best recording of the Beethoven sonatas? (Read 15190 times)

sevencircles · « on: July 25, 2006, 08:22:30 PM »

What are the greatest recordings of the following Beethoven sonatas in your opinion.

Pathetique

no. 17 "Der Sturm"

Moonlight

No. 30

I havel listened to Brendel´s and Schabel´s recordings but I find them a bit overrated.

nicco · «Reply #1 on: July 25, 2006, 08:33:42 PM »

Friedrich Gulda.

Shouldnt believe that a hippie with a hat and sunglasses could play so well. But he does.

verywellmister · «Reply #2 on: July 26, 2006, 03:21:12 PM »

i'm not sure about best, but richard goode is good.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000005J2D?v=glance

kreso · «Reply #3 on: July 26, 2006, 03:30:13 PM »

Richter (op.13,op.31/2,109)
Gilels
Wilhelm Kempff
Kovachevich

sevencircles · «Reply #4 on: July 27, 2006, 04:49:54 PM »

"op.13, 31, 109"

These sonatas are the best Sonatas I have ever heard but I feel that the ultimate recording of them (Like Gould´s Goldbergvr. can be considered the ultimate recording of that piece)
is still to come.

I would like to to see Pogorelich record them.

Don´t you think he is the man for the job?

kreso · «Reply #5 on: July 27, 2006, 10:49:38 PM »

Quote from: sevencircles on July 27, 2006, 04:49:54 PM

"op.13, 31, 109"

These sonatas are the best Sonatas I have ever heard but I feel that the ultimate recording of them (Like Gould´s Goldbergvr. can be considered the ultimate recording of that piece)
is still to come.

I would like to to see Pogorelich record them.

Don´t you think he is the man for the job?

Pogorelich is apsoultly great pianist, and he played on his recital op.31/2 but I don't think that everyone would like his "new" interpretations, because he plays slower tempos and he does some "wierd" things (I canot explain that, you have to hear him live) but there are so many colors and great details that public is always fascinate with his unique aproach to the piano playing...

arensky · «Reply #6 on: July 28, 2006, 03:41:13 AM »

Quote from: sevencircles on July 25, 2006, 08:22:30 PM

What are the greatest recordings of the following Beethoven sonatas in your opinion.

Pathetique

no. 17 "Der Sturm"

Moonlight

No. 30

I havel listened to Brendel´s and Schabel´s recordings but I find them a bit overrated.

My taste in Beethoven is often controversial. E.g. I dislike many of the specialists, Schnabel being a notable exception. Antway..

"Pathetique" Horowitz

"Tempest" I enjoy Schnabel and Richter equally

"Moonlight" Casadesus

Nr. 30 Schnabel

mikey6 · «Reply #7 on: July 28, 2006, 04:02:44 AM »

Quote from: kreso on July 27, 2006, 10:49:38 PM

Pogorelich is apsoultly great pianist, and he played on his recital op.31/2 but I don't think that everyone would like his "new" interpretations, because he plays slower tempos and he does some "wierd" things (I canot explain that, you have to hear him live) but there are so many colors and great details that public is always fascinate with his unique aproach to the piano playing...

I haven't heard it, but Pogo's op.111 is apparently rather 'light' and flippant in it's emotional intensity, something I think that piece definitely can not succeed without.

alejo_90 · «Reply #8 on: July 28, 2006, 05:45:25 AM »

"Moonlight" - Gilels
"Pathétique" - Gilels
"Tempest" - Arrau
No.30 - Brendel

Best
Alex

jre58591 · «Reply #9 on: July 28, 2006, 05:49:09 AM »

moonlight - goode, brendel
appasionata - aimard
no 30 - hamelin
no 32 - hamelin
pathétique - gilels
hammerklavier - aimard

yes guys, i do like standard repertoire

da jake · «Reply #10 on: July 28, 2006, 06:16:06 AM »

Moonlight - Schnabel (perfect 1st mvt), Hofmann (Amazingly weird interp of 1st mvt), Gould (best 3rd mvt ever)
Honourable mentions to Friedman, and Gilels for all-round excellent performances

Appasionata - Gilels (live performances)

Pathetique - Horowitz. + Gould is hilarious and definitely worth hearing in this one.

Hammerklavier - Schnabel, hands down.

no 32 - Schnabel
no 30 - Schnabel

@jre: I'm very sorry my good SDC friend, but you really have to listen to the late Schnabel recordings of 30 and 32. They are available on the Great Pianists 20th Century set, and I can send them to you if you want. ...But suggesting that Hamelin is their best interpreter is a bit of a travesty.

alejo_90 · «Reply #11 on: July 28, 2006, 06:24:18 AM »

Hey Jake, have you got mp3s of any of the Live Gilels' performance of the Appassionata? Specially the one where he dispatches the 3rd movement in 4 min? Please, I would really appreciate that !

Best
Alex

da jake · «Reply #12 on: July 28, 2006, 06:29:33 AM »

As a matter of fact I do!

I'll upload the super fast Prague one, and one From the Soviet Union (which isn't much slower).

jre58591 · «Reply #13 on: July 28, 2006, 06:36:23 AM »

Quote from: da jake on July 28, 2006, 06:16:06 AM

@jre: I'm very sorry my good SDC friend, but you really have to listen to the late Schnabel recordings of 30 and 32. They are available on the Great Pianists 20th Century set, and I can send them to you if you want. ...But suggesting that Hamelin is their best interpreter is a bit of a travesty.

i stand by my statement that hamelin is the best at no 30. i am a bit iffy about no 32 though. however, i do admit to being a bit lacking in the standard rep area when it comes to choosing. do you mind posting those recs? i have got to hear those. posting the whole CD would be even greater.

alejo_90 · «Reply #14 on: July 28, 2006, 06:51:17 AM »

Quote from: da jake on July 28, 2006, 06:29:33 AM

As a matter of fact I do!

I'll upload the super fast Prague one, and one From the Soviet Union (which isn't much slower).

Thank you, thank you, thank you very much!!!! At last I can listen to Gilels' super fast Apassionata, the one from the famous 70`s recording is too slow for my taste. Thanks again.

Cheers
Alex

da jake · «Reply #15 on: July 28, 2006, 08:00:43 AM »

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=status&st=ok&ufid=934884A36E11B25A

mephisto · «Reply #16 on: July 28, 2006, 08:02:40 AM »

Difficult to say, but my favourites are:
Schnabel
Richter
Gilels
Pollini

When I saw Andsnes play opus 110 it was a really great experience for me.

sevencircles · «Reply #17 on: July 30, 2006, 10:00:15 AM »

Quote

Hammerklavier - Schnabel, hands down.

Way to sloppy to be the best!

brewtality · «Reply #18 on: July 30, 2006, 12:15:22 PM »

Quote from: sevencircles on July 30, 2006, 10:00:15 AM

Way to sloppy to be the best!

Probably true, but the slow movement is a treasure.

volodya · «Reply #19 on: July 31, 2006, 03:15:18 AM »

jre is right

hamelin has the best op. 109

superstition2 · «Reply #20 on: July 31, 2006, 03:24:25 AM »

More votes for Op. 111, please. I'm not completely happy with the recordings I have. Also, whose Tempest is the best? What about Waldenstein?

Has anyone heard Ursula Oppens' Hammerklavier? An online review said her performance is very good, but I haven't heard it.

pies · «Reply #21 on: July 31, 2006, 03:35:36 AM »

Op. 111 - I love Gould's simply because he was on crack or some other sort of stimulants while recording and doesn't play it slow like everyone else.

brewtality · «Reply #22 on: July 31, 2006, 11:14:45 AM »

for 111 I like Richter and Levy.

stucoy · «Reply #23 on: August 01, 2006, 01:55:10 PM »

I like Solomon (or (The Solemn One, as I call him ) in op.109 and op.111. Have I heard ALL the recordings of these pieces, though? Of course not. I think the problem is very few, if any, of us have heard all or nearly all the recordings of a particular piece, and even then it's subjective. I often pay attention to International Piano, because they get all the recordings they can get their hands on, then compare them blind. I seem to remember that Serkin came top in the op.111 comparison (one of his later recordings, I think). The Solemn One's recording was also highly recommended.

Appassionata - I like Arrau's live 1959 Ascona recording. Gilels's super-fast live recordings of this piece are almost comical in their intensity.

jre58591 · «Reply #24 on: August 01, 2006, 06:28:55 PM »

here is hamelin's 109. warning: highly orgasmic recording ahead.

javascript:openWindow('http://streams.wgbh.org/online/play.php?xml=clas/cmd060227hamelin.xml&template=clas',386,452);

bearzinthehood · «Reply #25 on: August 01, 2006, 07:53:06 PM »

Quote from: jre58591 on August 01, 2006, 06:28:55 PM

here is hamelin's 109. warning: highly orgasmic recording ahead.

javascript:openWindow('http://streams.wgbh.org/online/play.php?xml=clas/cmd060227hamelin.xml&template=clas',386,452);

Perhaps try this: http://streams.wgbh.org/online/play.php?xml=clas/cmd060227hamelin.xml&template=clas

jakev2.0 · «Reply #26 on: August 01, 2006, 11:24:50 PM »

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faustsaccomplice · «Reply #27 on: August 02, 2006, 12:45:43 AM »

Quote from: superstition2 on July 31, 2006, 03:24:25 AM

More votes for Op. 111, please. I'm not completely happy with the recordings I have. Also, whose Tempest is the best? What about Waldenstein?

Has anyone heard Ursula Oppens' Hammerklavier? An online review said her performance is very good, but I haven't heard it.

I'm with Brewtality on the Levy vote. I have heard very few pianists play this with the same impact. If you haven't heard it, it's well worth your time looking into.

sevencircles · «Reply #28 on: August 02, 2006, 10:01:38 AM »

Quote from: bearzinthehood on August 01, 2006, 07:53:06 PM

Perhaps try this: http://streams.wgbh.org/online/play.php?xml=clas/cmd060227hamelin.xml&template=clas

Listened to it and I think that you don´t have to go longer then this Forum to find people that can play it better.

Not much to write home about in other words

superstition2 · «Reply #29 on: August 03, 2006, 05:47:03 AM »

I don't care much for 110 at the moment. I adore 111.

dingrite · «Reply #30 on: February 06, 2016, 12:01:39 AM »

It has been 10 years since this topic has been posted.
Has anything changed over the last 10 years regarding this topic?

My opinion is that Gould plays the best 3rd Moonlight movement I have ever heard, but unfortunately the best recording of him doing so appears to be remastered, so there are some noise elements there.