Schnabel's Hammerklavier

[IgnazPaderewski]

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?

[eddie92099]

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

[Hmoll]

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.

[IgnazPaderewski]

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.

[trunks]

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.