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

[richardfinegold]

[QUOTE=visualnickmos;909244]I was a bit surprised that Wilhelm Kempff was not mentioned in the BaL, and more than a bit surprised that he hasn't been mentioned in the thread - as far as I know. It is a masterly traversal of the cycle.[/
How many complete Kempff cycles are there? I have the stereo one, but critics regard the 50s mono cycle as superior, and was there an earlier cycle? I didn’t think the Apassionata from the final cycle was one of the better ones from that set but I can listen again

[rauschwerk]

I was a bit surprised that Wilhelm Kempff was not mentioned in the BaL, and more than a bit surprised that he hasn't been mentioned in the thread - as far as I know. It is a masterly traversal of the cycle.

Just before the end, Ian Burnside rattled off a list of pianists he thought worth hearing in this piece, and that included Kempff. It seems that Kempff recorded three LP cycles and an incomplete set on 78s.

[visualnickmos]

Just before the end, Ian Burnside rattled off a list of pianists he thought worth hearing in this piece, and that included Kempff. It seems that Kempff recorded three LP cycles and an incomplete set on 78s.

I must have got distracted at that point... I've just listened to Claudio Arrau in the piece (Decca) He brings a real feeling of intensity and drive. Very nice, indeed.

[jayne lee wilson]

[QUOTE=richardfinegold;909248]

I was a bit surprised that Wilhelm Kempff was not mentioned in the BaL, and more than a bit surprised that he hasn't been mentioned in the thread - as far as I know. It is a masterly traversal of the cycle.[/
How many complete Kempff cycles are there? I have the stereo one, but critics regard the 50s mono cycle as superior, and was there an earlier cycle? I didn’t think the Apassionata from the final cycle was one of the better ones from that set but I can listen again

The notes to the mono set say there are three.

I know the 50s mono and the 60s stereo ones well, and almost always prefer the earlier. Sharper, fresher and freer in its creativity of expression; simply greater virtuosity. The stereo set can tend towards cautiousness and over-deliberation.
In the mastering I've heard the well-presented mono set (DG Dokumente, off-white box) has the superior piano sound too - warmer, more rounded and immediate, more gratifying to the ear where the stereo tends to a certain distancing, less full. Some ears may prefer the stereo spaciousness, and the balance varies a little across the years of each cycle; musically my preference is clear-cut. The differences may of course be at least partly down to the instruments themselves; I've not researched which he used.

The earliest 1926-45 set isn't quite complete; there is also a single Decca issue of Op.27/2, Op.13 and Op.57 from 1960; but I've not heard anything from these.

(See Gramophone**, 4/96 (EG) and 12/20 (JD))
**100 Years Old in April this year!

[rauschwerk]

[QUOTE=jayne lee wilson;909291]

The notes to the mono set say there are three.

Ok, but MusicWeb International mentions a set recorded for NHK Japan in 1961. This seems to be unavailable.

[jayne lee wilson]

Weird stuff goin' on with posts/attributions here....!

[jayne lee wilson]

[QUOTE=rauschwerk;909293]

Ok, but MusicWeb International mentions a set recorded for NHK Japan in 1961. This seems to be unavailable.

I guess its this one......

https://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Beethoven-1770-1827_000000000034571/item_Complete-Piano-Sonatas-Wilhelm-Kempff-1961-Tokyo-Live-9UHQCD-Limited_8901263

[Mandryka]

[QUOTE=jayne lee wilson;909295]

I guess its this one......

https://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Beet...imited_8901263

I have this in fact, I bought it when it was released. The mono set remains my favourite of the three.

[richardfinegold]

The fifties mono set recently re mastered on Pristine. I have listened to a few of them. Sonically no complaints but I didn’t really do a comparison with the stereo set

[Mal]

[QUOTE=richardfinegold;909248]

I was a bit surprised that Wilhelm Kempff was not mentioned in the BaL, and more than a bit surprised that he hasn't been mentioned in the thread - as far as I know. It is a masterly traversal of the cycle.[/
How many complete Kempff cycles are there? I have the stereo one, but critics regard the 50s mono cycle as superior, and was there an earlier cycle? I didn’t think the Apassionata from the final cycle was one of the better ones from that set but I can listen again

I have his 50s mono cycle, the Appasionata was recorded on 22/9/51. It is one of my favourites from the set, and well worth a listen. But I wouldn't recommend buying the set as a starter set as, to my ears, he's weak in the first 7 sonatas, and several middle sonatas. (This might be me - maybe his subtle playing will grow on me... maybe...) For me, Kovacevich knocks the first 7 out of the park and is more consistently brilliant overall. Although Kempff's is an excellent, restrained performance of the Appasionata, I think Kovacevich is superior... like Brautigan he gets the hounds of hell running. That said, Kempff isn't a bad second set as he's very different to, and complements, Kovacevich - and often scores highly in the places Kovacevich falls down, or gives a different impression.