BaL 3.02.18 - Beethoven: Piano Sonata no. 30 in E major, Op.109

[richardfinegold]

Some other favorite recordings that I haven’t listened to in while are Arrau and Richter. Did either of them get a mention?

[silvestrione]

Some other favorite recordings that I haven’t listened to in while are Arrau and Richter. Did either of them get a mention?

Arrau, no. Richter was in the long list of pianists she just could not give time to, she said.

[Barbirollians]

Ah, that's more like it, thanks!

Incidentally, played the Richter Leipzig version yesterday: blistering! Like none of the performances she sampled, but white-hot, and incandescent at the end, even more than Fischer! It may go too far (varies tempos throughout, I haven't checked with the score to see how much of that B. wanted!) but it is startlingly individual and very powerful. The theme of the last movement, on the other hand, is a pool of transcendent tranquillity, still and rapt as only Richter could do (thinking of his Schubert). The repeats of the theme itself are absolutely identical, as always with this pianist: I was interested to see that Solomon varied his approach.

Then again her 8 CD Icon box is only £16.52 with new remasterings from original tapes.

This for me is the must have Annie Fischer recording https://www.amazon.fr/Beethoven-Conc...ricsay+fischer

[vinteuil]

Re Annie Fischer: The Documents 10CD Milestones Of A Piano Legend Box for a mere £9.55 contains both the EMI and the brilliant West German Radio, Cologne version of op 109. Also available on a single disc from ica - discussed here

... I like the blurb on this box - "She had always been very self-critical when it came to her album-productions in the studio and the examples contained in this 10-CD collection document the audilicious results of this... " 'audilicious' seems to be a translation of 'hörenswertesten'. I like it.


.

[Karafan]

Ah, that's more like it, thanks!

Incidentally, played the Richter Leipzig version yesterday: blistering! Like none of the performances she sampled, but white-hot, and incandescent at the end, even more than Fischer! It may go too far (varies tempos throughout, I haven't checked with the score to see how much of that B. wanted!) but it is startlingly individual and very powerful. The theme of the last movement, on the other hand, is a pool of transcendent tranquillity, still and rapt as only Richter could do (thinking of his Schubert). The repeats of the theme itself are absolutely identical, as always with this pianist: I was interested to see that Solomon varied his approach.

Quite agree - that Leipzig performance is other worldly!

[jayne lee wilson]

Ah, that's more like it, thanks!

Incidentally, played the Richter Leipzig version yesterday: blistering! Like none of the performances she sampled, but white-hot, and incandescent at the end, even more than Fischer! It may go too far (varies tempos throughout, I haven't checked with the score to see how much of that B. wanted!) but it is startlingly individual and very powerful. The theme of the last movement, on the other hand, is a pool of transcendent tranquillity, still and rapt as only Richter could do (thinking of his Schubert). The repeats of the theme itself are absolutely identical, as always with this pianist: I was interested to see that Solomon varied his approach.

This would be the live 28/11/63 Parnassus CD of 109/110/111 (with Brahms/Chopin encores)?
My go-to version certainly....remarkable creation. One for contemplation and meditation.

I find it hard not to think of the last 3 sonatas as a trilogy, so I usually only listen to them sequentially, even if takes a session or two. I don't collect many versions of piano works, but my other favoured version would be the ZigZag one of Lubimov, on an 1828 Graff. Excellent foil and contrast to the Richter.

[silvestrione]

This would be the live 28/11/63 Parnassus CD of 109/110/111 (with Brahms/Chopin encores)?
My go-to version certainly....remarkable creation. One for contemplation and meditation.

I find it hard not to think of the last 3 sonatas as a trilogy, so I usually only listen to them sequentially, even if takes a session or two. I don't collect many versions of piano works, but my other favoured version would be the ZigZag one of Lubimov, on an 1828 Graff. Excellent foil and contrast to the Richter.

Yes, that's the one: the whole recital is special. And I agree with you about the Lubimov too! Strange that her comment in the BAL implied that, of the versions on an historical instrument, only the Brautigam was worth considering...

I think for me, the Lubimov is the most 'audilicious' recording.