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

[gurnemanz]

I shall remain loyal to Friedrich Gulda whose 1967 complete set I acquired on a box set of LPs very early on in my record collecting. I later got the CDs via the Brilliant Classics bumper Beethoven Edition.

I also have the Brautigam box and have just listened again to the Appassionata from that set. Compelling performance and a marvellous and well-filled disc which starts off with a dynamic Waldstein and includes three other shorter sonatas. A pity that if you buy the box you don't get the the original single disc covers with Beethoven street signs.

[Barbirollians]

Brendel's 1970s recording coupled with the Moonlight and Pathetique was one of my first LPs and is rather imprinted on me.

I only otherwise have Gilels , Solomon and Schnabel. All outstanding unless, there is an Appassionata in the Paul Badura Skoda box I have not got to yet.

There is a PBS recording in that box look forward to hearing it. I don't seem to know or have the Richter - always loved his Tempest so must look for it.

[Barbirollians]

There is a PBS recording in that box look forward to hearing it. I don't seem to know or have the Richter - always loved his Tempest so must look for it.

I find I did have it on a RCA Papillon cassette with the Brahms 2 - I recall it being poor sound quality wise but the Brahms 2 sounded much better when re-released on CD but with Op1 No 1 instead.

[Bryn]

Brendel's 1970s recording coupled with the Moonlight and Pathetique was one of my first LPs and is rather imprinted on me.

I only otherwise have Gilels , Solomon and Schnabel. All outstanding unless, there is an Appassionata in the Paul Badura Skoda box I have not got to yet.

Which PBS box? That using a range of historic instruments or that in which he used a Bösendorfer Imperial?

[Barbirollians]

Which PBS box? That using a range of historic instruments or that in which he used a Bösendorfer Imperial?

The 1950s Westminster box- modern piano I imagine.

[richardfinegold]

I find I did have it on a RCA Papillon cassette with the Brahms 2 - I recall it being poor sound quality wise but the Brahms 2 sounded much better when re-released on CD but with Op1 No 1 instead.

I have that CD, never heard the lp but the CD sounds fine to me. One of my several Richter recordings of this work

[richardfinegold]

The 1950s Westminster box- modern piano I imagine.

see #3

[Mal]

I like Kovacevich in this one.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Finally some one has shown the way Pletnev always pulls the music around. What he did to the Chopin Scherzi where more tempo freedom in tempo is acceptable is even worse in some ways. Burnside is so right - it lessens the dramatic impact.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Perahia’s wonderful touch in that final movement ..it’s like the wind rippling across a lake.

[Mal]

Perahia’s wonderful touch in that final movement ..it’s like the wind rippling across a lake.

Yes, but what about Brautigam's hounds of hell? I've tended to be in the "fp sounds like a jingly/jangly pub piano..." school, but that finale might have converted me! Anyway, I'm convinced enough to have a full listen to Brautigam,... and Perahia... and Igor Levit... and Horowitz's song like andante, and Brendel's hymn like andante,... and Serkin's dictation, and... Gulda's mad excitement... (I'll skip Pletnev...)

An impressive BAL!

[Alison]

I wanted to hear more of Serkin after that rather impressive beginning. Well justified ‘winner’ and pleased the ‘banging’ issue was raised.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes, but what about Brautigam's hounds of hell? I've tended to be in the "fp sounds like a jingly/jangly pub piano..." school, but that finale might have converted me! Anyway, I'm convinced enough to have a full listen to Brautigam,... and Perahia... and Igor Levit... and Horowitz's song like andante, and Brendel's hymn like andante,... and Serkin's dictation, and... Gulda's mad excitement... (I'll skip Pletnev...)

An impressive BAL!

The playing of the Brautigam in the first movement clip was extraordinarily virtuosic . I wonder whether the lower key weight is a factor . Also don’t fortepianos also have lower key dip height? . In other words it’s easier to play faster. Mind you it’s a bit of a double edged sword that.

[richardfinegold]

The playing of the Brautigam in the first movement clip was extraordinarily virtuosic . I wonder whether the lower key weight is a factor . Also don’t fortepianos also have lower key dip height? . In other words it’s easier to play faster. Mind you it’s a bit of a double edged sword that.

I had forgotten that I own the Brautigan, and pulled it off the shelf today. He is a dervish.

[MickyD]

I have had the Brautigam cycle on my shopping list for a long time, really must get round to acquiring it. I already have his Mozart and Haydn cycles - he always sounds just 'right' to me in whatever he plays.