BaL 19.03.16 - Beethoven: Piano Sonata no. 8 in C minor Op. 13 "Sonata Pathétique"

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Though perhaps bar 2 of the slow movement of Sonata Pathétique is hazardous too - the 5th semiquaver can really stick out and sound as though it's part of the melody line.

Yes - but the Pathétique doesn't attract non-pianists like the Moonlight does: the (first movement of the) latter has become the Classical equivalent to Imagine in this respect. (Now there's something I'd be relieved never to hear again!)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Yes - but the Pathétique doesn't attract non-pianists like the Moonlight does:

True, but both appear in those compilation albums of famous piano pieces.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

True, but both appear in those compilation albums of famous piano pieces.

- not to mention those dreaded words "made easy"!

[silvestrione]

Was it Rubinstein who won last time? Or am i remembering the one on the 'Moonlight'?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

- not to mention those dreaded words "made easy"!

What do you mean? That's the only way I can play it.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

What do you mean? That's the only way I can play it.

[BBMmk2]

- not to mention those dreaded words "made easy"!

I only play the only way!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I only play the only way!

I can't argue with you there, Bbm

[visualnickmos]

I have Kempff (stereo) from the complete piano sonatas (DG)

Kovacevich - from the complete piano concertos, plus a bunch of sonatas (Philips)

Brendel - on a single CD of 3 sonatas (Philips)

Of the above, for me, it has to be Kempff. The music is in his soul - it flourishes forth from his fingers. Perfection.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I have a decent number of those in EA's splendid list: Arrau, Annie Fischer, Gieseking, Gilels, Kempff (DG mono), Kovacevich (then trading as 'Bishop'), Lupu, Schnabel, Serkin, Solomon. Plus Badura-Skoda on fortepiano.

And one that doesn't seem to be available any more: Cherkassky on a BBC Music disc, Snape Maltings 24/6/74.

This really ought to be enough to be going on with, so I fear it's going to need something quite out of the ordinary for the LMP wallet to come rushing out on Saturday

[Bryn]

In addition to the two Gulda recordings listed, there is also the one in set from the early '50s on Orfeo:



Possibly even finer than the '57 (Decca) or '67 (Amadeo/Philips/Brilliant Classics/Decca Eloquence/etc.).

[silvestrione]

In addition to the two Gulda recordings listed, there is also the one in set from the early '50s on Orfeo:



Possibly even finer than the '57 (Decca) or '67 (Amadeo/Philips/Brilliant Classics/Decca Eloquence/etc.).

I agree. A young man's performance, with keen reflexes, but plenty of poetry and insight too. An instinctive Beethoven player.

[rauschwerk]

Kempff recorded his mono cycle in 1951, but re-recorded some of Op. 13 in 1956. He then played the Adagio cantabile at a speed that would enable it to fit on one side of 1 7" EP with the Rondo. That explains the fast tempo. In 1965 he took a minute longer over the middle movement.

One quirk of both versions is that in bars 5-8 of the first movement he overdots the rh, subdividing the quavers into 6 rather than the written 4.

Solomon plays a very obvious wrong note in the first movement Allegro, which would rule him out as a top BAL choice, at least for me.

[MickyD]

Brautigan is excellent on a fortepiano. He may be using an Historicallly informed instrument but he plays with the ethos of a Horowitz. I'm listening to Schnabel in this during a slow day at the office. He was only a couple of generations removed from Beethoven

I'd say the same for Brautigam's complete sets of Mozart and Haydn keyboard works. And the recording acoustics are well-nigh perfect, in my opinion.

[makropulos]

Thanks for a great list of runners and riders, EA. What an impossible task to choose from them with so many great Beethoven pianists in the mix. It comes down to favourites, and - for what it's worth - mine include the early Gulda recordings on Orfeo and Decca, Annie Fischer, and Brautigam.