who do you think plays beethoven the best?

[amanfang]

Sorry to pull this one out again....

Anyone heard Bernard Roberts?  I think he's the "value cd."  I'm not impressed.  He has "some" good ideas but some sloppy playing. 

[m]

What's about Gulda ??

His first recording is one of my most favorites. Second set is bad.
As a set I also like Schnabel and Gilels (recorded almost all of them). Some of Kempff Sonatas are very good.
I like very much Richter in Beethoven. I believe, most of his Variation sets are still unsurpassed.
For Concertos:
No.1-Richter
No.2-Kapell
No.3-Kempff
No.4-Rubinstein/Barenboim
No.5-Michelangeli/Celibidache.

[at4550]

I doubt anybody so far has mentioned the Irish pianist John O'Conor - his recording of the late sonatas is a masterpiece.

Also - Robert Taub, the only pianist I've ever heard play the Hammerklavier up to tempo.

I also really like the interpretations of several others such as Emil Gilels, Stephan Kovacevich, and S. Richter - different performers handle differents sonatas better so it depends.

As for the piano concertos, I stick with Rudolf Serkin.

[piano88]

Sorry to pull this one out again....

Anyone heard Bernard Roberts?  I think he's the "value cd."  I'm not impressed.  He has "some" good ideas but some sloppy playing. 

I would have to disagree with you there.....I think this is a great set, just a shame that its on a lesser known label. I've actually had mastarclasses with Bernard and found his ideas very insightful.

As for my favourite Beethoven player, without a doubt this is Arrau. My least favourite is Brendel.
AD

[Skeptopotamus]

I'd have to say hands down the best Beethoven player I've heard is Vladimir Ashkenazy.

[trix]

What's about Gulda ??

Yeah-what about Freidrich Gulda?...

IMHO Gulda is the superlative Beethoven interpreter.  I'm genuinely surprised, and puzzled, that his Beethoven isn't noted more often on piano forums?.  If it's due to lack of exposure you're really missing out on some amazing stuff (same deal with Lazar Berman and the Liszt trans etudes).

[sehmett]

I like Freddy Kempf. His Beethoven is brilliant:)

[maestro57]

I'd have to say Vladimir Ashkenazy does Beethoven best.

Just out of curiosity, how many of your first choices were because you were exposed to them (as in the pianists) first and was what you're used to? I tend to stick with what I like, and I heard Ashkenazy first and "got used to it". Kinda like going to a food court and sticking to what you know and playing it safe 

[bronnestam]

Per Tengstrand. I have listened to so many, but his technique is outstanding, absolutely flawless.

He just finished a "Beethoven Marathon" in Sweden were he played all the 32 sonatas in two weekends ... 17 on first weekend, 15 the next.

[worov]

Claudio Arrau is my favorite. You can listen to him here :

I like the old masters Kempff, Schnabel, Wilhelm Backhaus, Solomon, Rudolph Serkin, Emil Gilels, Myra Hess, Stephen Kovacevich.

I like also some more obscure pianists : Annie Fischer, Yves Nat, John Lill, Anton Kuerti, Louis Lortie. Theirs recordings are sometimes hard to find, but there are wonderful.

[maestro57]

Per Tengstrand. I have listened to so many, but his technique is outstanding, absolutely flawless.

He just finished a "Beethoven Marathon" in Sweden were he played all the 32 sonatas in two weekends ... 17 on first weekend, 15 the next.

One person did all 32 in a span of a week?! Applause. Melbourne, Australia just had a Beethoven 32-sonata marathon last weekend and went for 14 hours straight, however with 27 different pianists - not one.

[bronnestam]

One person did all 32 in a span of a week?! Applause. Melbourne, Australia just had a Beethoven 32-sonata marathon last weekend and went for 14 hours straight, however with 27 different pianists - not one.

Yes, he made 5 concerts in 48 hours, covering the first 17 sonatas ...   I was there, and the further it went, the better it got, so we ended with absolutely divine versions of the Moonlight and the Pastorale ... (it felt like being on a rave party). And then, swoosh, a zillion other concerts and then a new Beethoven weekend with the remaining 15 sonatas, including the Hammerklavier.

Totally crazy and with absolute brilliance all the way - how many else would manage that?

(Watch the first video clip on this page and hear about the nightmare of every performer (1:40) ... (and enjoy the music). It takes world class pro to handle such a situation ...

https://pertengstrand.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/beethoven-madness-in-uppsala/  )

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[eric0773]

Although I am not an expert at all, I really enjoy John O'Conor's recording of the Bagatelles. He manages to make them very interesting - as if he were telling a story rather than playing notes. I thought I was able to play Op. 119 No. 11 until I listened to his interpretation:

On more rapid and loud pieces, his "soft" touch makes his very recognizable (example here). A real pleasure to listen to.

[maestro57]

Yes, he made 5 concerts in 48 hours, covering the first 17 sonatas ...   I was there, and the further it went, the better it got, so we ended with absolutely divine versions of the Moonlight and the Pastorale ... (it felt like being on a rave party). And then, swoosh, a zillion other concerts and then a new Beethoven weekend with the remaining 15 sonatas, including the Hammerklavier.

Totally crazy and with absolute brilliance all the way - how many else would manage that?

I can't even play for one hour straight before tripping over myself and failing from mind fatigue.

Sorry, back on topic!

[kriatina]

My favourites pianists to express Beethoven's thoughts are Claudio Arrau,
Wilhelm Backhaus and Wilhelm Kempff,

Kristina.