32 Beethoven Sonatas in one day

[vlhorowitz]

Hi Everyone,

Here is our recent interview with the Canadian pianist, Stewart Goodyear. He will be performing all 32 Beethoven sonatas in Toronto - in one day. We had the chance to ask him about the criticism he's received, his connection with Beethoven, and more.
Hope you're all having a wonderful week, and as always, thanks for reading

https://www.examiner.com/article/interview-with-pianist-stewart-goodyear

PS: Julian Jacobson played all 32 in 2003.
https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3230281.stm

[joeplaysthepiano]

That is quite an undertaking.  Based on the title of the thread, I thought you were just going to mention how you were going to listen to all the sonatas in one day, but for someone to perform them all in one day is simply unheard of.

[vlhorowitz]

Thank you all for reading

If anyone's interested, the first segment of the marathon concert was reviewed here:
https://musicaltoronto.org/2012/06/09/concert-review-stewart-goodyear-makes-fine-start-in-beethoven-sonata-marathon/

[quantum]

On June 15, 12 PM,  there will be a talk between Goodyear and Rob Bowman.  It will be at the Luminato Lounge. 

[minor9th]

That is quite an undertaking.  Based on the title of the thread, I thought you were just going to mention how you were going to listen to all the sonatas in one day, but for someone to perform them all in one day is simply unheard of.

And from memory! 

[richard black]

Not quite unheard-of - the British pianist Julian Jacobson has done it, at least twice.

[starstruck5]

Why not?  It's an interesting challenge -for the audience as well as the pianist!  It is also in a way a marvelous tribute to Beethoven. Life was never easy for him.

[indutrial]

What a stupid idea this is/was... Music is neither an Olympic event nor a hot-dog-eating contest. It's really embarrassing to see this type of showboating gimmickry getting attention and accolades from people who consider themselves musicians.

[jesc]

"self-test to see if I can get through it all and keep my concentration", and a chance to raise money for his favourite charity.

not a bad reason for the 2003 "Beethoven stunt", and yes... they called it a "stunt" in the article.  

[fftransform]

What a stupid idea this is/was... Music is neither an Olympic event nor a hot-dog-eating contest.

Any sentence that starts with a phrase equivalent to, "music is never," is probably wrong.

[indutrial]

Any sentence that starts with a phrase equivalent to, "music is never," is probably wrong.

That's funny, I don't see the word 'never.'

[chauncey]

Isn't Daniel Barenboim known for preforming all of Beethoven's 32 Sonatas

[ajspiano]

That's funny, I don't see the word 'never.'

That'll be because he said "equivalent to"

[danhuyle]

Absolutely phenomenal to perform all 32 flawlessly from memory. I'd be so happy if I could play the set.

Lots of pianists have played the set of Beethoven Sonatas. To play the whole cycle in one performance is something very few can pull off, or even consider in the first place.

[davidjosepha]

Isn't Daniel Barenboim known for preforming all of Beethoven's 32 Sonatas

Not in one day, though, I don't think. I'm sure he could. In the YouTube video of the masterclass he did on them (someone on this forum linked to it...), he seemed to have memorized every tiny detail of every part of the pieces. Although he might have brushed up on the ones he was going to do at the class, I wouldn't be surprised if he knew all the sonatas that well. I would guess he'd be able to play them all in one day, I think he just realizes it's a silly endeavor.

[scherzo123]

that's a longgggg time

[claude_debussy]

Hungarian-American pianist Balint Vazsonyi played the 32 Beethoven Sonatas, in sequence, in a single day several times in the 1970's.  His New York performance at the 92nd Street Y (if memory serves) was reviewed in the New York Times, not particularly favorably, but the serious intent of the three-part recital made it an interesting experience.