Exploring Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I think that member ferneyhoughgeliebte has posted negatively about the Regis transfers. The current DG 1950s set is fine to my ears but more expensive than the Regis, inevitably.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Pi...sonatas+kempff

This looks too good to be true:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Complete-Sonatas-Collection-Remastered/dp/B0098VH8NO/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&sr=1-1&keywords=beethoven+piano+sonatas+kempff

... but it's actually a better way of getting this set than the REGIS version, IMO. The sound is a little "boxy", but not at all unpleasant - and very clear throughout the piano compass. No surface noise - and the price is even better than when I forked out for it about six months ago (when they ripped nearly a fiver off me!). And, despite the slightly misleading title - it's the complete cycle of Sonatas. Heartily recommended.

[verismissimo]

This looks too good to be true:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Complete-Sonatas-Collection-Remastered/dp/B0098VH8NO/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&sr=1-1&keywords=beethoven+piano+sonatas+kempff

... but it's actually a better way of getting this set than the REGIS version, IMO. The sound is a little "boxy", but not at all unpleasant - and very clear throughout the piano compass. No surface noise - and the price is even better than when I forked out for it about six months ago (when they ripped nearly a fiver off me!). And, despite the slightly misleading title - it's the complete cycle of Sonatas. Heartily recommended.

Thanks ferney. But not for this Neanderthal.

[johnb]

The problem with these examples of CDs/download files which have been cheaply produced from out of copyright material, presumably old vinyl pressings, is that the remastering can be a very mixed bag. For repertoire or performers I am mildly curious about I might well buy such downloads/CDs but for something like Kempff's Beethoven cycle I would much prefer to spend a bit more and hopefully get more reliable audio quality.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'm pretty certain you would get better quality sound from the CD set, johnb, but £26 + P&P is rather more than "a bit more than" £3.99

Wha'evva - this is a superb set, recommendable without reserve to all budgets.