Beethoven; the complete piano sonatas

[Julien Sorel]

Not the piano sonatas, but Gulda again: no one should miss his recording with Pierre Fournier of the 'cello sonatas http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Mas...1007339&sr=1-7

[amateur51]

As Gilels was to record all complete Sonatas it's 27 out of 38 (including WoO47/1-3, 48-51)

oh dear!

[amateur51]

Not the piano sonatas, but Gulda again: no one should miss his recording with Pierre Fournier of the 'cello sonatas http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Mas...1007339&sr=1-7

A wonderful partnership

[BBMmk2]

Any ideas apart from Pollini as to the late PS's?

[Thropplenoggin]

Any ideas apart from Pollini as to the late PS's?

Solomon is not only good value (£7.41) but also very movingly played. The sound is very reasonable for the era. Glowing 5-star reviews on Amazon.

[Franzl01]

I have several complete sets (minus the early ones, I know), as well as (far-too?) many individual ones by most of the great names, but the set I find myself playing regularly is by Schnabel's last pupil Claude Frank, which strikes the right balance for me between the Beethoven of the piano virtuoso and the Beethoven of the profound musical thinker.

[amateur51]

I have several complete sets (minus the early ones, I know), as well as (far-too?) many individual ones by most of the great names, but the set I find myself playing regularly is by Schnabel's last pupil Claude Frank, which strikes the right balance for me between the Beethoven of the piano virtuoso and the Beethoven of the profound musical thinker.

Many thanks for this Franzl01 - the snippets I've heard on amazon make me want to take this further

One modest correction - Claude Frank was a pupil of Schnabel's final pupil, Maria Curcio, not of Schnabel himself.

[Franzl01]

Thanks for that. I have just checked the booklet, which is not really ambiguous. I quote: 'Born in Nuernberg, Germany, he came to the United States in 1941, studied with Karl Ulrich Schnabel at Columbia University, and was one of Artur Schnabel's last pupils.'
In the '60s, when I was reviewing regularly, I met him and his wife Lilian Kallir many times, and although I would never claim friendship with them, relations were always friendly. Lilian died in 2004, and their daughter, Pamela is a world-ranking violinist.
I don't know the 'authoritative' story re the two Schnabels, Maria Curcio and Claude, but whatever it is, he's a great musician.
Regards

[amateur51]

Thanks for that. I have just checked the booklet, which is not really ambiguous. I quote: 'Born in Nuernberg, Germany, he came to the United States in 1941, studied with Karl Ulrich Schnabel at Columbia University, and was one of Artur Schnabel's last pupils.'
In the '60s, when I was reviewing regularly, I met him and his wife Lilian Kallir many times, and although I would never claim friendship with them, relations were always friendly. Lilian died in 2004, and their daughter, Pamela is a world-ranking violinist.
I don't know the 'authoritative' story re the two Schnabels, Maria Curcio and Claude, but whatever it is, he's a great musician.
Regards

It could be, of course, that he studied with Schnabel and his pupil Maria Curcio

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/apr/14/obituary-maria-curcio

Whatever, thanks for the tip which I shall explore.

Do you know these late performances, including the three last piano sonatas of Beethoven?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Claude-Frank-85th-Birthday-Celebration/dp/B00442M0R6/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1361217051&sr=1-2

[Franzl01]

Sorry for delay in replying - Portugal is not as sunny as everyone seems to think and between heavy squalls we've had to dodge in and out of the garden over the last few days to plant and harvest!

No, I hadn't come across these, but I will throw myself on the mercies of Amazon and indulge - I hope.

[Nick Armstrong]

Solomon is not only good value (£7.41) but also very movingly played. The sound is very reasonable for the era. Glowing 5-star reviews on Amazon.

I have that set on CD and it is very special.

[amateur51]

I wonder if anyone is able to offer opinions on the relative merits of the Solomon Beethoven piano sonata recordings as released by EMI and Testament respectively.

I have the EMI set and love it, but I might buy some Testament issues if the sound quality is significantly better

[Barbirollians]

I have been enjoying the early 1960s Barenboim set on Warner that were going for a song a few months back . There is a real youthful spirit to the performances which are very different to the others in my collection.

[Barbirollians]

Returning to this Barenboim is particularly fine in the early sonatas and the playing has such energy - anyone who loves his piano concerto recordings with Klemperer will recognise a very similar approach.

[richardfinegold]

Returning to this Barenboim is particularly fine in the early sonatas and the playing has such energy - anyone who loves his piano concerto recordings with Klemperer will recognise a very similar approach.

Did you ever get the Fischer cycle?