who do you think plays beethoven the best?

[zemos]

there are many performers to beethoven's pieces.
the most important are his sonatas, concertos and variations.
who do you think is the best beethoven's performer?

[cziffra777]

there are many performers to beethoven's pieces.
the most important are his sonatas, concertos and variations.
who do you think is the best beethoven's performer?

It depends on the piece.

[jon]

I havn't heard alot of Beethoven sonata recordings but the recording of the moonlight appassionata and pathetique sonatas by Jeno Jando are amazing.It sounds like it comes so natural for him and he really expresses himself.

[ahmedito]

Brendel, Mayra Hess, Arrau, Gilels, Schnabel.... there are so many.

Actually, one of my favourites is little known, because she never wanted them to be published (they were issued after her death). The Annie Fischer studio sessions. They are incredible.

[paris]

i totaly agree with you jon, jeno jando-what a beautiful performance. but you didn't add moonlight sonata  
GORGEUS

[bernhard]

Claudio Arrau.

Then

Wilhelm Kempf
Wilhelm Backhaus
Anton Kuerti
Alfred Brendel
Stephen Kovacevich
Arthur Schnabel
Richard Goode
Yves Nat
Solomon
Annie Fischer
Myra Hess
Rudolf Serkin
John Lill
Louis Lortie
Emil Gilels

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[cziffra777]

Since others are just giving a list of their favorite Beethoven performers, I might as well add mine. I like recordings by the following pianists: Neuhaus, Yudina, Michelangeli, Schnabel, Levy, Sofronitsky, Nat, Rosen, Kovacevich, Cziffra, Sokolov, Fiorentino, Richter, Horowitz, Casadesus and Jacobs. I'm probably forgetting a few, but that's all I can come up with right now.

[donjuan]

Since others are just giving a list of their favorite Beethoven performers, I might as well add mine. I like recordings by the following pianists: Neuhaus, Yudina, Michelangeli, Schnabel, Levy, Sofronitsky, Nat, Rosen, Kovacevich, Cziffra, Sokolov, Fiorentino, Richter, Horowitz, Casadesus and Jacobs. I'm probably forgetting a few, but that's all I can come up with right now.

Cziffra is my all time favorite pianist, but he REALLY cannot play Beethoven or Chopin Waltzes.  They are disgusting..

I like Vladimir Ashkenazy, Stephen Kovacevich, and Jeno Jando, but not Alfred Brendel.

donjuan

[bernhard]

Cziffra is my all time favorite pianist, but he REALLY cannot play Beethoven or Chopin Waltzes.  They are disgusting..

I like Vladimir Ashkenazy, Stephen Kovacevich, and Jeno Jando, but not Alfred Brendel.

donjuan

Brendel is not one of my favourite pianists either, but his Beethoven is very good.

[allchopin]

Goode is good, Brendel is almost there, Gilels

[nick]

I agree most with DonJuan's list. And Barenboin uses too much pedal.
Nick

[aki]

Hey, what about Daniel Barenboim? He's really good with Beethoven.

[Max]

Richter plays good Beethoven.

[zemos]

well, i see that there's a lot of disagreeing here, each person likes an other pianist, and some like much.
i like barenboim much.
brendel is incredible in the last piano sonatas.
kempff isn't stabled sometimes and often doesn't accurate.

[donjuan]

Actually, now I think Artur Rubinstein plays the best Beethoven.  have you heard his recording of Piano concerto No.4?  It is so intimate and emotional.

[JK]

I agree that Rubinsteins 4th concerto recording is fantastic, everything just seems to make sense. I also like Caudio Arrau very much as well, his recordings of the 4th and 5th concertos are very good indeed, as are the recordings of the sonatas that I have heard. I also think Baremboim is very good.

However my favourite is a less well known English pianist called Bernhard Roberts, he is very well known for his interpretations of Beethoven and as I understand has taught at the Royal Accademy of Music in London until recently. His set are on Nimbus records and I have even heard that he recorded them without any editing so everything that you hear is what he played! I would strongly recommend this recording, the sound is very good and the performances are excellent in my opinion.

[zhiliang]

Actually, now I think Artur Rubinstein plays the best Beethoven.  have you heard his recording of Piano concerto No.4?  It is so intimate and emotional.

Yes i love his Beethoven's 4th, Were you referring to the one with Erich Leinsdorf, Sir Thomas Beecham, or the later cycle with Daniel Barenboim? Think he recorded it with Dimitri Mitropoulos too.

I love Richter's Appassionata, Edwin Fischer Emperor Concerto, Arrau's Emperor Concerto, Gilels's Piano Sonatas.

Anyone heard Schnabel's recordings of Beethoven?

[donjuan]

Yes i love his Beethoven's 4th, Were you referring to the one with Erich Leinsdorf, Sir Thomas Beecham, or the later cycle with Daniel Barenboim? Think he recorded it with Dimitri Mitropoulos too.

Cant remember..

[thracozaag]

there are many performers to beethoven's pieces.
the most important are his sonatas, concertos and variations.
who do you think is the best beethoven's performer?

 For the Sonatas: Yves Nat, Annie Fischer, Gilels.
Concerto #1: ABM
Concerto #2: Kapell
Concerto #3: Rubinstein
Concerto #4: Kempff, Hansen
Concerto #5: Edwin Fischer

[zhiliang]

 For the Sonatas: Yves Nat, Annie Fischer, Gilels.

I thought Yves Nat rushed through the sonatas?

[thracozaag]

I thought Yves Nat rushed through the sonatas?

 If by rush, you mean has rhythmic vitality, then yes.

koji (STSD)

[zhiliang]

 If by rush, you mean has rhythmic vitality, then yes.

koji (STSD)

Haha i mean rush as in.... err..... rush... lol

[chopinsetude]

Claudio Arrau and Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli.

[zemos]

have anyone heard about Krystian Zimmerman? he plays the concertos wonderfully.

[nick]

author=zemos link=board=perf;num=1094822522;start=0#23 date=09/14/04 at 20:46:43]have anyone heard about Krystian Zimmerman? he plays the concertos wonderfully.

Yes. The Chopin concertos are wonderful, but I have not heard him play Beethoven. Get a recording of Michelangeli. He is tremendous. Ive seen a recording and talk about economy of motion!

Nick

[zemos]

Yes. The Chopin concertos are wonderful, but I have not heard him play Beethoven.

true, i think he's also the best of chopin hehe... i have the concertos, balladas, scherzi and sonatas by him and he is the best.
i have all of the concertos of beethoven played by him (with Leonard Bernstein and the Weiner phil) in video!! he's so amazing....

[Sark1]

There are so many piansts that play Beethoven well.  A good pianist must listen to and be able to respect and appreciate all the different interpretations.  But my overall favorite has to be Richter.  He pretty much plays everything amazingly.

[jeff]

Get a recording of Michelangeli. He is tremendous. Ive seen a recording and talk about economy of motion!

Nick

i'd like to hear more about this

[mosis]

Claudio Arrau.

Then

Wilhelm Kempf
Wilhelm Backhaus
Anton Kuerti
Alfred Brendel
Stephen Kovacevich
Arthur Schnabel
Richard Goode
Yves Nat
Solomon
Annie Fischer
Myra Hess
Rudolf Serkin
John Lill
Louis Lortie
Emil Gilels

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

I'm surprise that you put Beckhaus in third place. His Pathetique is dreadful.

[sharon_f]

Brendel is probably my favorite. I would also add Ashkenazy, Arrau, Gilels and Serkin. And one other that no one has mentioned yet, the amazing Clifford Curzon.

[Ovidiu Parjol]

            Has anyone heard Radu Lupu with Zubin Mehta conducting ? I think it's one of the best Beethoven Concertos recording ever. And then Claudio Arrau.

[steinway88]

Your forgetting Walter Giesking

[goalevan]

gieseking does a killer pathetique

[bernhard]

I'm surprise that you put Beckhaus in third place. His Pathetique is dreadful.

Er…

That list was in no particular order. And I was taking into consideration the whole of Beethoven’s piano works, rather than isolated pieces. Besides I don’t think Backaus Pathetique is dreadful. [I have a student learning it: His pathetique at the moment is what I would call dreadful . But he will improve and eventually get there ].

Best wishes,
Bernhard

[mosis]

Er…

That list was in no particular order. And I was taking into consideration the whole of Beethoven’s piano works, rather than isolated pieces. Besides I don’t think Backaus Pathetique is dreadful. [I have a student learning it: His pathetique at the moment is what I would call dreadful . But he will improve and eventually get there ].

Best wishes,
Bernhard

Well, I must concur with you, as a whole, Beckhaus has some nice stuff under his belt. I have the London Decca Eloquence 2 CD set of Beckhaus playing some sonatas, and I must say, I never tired of listening to his Tempest and his Appassionata. I just don't like his performance of the second movement of Pathetique and the Grave section of the first movement. His third movement is excellent, however.

[Spatula]

Richard Goode by far.  I find he plays with a certain depth and understanding of the particular phrasings and passages throughout ALL the sonatas.

He does an excellent job on the Rondo, Sonata Op 31 Nr 2 (not the tempest).

However much that collection costs (most likely $99.95 US), I highly recommend it as the university library has it.

[brewtality]

Claudio Arrau and Emil Gilels are the best, i also don't mind Barenboims beethoven. I've got his cycle of sonatas on EMI and its not bad at all.

[dlu]

I CAN'T believe nobody has brought up GLENN GOULD (or maybe they have, i didn't read all of the replies). His sonatas are not what you could call authorative (not for beginners) though. They are a bit eccentric but are very "interesting" and my personal favorite.

I like Leon Fleischer for the concertos. I am going to go see a concerto of him playing Beethoven's Emporer concerto later this year at the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington D.C. (I go to concerts there alot). But the real reason I am going is to hear the Rite of Spring (my FAVORITE!!!!!!!) but I'm sure the Beethoven will be interesting too.

[krenske]

vote 1: Kuerti

[nick]

i'd like to hear more about this

Sorry Jeff for taking so long but my computer wasn't working correctly and then I forgot about it.
I saw Michelangeli on a PBS television show hosted by Arthur Rubensteins son, can't remember his name, and they had film of pianists from the past to the present. It was great! They had current pianists talking in interview style about each one. Call the television station and ask for it. I am sure they will know which one from the host being Rubenstein.

Nick

[Terry-Piano]

Speaking of Gould , did you know that when he recorded the last 3 Beethoven sonatas at a relatively early age (little after 20 ) ..he got attacked by critics because he couldn't possibly understand those late works at such a young age.. I disagree completely..well it might be eccentric and original... but it still ain't that bad

My favorite Beethoven players would have to be..

Emil Gilels
Louis Lortie
unfortunately I haven't heard dozens of pianists play beethoven
But I really like Lortie's sonatas and also his Eroica Variations op.34 ...it is those recordings that made me want to play th piano... Emil Gilels moonlight sonata too

[dinosaurtales]

who do you think plays beethoven the best?



ME!  I am finally getting that Apassionata down pat!

Mindy  

[kempff]

My favourites for Beethoven piano pieces are:

Alfred Brendel, Wilhelm kempff for sonatas.

Concerto no.1; Brendel
Concerto no.2: Kempff
Concerto no.3: Kempff with his own Cadenza (1953 mono recording)
Concerto no.4: Kempff (1953), Arrau
Concerto no.5: Kempff, Brendel

For Violin sonatas: Kempff- Menuhin
Cello sonatas: Richter- Rostropovich
Variations: Pollini, Brendel
Choral fantasy: Pollini, Barenboim

This is my list.

[thracozaag]

Concerto #1: ABM
Concerto #2: Kapell
Concerto #3: Annie Fischer, Rubinstein
Concerto #4: Kempff, Hansen
Concerto #5: Annie Fischer, Edwin Fischer

koji (STSD)

[mosis]

Bernhard,

It is interesting that you list Anton Kuerti as one of your favourite Beethoven sonata performers. I will see him play the Waldstein, the Hammerklavier, and the Sonata Quasi Una Fantasia in E flat major in November.

[erik-]

In my opinion Claudio Arrau and Wilhelm Kempf.
Arrau for his deepness and grandeur and and Kempf because his playing is much more spontaneous and more human.

[thracozaag]

Bernhard,

It is interesting that you list Anton Kuerti as one of your favourite Beethoven sonata performers. I will see him play the Waldstein, the Hammerklavier, and the Sonata Quasi Una Fantasia in E flat major in November.

 
 Fasten your seatbelts, heh.

koji (STSD)

[Samuel_Goldberg]

What's about Gulda ??

[hodi]

well.. i HATE BRENDEL'S PLAYING OF BEETHOVEN
i don't know why everyone love his beethoven playing
it's so "soft" and just doesn't sound right, the sound he produces... don't like it at all..

i think Mayra Hess is the best performer of beethoven.

[dinosaurtales]

Funny to hear you say that. I have been told by my teacher as well as others that Brendel is one of the great interpreters of Beethoven - he actually researches each piece before he learns  it, so it's "correct". 

That said, I have several recordings of Brendels Beethoven sonatas and don't like any of them. They are too "flowery" soiunding for me.  My image of Beethoven, from the history books and descriptions of him goes completely against the way Brendel's music sounds.  I much prefer Ian Hobson and Murray Perahia (sp?)

Just my take.