BaL 7.11.20 - Beethoven: Piano Sonata No 29 in B flat, Op 106 ‘Hammerklavier’

[Barbirollians]

I suspect the Perahia will be a challenger this time round.

[Belgrove]

I suspect the Perahia will be a challenger this time round.

Certainly the one I play the most among the more recent versions - a very satisfying and illuminating performance. It’s a great work that stands many different interpretations. I would hate to be forced to name just one.

[Bryn]

Oops. Another one missing from the list is Malcolm Bnns (disc 35 in the L'Oiseau Lyre - Classical & Early Romantic box).



Available, new, from amazon.co.uk etc.

Also to be found in a 2 disc album of the late sonatas on the Explore label.

[Nick Armstrong]

I vaguely recall F-F Guy won last time around.

Ditto.

Interesting that Angela Hewitt chose Paul Lewis’s recording on CotW this week, apparently singling it out as her favourite performance...

[Bryn]

One of those works I'd find it almost impossible to favoritise....

I've run through Kempff mono and stereo, a few Richters, later Gulda .....probably more on the shelves that I've forgotten.... a work I can become utterly obsessed with especially the slow movement, one of Beethoven's very greatest. I overplayed it at times, possibly why I never remember getting around to the period pianos... good time to start as we head into another grim, dark winter...

It does seem to stand apart, whereas many of Beethoven's finest Sonatas belong in groups or within stylistic trends, composed within a few opuses of each other...
Opus 106 is a Magnum Opus in every sense...iconic.

Cf.....Robert Simpson's Symphony No.10 which seems closely modelled on the shape, movement order and structure of the Hammerklavier and also has a sublime, extended slow movement..........

I entirely concur regarding the near or even not so near impossibility of picking a personal favourite. One I would hope to see return to the catalogue, its recording quality notwithstanding, is that by Yvonne Loriod. It would stand little chance of getting on a BaL shortlist but is a rather special document. As to the Simpson 10th, I would far listen to that than Weingartner's orchestration of Op. 106.

[vinteuil]

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I would stand little chance of getting on a BaL shortlist...

... me neither!


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[Bryn]

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... me neither!

Oops! I will add the "t" forthwith.

[jayne lee wilson]

I entirely concur regarding the near or even not so near impossibility of picking a personal favourite. One I would hope to see return to the catalogue, its recording quality notwithstanding, is that by Yvonne Loriod. I would stand little chance of getting on a BaL shortlist but is a rather special document. As to the Simpson 10th, I would far listen to that than Weingartner's orchestration of Op. 106.

Yes.... but Weingartner's take on Schubert's 7th (D729, not D759!) came off better, didn't it? I'm really fond of that now.

[Bryn]

Yes.... but Weingartner's take on Schubert's 7th (D729, not D759!) came off better, didn't it? I'm really fond of that now.

I must confess that I am not familiar with the completion of D729. I will have to remedy the situation. Any particular recommendation as to a recording? (Perhaps via a PM to avoid us drifting too far off-thread.)

Actually, it turns out I might have the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, Franz Litschauer somewhere, form when I downloaded "The Big Schubert Box" mp3s.

[jayne lee wilson]

I must confess that I am not familiar with the completion of D729. I will have to remedy the situation. Any particular recommendation as to a recording? (Perhaps via a PM to avoid us drifting too far off-thread.)

Brief noncommercial break from 106....

Schubert D729:
SWR/Francis/CPO... c/w Weingartner Violin Concerto.
Berlin RSO/Rogner/Berlin Classics....c/w Schubert fragments (including the extraordinary D936 andante, cf Berio "The Rendering") orch. Peter Gulke/Dresden Staatskappelle/Gulke. (2CDs).

Both very good, CPO has a slightly warmer more Brahmsian sound, BC a little more refined & early-classical....both are on Qobuz so put them on the tasting menu...

[CallMePaul]

I have 3 complete Beethoven sonata cycles and I'm not sure that it's coincidence that they are all by Austrian pianists - Brendel (the digital cycle now on Decca), Buchbinder and Badura-Skoda (the period instrument cycle on Arcana). All these have their strenghts but I probably listen more to Badura-Skoda than the others. I also have the Perahia recording, which I picked-up cheaply, inexplicably reduced in the Stockport HMV earlier this year.
I think that the Brendel in this cycle is a live recording, whereas the others are studio recordings. Arthritis and back problems forced Brendel to stop performing this piece (and others) before the last cycle was recorded, IIRC, so a live recording was used. The Buchbinder cycle is from fairly early in his career and I wish he would either re-record the cycle or allow his Edinburgh Festival performances, which were broadcast at the time on R3, to be released commercially. I like Buchbinder's approach to Beethoven - and recommend his Vienna Phil concerto cycle as well - but I suspect that I may be in a minority of one here!

[Alison]

I think I read Buchbinder is recording the concertos again starting with the First with Thielemann, already available.

[richardfinegold]

I suspect the Perahia will be a challenger this time round.

It’s excellent. And as jlw indicated, to many great versions to anoint just one. I’ve been partial to Arrau and Pollini through the years.

[Rjw]

I think I read Buchbinder is recording the concertos again starting with the First with Thielemann, already available.

I have been watching Buchbinder playing Beethoven piano concertos on Arte recently. I am sure he is very good but I didn't find him very easy to watch, a bit too businesslike! I will just listen in future¡

[Darloboy]

I suspect the Perahia will be a challenger this time round.

Difficult to predict with Katy Hamilton. She tends to go for slightly older recordings. Generally Goode and Kovacevich appear to be favourites with BaL Beethoven sonata reviewers these days (and Brautigam on period piano - although personally I don't like the sound on his recordings). But if this survey was being conducted in Gramophone rather than the BBC, I'd put money on Levit being first choice.