Beethoven Piano Sonatas

[vinteuil]

But I would recommend going for mix-and-match, choosing the best recordings of individual works.

... happy with 'mix and match'; not sure that 'the best recording' is the way to think of things...


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[MickyD]

I am a great fan of Brautigam. I had hoped that BIS would box not just the sonatas but all the other solo works recorded in the same series by Brautigam.

I agree with Bryn, the Binns cycle on LP was excellent, but I'm not prepared to shell out for a whole box of 50 CDs to get them again. It would be nice if Decca could bring out a bargain box of just the sonatas - or even better, a box of ALL Malcolm Binns' recordings on period pianos for L'Oiseau Lyre.

[Bryn]

I am a great fan of Brautigam. I had hoped that BIS would box not just the sonatas but all the other solo works recorded in the same series by Brautigam.

I agree with Bryn, the Binns cycle on LP was excellent, but I'm not prepared to shell out for a whole box of 50 CDs to get them again. It would be nice if Decca could bring out a bargain box of just the sonatas - or even better, a box of ALL Malcolm Binns' recordings on period pianos for L'Oiseau Lyre.

Funny you should say that. His selection of Liszt works played on an 1868 Érard is the 50th disc. Indeed, there is a distinct lack of duff CDs in the box.

[Andy2112]

Many thanks for the great advice and suggestions so far. The level of knowledge, enthusiasm and sheer love of music the members of this forum display is always an inspiration. A little belated background to my request. I possess a smattering of various sonatas by various different performers but lack a complete set and would love to have one performer's vision of the entire cycle in order to provide me with more of a grounding to build from further. Therefore I will probably be looking at the more sonically impressive recordings with a more grounded, less individualistic approach to interpretation with a view to then experiencing some of the differing approaches mentioned. I really appreciate the thought that have gone into the responses and will acknowledge in more detail when I decide where to begin. Cheers.

[MickyD]

Funny you should say that. His selection of Liszt works played on an 1868 Érard is the 50th disc. Indeed, there is a distinct lack of duff CDs in the box.

The level of L'Oiseau Lyre Florilegium releases was consistently high. But that single LP of 'The Broadwood Heritage' recorded for the same label by Binns remains yet to be released on CD.

[Bryn]

The level of L'Oiseau Lyre Florilegium releases was consistently high. But that single LP of 'The Broadwood Heritage' recorded for the same label by Binns remains yet to be released on CD.

Ah yes, this one, though I don't remember Malcolm Binns looking quite as in the illustration.

[pastoralguy]

Ah yes, this one, though I don't remember Malcolm Binns looking quite as in the illustration.

He's obviously got the crowd captivated and singing along! Wonder which Sonata he was playing...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

... happy with 'mix and match'; not sure that 'the best recording' is the way to think of things...


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On rereading my post, I'm happy to agree with you.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

He's obviously got the crowd captivated and singing along! Wonder which Sonata he was playing...

This one, I presume:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkVN6jlIIIA

(I checked - he didn't do "Les Adieux and Mondays Always Get me Down".)

[richardfinegold]

Was Annie Fischer's Hungaraton set complete? I remember buying it for a friend when we were in Budapest due to the release date being different.

It was, and that would be my recommendation. I also have Goode, stereo Kempff, Arrau and they are all recommended

[Bryn]

Was Annie Fischer's Hungaraton set complete? I remember buying it for a friend when we were in Budapest due to the release date being different.

[pastoralguy]

Many thanks! I bought it at the beginning of our wee trip to Budapest and so much wanted to take the plastic wrapping off to play in my Walkman with the small speakers I always take. However, I felt obligated to give it to my friend in 'virgin state'!

I really must ask him for a loan.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Therefore I will probably be looking at the more sonically impressive recordings with a more grounded, less individualistic approach to interpretation with a view to then experiencing some of the differing approaches mentioned.

With these criteria in mind, I would suggest you consider the Bernard Roberts box, suggested by Richard Tarleton in #13 - and with the added attraction, if you don't mind second-hand, of being almost criminally inexpensive (I mean - under £7.30 for a complete Beethoven Piano Sonata cycle, including p&p ... ):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Complete-Sonatas-Ludwig-van/dp/B0000037B3/ref=pd_rhf_pe_p_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=6DYWVSN23909BX7WTSKM

[kea]

The Decca and Orfeo sets are quite different. The former from Decca studio recordings, the latter from even earlier Austrian Radio recordings. Have you actually listened to them?

Oops, no. I know and enjoy the Decca set, spotted the Orfeo one on Qobuz, saw it was dated to the 1950s and assumed it was identical.

[Bryn]

Oops, no. I know and enjoy the Decca set, spotted the Orfeo one on Qobuz, saw it was dated to the 1950s and assumed it was identical.

I first got to know the final sonatas from the Decca survey on an Eclipse LP (IIRC). That led me to get the Philips boxed set of LPs of the Amedeo recordings. This despite a Gramophone review which slated the piano sound. I never had a problem with it. Later, on CDs, I got first the Brilliant Classics issue of the Amadeo recordings, then the Decca and finally the Orfeo. All are much to be treasured.