Medtner's Sonatentriade

[Radix]

My teacher asked me to learn Schubert's "Wanderer" Fantasy, but I feel that I'll have more motivation to learn this, and thus, play it more successfully.  I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips on learning these three sonatas (or, if you had to pick two for performance, which two you would pick). I have roughly three months, but I think it's doable.

It'd be much appreciated. Thanks!

[Regulus Medtner]

Why do you have to pick just two? The whole set is as lengthy as the average Beethoven sonata. Anyway, my choice would be nos.1 (A flat major) and no.3 (C major). You could also consider, if you haven't already, the Sonate-Idylle op.56.

[Radix]

It's not necessary that I only play two; I just wanted to make sure I'd have the time to get them down in three months.  The Sonata-Elegy seems to be, technically, the easiest of the three, and I've already started working on that one.  The A-flat major has some tricky parts in it, as does the C major.

Do you know of any good recordings other than Hamelin's?

[thierry13]

Do you know of any good recordings other than Hamelin's?

Why, you don't like Hamelin??

Anyway, don't think somebody else has recorded those works.

[xvimbi]

Do you know of any good recordings other than Hamelin's?

https://www.juerghanselmann.li/willkomm/cdfach/jh_nkm02.htm

Medtner: Piano Sonatas & Forgotten Melodies (https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000IYMY/qid=1110932950/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-1828902-3256765?v=glance&s=classical)

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000009JNS/qid=1110932950/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_8/104-1828902-3256765?v=glance&s=classical

https://www.classicalarchives.com/midi/m.html (MIDI)

[Radix]

No, I like Hamelin's recordings very much; I just think that there are some things in the score that he chooses to go against that I wouldn't have.

[Regulus Medtner]

No, I like Hamelin's recordings very much; I just think that there are some things in the score that he chooses to go against that I wouldn't have.

I understand completely. Whereas I think that Hamelin's views, especially in these sonatas, are the most consistently solid, there are some elements/details that are more impressive elsewhere. Other interpretations that I equally like are Tozer's on Chandos (as mentioned above by xvimbi, although I believe the sonatas are still available on single CDs as well) and Milne's on CRD (the 2nd volume of Medtner music includes the Sonatentriade and the "Night Wind").
Demidenko on Chandos has also recorded the Sonata-Elegia in his Medtner CD (quite exceptional, but it doesn't include the other 2 sonatas from op.11).

Finally, I wouldn't normally recommend the Fellengi recording, proceed at your own risk!