BaL 11.02.23 - Beethoven: Piano Sonata no. 23 in F minor "Appassionata"

**Ein Heldenleben** · 21-01-23, 22:34

Thanks as always for the superb list . Were Arrau and Richter involved in some sort of long range duel?

**richardfinegold** · 21-01-23, 22:47

Originally posted by Ein Heldenleben View Post

Thanks as always for the superb list . Were Arrau and Richter involved in some sort of long range duel?

I have 3 each by Richter and Arrau. My first was Badura-Skoda, playing a modern piano, on a Westminster lp featuring the 3 big named Sonatas. It was one of my first records and was my introduction to Beethoven’s Piano Music. The lp belonged to a friend who was a violinist and was introducing me to Classical Music. He never got it back. His mother just died a few weeks ago. I saw her a couple of years ago, told her about the lp, and she told me that she always wondered what happened to it. My current favorite is Annie Fisher

**Bryn** · 22-01-23, 00:39

(Except that there isn’t an ultimate version.)

Could easily be true for someone on their deathbed.

**smittims** · 22-01-23, 07:59

I think this is my least favourite Beethoven sonata, if only because it turns up so often. More perhaps than the Hammerklavier it seems to be the 'Everest'. or at least the Matterhorn, that so many pianists feel they must be heard to play.

Am I alone in feeling that the first movement is often played too loudly and sternly, and the finale too fast, for the listener's enjoyment?

Despite all the many fine recordings (Gieseking in 1939 may be my choice) my mind goes back to hearing John Ogdon play it live in 1972 as perhaps the most profound, rewarding performance I've heard. I went both evenings: he played 'Papillons' and the Liszt sonata too.

**Pulcinella** · 22-01-23, 08:04

Originally posted by Bryn View Post

Could easily be true for someone on their deathbed.

I sincerely hope that's not the case for Iain Burnside!

**smittims** · 22-01-23, 08:07

Ah, dear Iain. How I miss his 4pm programme, 'The Voice'. I liked his witty comments, as when introducing Brahms' 'Sapphische Ode':

'In case you're expecting some girl-on-girl action, the title refers to the metre of the poem'.

**CallMePaul** · 22-01-23, 09:08

I have tyhe following, all in complete Beethoven sonata sets - Brendel (1990s digital recording), Buchbinder x2 (the live 2014 Salzburg performances plus the early 1980s studio set) and Badura-Skoda on fortepiano. I play the Badura-Skoda and the live Buchbinder more than the others.

It is a pity that once again we are getting well-known pieces for review. There are 32 Beethoven piano sonatas to choose from, and while I do remember a BAL on op7 a few years back, mostly the familiar ones are chosen. How about opp10 (all), 28, 31 (all) or 101? I doubt if many people looking to buy their first Appasionata will be listening. Having said that, it is one of my favourite Beethoven pieces so I will listen with interest - I suspect that of my versions only Brendel will appear in the programme!

**Pulcinella** · 22-01-23, 09:50

Not my period, so the only version I have on the shelves is probably yet another (as unlikely to have been released commercially) Arrau version: a BBC MM release of a performance at the RFH on 10 June 1985.

**rauschwerk** · 22-01-23, 10:14

I loved this piece in my youth and used to bash through it a good deal once upon a time, though I never prepared it for either exam or public performance.

I have: Brautigam, Kempff x 2, Lewis, Perahia, Schnabel and Solomon. Any BaL recommendation will have to be outstanding to persuade me to fork out for another version.

**BBMmk2** · 22-01-23, 10:18

I have not many recordings of this magnificent work. I have Emil Gilels (the one that DG boxed up in a blue coloured set), and Barenboim’s on DG. I feel I need a couple more sets or recordings of this work. Recommendations please!

**Ein Heldenleben** · 22-01-23, 10:30

I don’t have many recordings of this : Frantz on the Brilliant Complete set, Perahia, Kempff and Roberts plus a Brendel on tape somewhere. I will be interested to hear if a Richter makes the shortlist as I wouldn’t mind hearing one. Didn’t his Appassionata recently make some sort of Essential recordings earlier this yea4 on Record Review ? Although amazingly virtuosic his finale coda was a bit of a blur really. Fine live but for repeated listening?

**Sir Velo** · 22-01-23, 10:54

I would be hard pushed to go beyond Olga Pashchenko, with virtuosity to burn. For added authenticity, performed on an original Conrad Graf in Bonn!

**Bryn** · 22-01-23, 10:56

I have no intention of searching out how many different recordings of this work I have. Let's just say they are many and various. I would, however, be delighted to find that Iain Burnside picks a recording new to me. The recording which grabbed my attention most strongly on first hearing was that by Malcolm Binns, played on an instrument built by Louis Dulcken c. 1785. Though now officially deleted from the catalogue, it is still available, new or used, in:

The recording is also available in a Japanese CD set of the complete piano sonatas and can also be found in mp3 or FLAC format as a download but I have not checked the legitimacy of the sites offering it as such.

**gradus** · 22-01-23, 12:27

Its a great piece but the final pages are so often played so fast they sounds comical, as though they should accompany a silent-movie chase sequence.

BaL 11.02.23 - Beethoven: Piano Sonata no. 23 in F minor "Appassionata"

BaL 11.02.23 - Beethoven: Piano Sonata no. 23 in F minor "Appassionata"

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