoven sonata cycle
on LP, were hailed in their day and remain something of a bone of
contention today for collectors and music-lovers - a later, incomplete
stereo re-recording led to the mono originals being dropped from the
catalogue, and they've rarely been seen since outside of a pricey and
hard-to-obtain Japanese issue.
Now available in 32-bit XR remasters that blow some of the cobwebs off
these wonderful recordings, we invite you to listen once more to some of
the finest recordings ever made by one of the great Beethoven
interpreters of the recording age.
Notes On this recording
Gramophone's reviewer in 1951 (below) notes some blasting on louder
passages on his LP copy, and likewise I had to deal with shortcomings of
the recording which I firmly ascribe to the early tape system in use -
which was much improved by November 1953 for the later three recordings
in this volume. Whether or not the reviewer was hearing disc blasting,
there was often a tendency towards a mushy kind of tape hiss to surround
the upper frequencies of louder notes and chords, and I've spent a lot
of time removing or taming these.
Elsewhere, pitch has once again been susprisingly variable, both in
terms of overall tuning, and in clear issues with both tape machines and
editing, all of which can now be remedied. Sound quality was generally
good - my aim here, which I feel has been achieved, has been to clarify
the piano tone whilst reducing background noise and hiss.
Andrew Rose
Review in The Gramophone
The classical, precise, authoritative Backhaus is presented here with
uncommonly lifelike quality. He has his minor erraticisms, but they are
no more than a part of the person who is presenting a great master for
our full attention. Backhaus's own intense conviction of the composer's
mastery fully overcomes any doubts one might have about the music. In
truth,, not one of these three sonatas is of great magnitude-that in G
major (op. 79), Beethoven himself entitled " sonate facile ou
sonatine.", The other two are early works from before the turn of the
century.
I have never understood the ways-so different-in which performers treat
repeat marks in gramophone recordings, though I am not unaware of the
exigencies of the stop-watch. It would appear logical to perform either
all or none of the composer's own repeating instructions. I can see no
justification for repeating the exposition in a first movement and not
the remainder. In these recordings, the repeat marks are treated with a
gallant air, used when and how the performer wishes, like a pair of
gloves on the way to an evening party.
The dry tone that Backhaus naturally produces was a disadvantage, I
felt, in the second movement of Op. 10, No. 2: the first was excellent.
The presto was very exact and amusing-perhaps a little too
good-tempered. No. i of the same opus is treated with restraint, in a
narrative rather than a dramatic style. The adagio motto is superb
-worth all the rest of this performance put together ! I like the
brittle, guitarry effect Backhaus creates for the opening movement of
Op. 79: it has a kind of peasant air about it. The andante is taken well
under walking pace, and I could bear the vivace finale more headlong.
From this disc I had slight trouble with blast, which remained even if
one turned the dynamics down. Backhaus's percussive style need not lead
to this fault.
H.F. The Gramophone, October 1951
(Reviewing LXT2603, Sonatas Nos 5, 6, 25)
MP3 Sample 8th Sonata, 1st mvt.
http://tinyurl.com/PAKM052
BEETHOVEN Piano Sonatas 5-9
Wilhelm Backhaus piano
Web page:
http://www.pristineclassical.com/Covers/PAKM052.pdf
Short notes
Here is the second volume of our major new series at Pristine, as we
exhume, dust off and - finally - restore to the catalogue Wilhelm
Backhaus's ground-breaking, and only complete, cycle of Beethoven Piano
Sonatas as part of our Backhaus Beethoven Edition for 2012.
These early 1950s recordings, the first complete Beethoven sonata cycle
on LP, were hailed in their day and remain something of a bone of
contention today for collectors and music-lovers - a later, incomplete
stereo re-recording led to the mono originals being dropped from the
catalogue, and they've rarely been seen since outside of a pricey and
hard-to-obtain Japanese issue.
Now available in 32-bit XR remasters that blow some of the cobwebs off
these wonderful recordings, we invite you to listen once more to some of
the finest recordings ever made by one of the great Beethoven
interpreters of the recording age.
Notes On this recording
Gramophone's reviewer in 1951 (below) notes some blasting on louder
passages on his LP copy, and likewise I had to deal with shortcomings of
the recording which I firmly ascribe to the early tape system in use -
which was much improved by November 1953 for the later three recordings
in this volume. Whether or not the reviewer was hearing disc blasting,
there was often a tendency towards a mushy kind of tape hiss to surround
the upper frequencies of louder notes and chords, and I've spent a lot
of time removing or taming these.
Elsewhere, pitch has once again been susprisingly variable, both in
terms of overall tuning, and in clear issues with both tape machines and
editing, all of which can now be remedied. Sound quality was generally
good - my aim here, which I feel has been achieved, has been to clarify
the piano tone whilst reducing background noise and hiss.
Andrew Rose
Review in The Gramophone
The classical, precise, authoritative Backhaus is presented here with
uncommonly lifelike quality. He has his minor erraticisms, but they are
no more than a part of the person who is presenting a great master for
our full attention. Backhaus's own intense conviction of the composer's
mastery fully overcomes any doubts one might have about the music. In
truth,, not one of these three sonatas is of great magnitude-that in G
major (op. 79), Beethoven himself entitled " sonate facile ou
sonatine.", The other two are early works from before the turn of the
century.
I have never understood the ways-so different-in which performers treat
repeat marks in gramophone recordings, though I am not unaware of the
exigencies of the stop-watch. It would appear logical to perform either
all or none of the composer's own repeating instructions. I can see no
justification for repeating the exposition in a first movement and not
the remainder. In these recordings, the repeat marks are treated with a
gallant air, used when and how the performer wishes, like a pair of
gloves on the way to an evening party.
The dry tone that Backhaus naturally produces was a disadvantage, I
felt, in the second movement of Op. 10, No. 2: the first was excellent.
The presto was very exact and amusing-perhaps a little too
good-tempered. No. i of the same opus is treated with restraint, in a
narrative rather than a dramatic style. The adagio motto is superb
-worth all the rest of this performance put together ! I like the
brittle, guitarry effect Backhaus creates for the opening movement of
Op. 79: it has a kind of peasant air about it. The andante is taken well
under walking pace, and I could bear the vivace finale more headlong.
From this disc I had slight trouble with blast, which remained even if
one turned the dynamics down. Backhaus's percussive style need not lead
to this fault.
H.F. The Gramophone, October 1951
(Reviewing LXT2603, Sonatas Nos 5, 6, 25)
MP3 Sample 8th Sonata, 1st mvt.
http://tinyurl.com/PAKM052
Andrew Rose
Feb 10, 2012, 10:44:28 AM2/10/12
to
On 10/02/2012 16:41, Andrew Rose wrote:
> This release follows last week's much-discussed Volume 1, Sonatas 1-4.
>
>
> BEETHOVEN Piano Sonatas 5-9
> Wilhelm Backhaus piano
>
>
>
> Web page:
> http://www.pristineclassical.com/Covers/PAKM052.pdf
Oops - that web page isn't a PDF! Try here:
> This release follows last week's much-discussed Volume 1, Sonatas 1-4.
>
>
> BEETHOVEN Piano Sonatas 5-9
> Wilhelm Backhaus piano
>
>
>
> Web page:
> http://www.pristineclassical.com/Covers/PAKM052.pdf
http://www.pristineclassical.com/LargeWorks/Keyboard/PAKM052.php
Andrew Fell
Feb 12, 2012, 2:03:19 AM2/12/12
to
On Feb 10, 11:41 pm, Andrew Rose <and...@pristineaudio.com> wrote:
> This release follows last week's much-discussed Volume 1, Sonatas 1-4.
To my recollection it wasn't volume 1 which was much-discussed. It was
> This release follows last week's much-discussed Volume 1, Sonatas 1-4.
Backhaus's recordings, their availabilty, and the pointlessness and
dishonesty of Andrew Rose's work.
Andrew Rose
Feb 12, 2012, 4:42:01 AM2/12/12
to
pianomaven
Feb 12, 2012, 7:36:11 AM2/12/12
to
TD
bassppn
Feb 12, 2012, 11:20:48 AM2/12/12
to
when someone points out a foolish statement from you, you never
respond and acknowledge......... (like the recent bassoon-vibrato
fiasco coming from your pen)
AB
wagnerfan
Feb 12, 2012, 11:33:31 AM2/12/12
to
On Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:20:48 -0800 (PST), bassppn <abac...@att.net>
wrote:
Gotta love Leakin - he does provide us all with so much humor. I
suppose its not right to enjoy of one life's great losers so much but
he just keeps coming back giving us more to savor and appreciate. Just
wish it wasn't all so predictable I guess thats what come with
advanced age. Wagner fan
wrote:
suppose its not right to enjoy of one life's great losers so much but
he just keeps coming back giving us more to savor and appreciate. Just
wish it wasn't all so predictable I guess thats what come with
advanced age. Wagner fan
bassppn
Feb 12, 2012, 8:06:47 PM2/12/12
to
On Feb 12, 11:33 am, wagnerfan <ivanmax...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:20:48 -0800 (PST), bassppn <abachr...@att.net>
> advanced age. Wagner fan- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
hey watch it........ I am no spring chicken either:-)
AB
> On Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:20:48 -0800 (PST), bassppn <abachr...@att.net>
>
> - Show quoted text -
hey watch it........ I am no spring chicken either:-)
AB
wagnerfan
Feb 12, 2012, 8:16:23 PM2/12/12
to
On Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:06:47 -0800 (PST), bassppn <abac...@att.net>
wrote:
Not to worry - "old" means much more than just age. In your case,
you're just fine. As for Leakin - he was always old. Wagner fan
wrote:
you're just fine. As for Leakin - he was always old. Wagner fan
pianomaven
Feb 12, 2012, 8:45:14 PM2/12/12
to
On Feb 12, 8:16 pm, wagnerfan <ivanmax...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:06:47 -0800 (PST), bassppn <abachr...@att.net>
You'll never age. Once a child, always a child.
Poor little Dickey. Needs another golden shower right about now.
Open up, sweetheart.
TD
> On Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:06:47 -0800 (PST), bassppn <abachr...@att.net>
Poor little Dickey. Needs another golden shower right about now.
Open up, sweetheart.
TD
pianomaven
Feb 12, 2012, 8:44:06 PM2/12/12
to
TD
Andrew Fell
Feb 23, 2012, 9:10:23 PM2/23/12
to
desecration of music and you revolting marketing spiel.
Dumbarton Oaks
Feb 24, 2012, 7:32:49 AM2/24/12
to
> We know you're a plonker, Rose. What troubles us more is your
> desecration of music and you revolting marketing spiel.
bassppn
Feb 24, 2012, 8:54:49 AM2/24/12
to
cases, yes, but dishonest?
AB
wagnerfan
Feb 24, 2012, 9:07:56 AM2/24/12
to
bassppn
Feb 24, 2012, 8:52:08 AM2/24/12
to
>
> - Show quoted text -
only a 'baffoon'? also, maybe a baboon........... TD, cut down on the
> - Show quoted text -
alcohol before you destroy your beloved liver.
AB
Message has been deleted
George
Feb 24, 2012, 10:12:16 AM2/24/12
to
On Feb 24, 9:32 am, themusicparlour <tin...@ymail.com> wrote:
> Again, he hasn't damaged the sound (presumably obtained from the LP
> included in the re-issue box).
Then you've found an exception. Mr. Rose's work has always sounded
processed and unnatural. With the piano, I think it's best to try and
remain as faithful to the source as possible, rather than trying to
"improve" it with noise reduction, weird EQ, etc.
George
> Again, he hasn't damaged the sound (presumably obtained from the LP
> included in the re-issue box).
Then you've found an exception. Mr. Rose's work has always sounded
processed and unnatural. With the piano, I think it's best to try and
remain as faithful to the source as possible, rather than trying to
"improve" it with noise reduction, weird EQ, etc.
George
Message has been deleted
0 new messages