BaL 6.07.13 - Beethoven's Piano Sonata no. 32 in C minor Op. 111

[amateur51]

I heard him at the school, where i work, and he nplayed Prk's Toccata, woith greerat aplomb and bravura!

Have you started encrypting your posts to throw GCHQ into confusion, Bbm?

If so, Hornspieler may be on to you soon for some tips

[Richard Tarleton]

I heard him at the school, where i work, and he nplayed Prk's Toccata, woith greerat aplomb and bravura!

He played that at his prizewinning Moscow recital back in the 1960s, sweat pouring off him!

[BBMmk2]

Have you started encrypting your posts to throw GCHQ into confusion, Bbm?

If so, Hornspieler may be on to you soon for some tips

Ah, well ams, I have to keep you guys on your toes! :)

[Thropplenoggin]

Right on the money. I have never been able to understand the praise for Paul Lewis's Beethoven. Dull and also badly recorded.

So it's not just me! He doesn't have much of a fan club on Amazon, either. Apparently, we get into trouble for expressing such opinions here, where a certain Illumnati-like clique demands adherence to its taste. This merry band of men, this Mutual Appreciation Society, could provide anthropologists with enough material on group-bonding rituals in high primates to keep them in research clover for decades. Post and be damned, I say.

RT: I don't include you in their number, though.

Clique-members: one only needs to hear side-by-side recordings of, say, Gilels and Lewis; Richter and Lewis (though the clang-y recordings rather tire these ears these days); Solomon and Lewis; Pollini and Lewis, to hear how tepid his readings are.

[amateur51]

So it's not just me! He doesn't have much of a fan club on Amazon, either. Apparently, we get into trouble for expressing such opinions here, where a certain Illumnati-like clique demands adherence to its taste. Post and be damned, I say.

RT: I don't include you in their number, though.

Clique-members: one only needs to hear side-by-side recordings of, say, Gilels and Lewis; Richter and Lewis (though the clang-y recordings rather tire these ears these days); Solomon and Lewis; Pollini and Lewis, to hear how tepid his readings are.

I think it's not as helpful as it might seem to compare performances in this way. It reduces music-making to a bizarre form of sport, in my opinion.

Gilels did not record Op.111 as far as I know so comparing his performance of Op.111 with that of Paul Lewis is a tad difficult. If you've found a Gilels recording however I'd be thrilled to hear it.

Why does a group of people who apparently have views that you do not share have to be a clique?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It's just occurred to me that John Lill has not been mentioned. He is, IMO, a great Beethovenian, and after hearing him play one of the sonatas one always feels he has a tremendous grasp of the architecture of the piece. I've heard him many times live, but never playing Op 111. Didn't he record all the piano sonatas? And if so, are they still available?

Lill was discussed between posts 58 - 71, ardie (Bryn's post #59 showed that Lill's Cycle is available - with quite generous "fillers". ) Many people share your enthusiasm for Lill, myself included.

[amateur51]

Lill was discussed between posts 58 - 71, ardie (Bryn's post #59 showed that Lill's Cycle is available - with quite generous "fillers". ) Many people share your enthusiasm for Lill, myself included.

And just to remind Lill admirers that he's giving a complete Beethoven sonata cycle at Cadogan Hall in London this Winter as part of his 70th Birthday celebrations

http://www.cadoganhall.com/tour-dates/john-lill-beethoven-the-complete-piano-sonatas

He's also giving the Beethoven piano sonata cycle at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester

http://tickets.bridgewater-hall.co.uk/single/eventDetail.aspx?p=22333

[Tony Halstead]

I'd like to hear the early Brendel performance. As far as the above is concerned, I am sure every performer has had a few (very few) metaphysical moments when he/she feels to be a mouthpiece, a medium, an intermediary between dead composer and audience. It is pure illusion, of course, and even more so when a third party gets carried away along these lines. In the old days when oratorio was attended and listened to with deep reverence, it was quite common (and I think of my long-dead parents) for people to weep silently when, for instance, Isobel Baillie forged a direct line to God via Jesus via Handel. The audience knew her Redeemer lived.

This is not meant to sound blasphemous...it just illustrates the emotional power of music.

This is a wonderful post, ardcarp.
Many thanks!

[Bryn]

As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, in the latest version (2011) of the Brilliant Classic complete Beethoven box, the Vox (well I presume it's the Vox and not the Philips) Brendel replaces Gulda in the piano sonatas, and possibly in other works for piano. I'll have a search around for a listing on the Internet.

[Here you go: http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/B...Classics/94052 ]

[Nick Armstrong]

Paul Lewis's Beethoven.... badly recorded.

That's my impression too, as mentioned earlier

Backhaus's ... old recording amazingly seemed to me clearer by some margin than the one immediately after, the Paul Lewis... it seemed rather 'murky' to me.

I've gone back for another listen on different equipment - the HM recording for Lewis does seem distant and indistinct, based on that comparison.

On the subject of piano recordings, the sound given to Andras Schiff on his ECM recordings (Schubert as well as Beethoven) I have always found very odd and unclear, too. I suppose like everything else it's very subjective (for my money the best recorded piano sound ever that I know of is Alicia de Larrocha's later digital 'Iberia' from Decca)

[antongould]

Can I just say, as a recognised complete amateur, what a sheer joy this thread has been - typical of the joys this gathering and Radio 3 has to offer. I only have one version of 111 which amazingly is not by the man Gould......

[gurnemanz]

As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, in the latest version (2011) of the Brilliant Classic complete Beethoven box, the Vox (well I presume it's the Vox and not the Philips) replaces Gulda in the piano sonatas, and possibly in other works for piano. I'll have a search around for a listing on the Internet.

[Here you go: http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/B...Classics/94052 ]

I acquired the 100CD version of the Brilliant Classics Beethoven, containing 15 very worthwhile bonus historical discs, which include Op111 from both Solomon and Schnabel.

[Bryn]

Can I just say, as a recognised complete amateur, what a sheer joy this thread has been - typical of the joys this gathering and Radio 3 has to offer. I only have one version of 111 which amazingly is not by the man Gould......

I do have the Glenn Gould. His way with it is certainly, um, different.

[waldo]

I've gone back for another listen on different equipment - the HM recording for Lewis does seem distant and indistinct, based on that comparison.

Yes, I went back a few times to check the sound. After reading yet another glowing review, I would think that I must have been imagining things or just happened to be in the wrong mood. But no: the recording is bad - wet and swampy. There are also muffled bangs, dull thumping sounds, in many places. His foot slamming the pedal to the floor? His manly knee bonking the underside of the keyboard? God knows. But I won't be going back for another check.......

[Thropplenoggin]

I do have the Glenn Gould. His way with it is certainly, um, different.

In Japan they think this is the karaoke version.