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New Piano Piece by Chopin Discovered – Free Piano Score
A previously unknown manuscript by Frédéric Chopin has been discovered at New York’s Morgan Library and Museum. The handwritten score is titled “Valse” and consists of 24 bars of music in the key of A minor and is considered a major discovery in the wold of classical piano music. Read more >>

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Topic: Schnabel's Hammerklavier (Read 2687 times)

IgnazPaderewski

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Schnabel's Hammerklavier

on: December 21, 2003, 02:20:53 AM

I was listening to this the other night after hearing rave reviews from friends, and it is a MESS! the fugue in particular is a complete approximation. far better recordings are Ogdon, Solomon and live gilels (also messy, but grander and more decipherable than schnabel). Any one have any feelings on this topic?

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eddie92099

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Re: Schnabel's Hammerklavier

Reply #1 on: December 21, 2003, 07:24:12 AM

I don't think it's one of Beethoven's better pieces,
Ed

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Hmoll

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Re: Schnabel's Hammerklavier

Reply #2 on: December 21, 2003, 05:34:11 PM

Quote

I was listening to this the other night after hearing rave reviews from friends, and it is a MESS! the fugue in particular is a complete approximation. far better recordings are Ogdon, Solomon and live gilels (also messy, but grander and more decipherable than schnabel). Any one have any feelings on this topic?

Hint: technical perfection - of the sort that too many pianists today have at the expense of musical understanding (subject of another thread) - is not the reason you listen to Schnabel's Beethoven recordings.

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"I am sitting in the smallest room of my house. I have your review before me. In a moment it will be behind me!" -- Max Reger

IgnazPaderewski

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Re: Schnabel's Hammerklavier

Reply #3 on: December 21, 2003, 06:32:07 PM

However, it would be nice if we did not have to refer to the cd booklet to find out what key the fugue is in. It makes no sense when it is this overpedalled and confused.

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trunks

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Re: Schnabel's Hammerklavier

Reply #4 on: April 04, 2004, 01:26:57 AM

OMG! Schnabel on Beethoven? Almost a joke, and I'm not joking. To wrap up in one word - mechanical.

Go for Alfred Brendel, Wilhelm Kempff, Emil Gilels or even Maurizio Pollini. But please forget about Schnabel altogether, I beg you.

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Peter (Hong Kong)
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amateur classical concert pianist

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