Richard Goode's Beethoven

[Regulus Medtner]

How would you rate Goode's Beethoven? I've heard snippets of several of the sonatas and found them very worthwhile... I would like to maybe make a purchase but also hear some opinions!

[steinwayguy]

Well, I'd rate it as "nearly flawless". It's undoubtedly comparable to Kempff, Brendel, Arrau etc. in my opinion.

[Alde]

Richard Goode is one of my favourite pianists.  His Beethoven is fantastic.  Check out this website.
https://www.columbia.edu/itc/music/reserves/cd5027.html

[Derek]

I have Richard Goode's complete set of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas. Sounds great to me! I think I might like Barenboim a little better, though. But only a little.

[BoliverAllmon]

Well, I'd rate it as "nearly flawless". It's undoubtedly comparable to Kempff, Brendel, Arrau etc. in my opinion.

Kempff and Brendel are considered the upper echelon of Beethoven performers? When listening to the Pastoral I disliked both of them. Too slow.

[steinwayguy]

Kempff and Brendel are considered the upper echelon of Beethoven performers? When listening to the Pastoral I disliked both of them. Too slow.

Certainly. I have yet to hear anyone's Pastoral I liked (Pollini, Schnabel, this guy, Goode, Barenboim, the list goes on). I think Kempff would be the best bet out of anybody. To me, at least.

[dinosaurtales]

Give Ian Hobson a try on the Pastoral.  He's the only one I've found who has "nailed" the feel of the Andante movement.

[goose]

This is a timely one for me as I saw Richard Goode play Beethoven's 2nd piano concerto with the Budapest Festival Orchestra just last night! He was terrific. His phrasing and tone were sublime. And he really made it sound like a cooperation with the orchestra rather than a competition.

He does have a habit of 'conducting' (or rather making little arcing motions with his hands when he's not playing). At first I thought this was a little precious (Ivan Fischer was the conductor after all!). But as it progressed, I realised he was probably doing this both for himself and for us in the audience. Visually, these movements added to the impression of incredible grace as he plays. Nothing seemed forced or hurried. His arm would just describe a circle and then reach the keys and suddenly he's playing a glassy passage again.

One final thought: I'd been listening to Ashkenazy's version with Solti that afternoon. I was struck by how Goode seemed to play more rubato while Fischer seemed to keep propelling the orchestra forward (especially in the first movement). It created a good sense of tension, although once or twice, the joins between piano and orchestra entry didn't seem to work. But, like I said, it still had the feeling of cooperation.

Anyway, magical stuff.

Best,
Goode (...Goose)

[BoliverAllmon]

I have Richard Goode's complete set of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas. Sounds great to me! I think I might like Barenboim a little better, though. But only a little.

my teacher recommended me listening to Goode's Pastoral. Would there be a way that you could send it to me? thanks in advance.

[apion]

I really cherish Goode's Beethoven cycle.  A few colleagues assert that his approach is too "dry," but I don't accept that.  He certainly is flawless.

[lulubird]

I have all of Goode's recording of the Beethoven sonatas except the last few (unfortunately). I've listening to the op. 90 intensely, because I've been learning it. It is flawless, but not in a mechanical sense. I think his playing is extremely thoughtful and very very beautiful.