Barenboim's Beethoven Sonatas

[pianopoet]

I have a LP of Barenboim playing the Hammerklavier and I must admit that it's one of the finest piano recordings I've heard! The slow movement is transcendentally superb and I was wondering, how are his other Beethoven Sonatas? Is his complete set worthwhile?
Someone help...

[m]

It really depends when the recording was made. IIRC, he made 3 sets.

BTW, the first (early) set of Friedrich Gulda is excellent.

[Alde]

I have Barenboim's first recordings of the sonatas and they are fantastic.  You know he recorded all the sonatas from memory (no score).

[maxy]

He's great!!! and he's the "real deal".  What you hear in the recordings is what you hear in the concert hall.

[anda]

he IS really great, and he recorded his first set of the sonatas in his early 20s

[aki]

I think he's one of best when it comes to beethoven's sonatas.

[m]

What you hear in the recordings is what you hear in the concert hall.

.... except of in the hall his lack of practicing is even more noticable. I heard him live many times--with such a big talent, phenomenal memory, this amateriush approach to music is obvious in both, piano, and conducting. Once, though, something came on him and the last Beethoven Sonatas were very, very good..... full of wrong notes, but it was unimportant.
I guess, it is impossible to do that many things in life and do them well and always be on top.

I think he's one of best when it comes to beethoven's sonatas.

Agree.
It is undoubtful that he is one of the best amateurs, except of his first recordings--then he was a professional.
 

[brewtality]

i have his set on EMI, its pretty good but i much prefer Emil Gilels (almost) set

[piano88]

Baremboim's set on EMI is surprisingly good!
Though if you're looking to buy the complete set, you could splash out on better ones: Arrau is my favourite, Schnabel and Gilels are also rather good. Just for god's sake avoid Brendel - theres one for the 'overrated' discussion on this forum!
AD