As time goes by, I find my preferences changing a bit in these works. I still love the Emersons, but the late quatets performed by the Takacs have really captivated me lately.

And in the piano sonatas I've been moving away from Goode and really enjoying Arrau.

I was going to start a thread on these quartets as they are some of the most important pieces for me personally. I had the pleasure of acquiring the Emerson Quartet's recording of the whole Beethoven cycle.

The recording quality is some of the best I have heard in chamber music. Having recorded a chamber music CD, I know how hard it is to get it right, but they did. The sounds are natural and not pressed without the sibilant edge that you get sometimes with string quartets. However, the detail is stunning and the recording is not dull. The ensemble sounds like a truly homogenous (sp?) ensemble.

The ensemble and music making are the best that I have ever heard on any CD. The quartet truly functions as a unit and the flexibility they show as a group is truly breath taking.

They also play with incredible energy and artistry. What is so remarkable is that they do this as an ensemble and not as four great players who play well together. The difference is subtle, but for someone who is in this business, I have never heard a group take it to this level before.

When I put the first CD into listen to, I was completely blown away. I had that, WOW factor, and concluded that I have never heard a performance at this level before.

I have talked to a lot of my string player colleagues and they say that the Emerson Quartet is truly special. Although the Alban Berg and Takacs Quartets were also mentioned in those dicussions.

Anyway, the Emerson Beethoven cycle is my deserted island pick for all-time favorite recording.

I will try and show a little more enthusiasm next time I post.

dshea

Quote:



What a great post!

dshea

Quote:



The last movement you are referring to is the Grosse Fugue, Op. 133. It has its own opus number, but is really the original final movement to the Op. 130 quartet. It is one of the most extraordinary things ever written, IMHO. Igor Stravinsky, who never shyed away from harshly critiquing music of early periods, said that this piece will always be a piece of contemporary music.

dshea

For the quartets, I have complete sets on cd of Alban Berg, Guarneri, Takasc. I also have some recordings on vinyl of the Juilliard, but I rarely take them out. I am seriously considering the Emerson's if I can find it at a less expensive price. Of these, for a traditional interpretation, then the Alban Berg are really tops, despite my sentimental attachment to the Guarneri (they were my first live Beethoven quartet recital), I have to admit that the Alban Berg really outplay them on the recording. They bring more insight to the slower movements than any other group that I have heard. For sheer playfulness and inventiveness, then the Takasc take the prize. I love the way they play with the dynamics and their rhythms are spot on. They combine virtuousity with such joy that it is a pleasure listening to them. Btw, I have also been considering the Auryn Quartett's Beethoven cycle because I loved what they did with the Schubert Quartets. But, these are unbelievably expensive and only available from one vendor here in the States (SACD or DVD-A only).

For the piano sonatas, to the best of my recollection, I have the complete Kempf (later stereo recording) and the Arrau. I also have most of sonatas done by Serkin (from various stages of his career). These are all excellent, just a slightly different viewpoint. I also have selections by Rubinstein (excellent remasters), Horowitz, Pollini of which the later sonatas are probably best and John O'Conor (most romantic and most pedal of all of the interpretations). I had one recording by Earl Wilde which I gave away -- enough said.

The real revelation however, is an SACD fortepiano recording recently released by BIS of Ronald Brautigam playing Complete Works for Solo Piano Vol. 1 (Sonatas op.13 Pathétique, Op. 14 Nos 1 & 2, Op. 22) which is truly amazing. Many will call the fortepiano's sound compressed, but in these works it is the true star, giving great understanding to Beethoven's dynamic markings.

I was in Barnes and Noble today and picked up the June BBC Music Magazine. On the cover was the "free cd" of Beethoven Sonatas by Artur Pizarro! When I get to them (the stack is so HUGE!) I'll post, but BBC is very enthusiastic and you can hear the 1st movement of the Moonlight and the 3rd movement of the Appassionata here.

Could they possibly know what we are discussing here?

for the quartets I think all the right names have already been mentioned. Just want to add that the Takacs (my favourite for the middle quartets, esp the Harp is lovely) can be found at yourmusic.com for $5.99 per CD. On the late quartets according to the day and the mood I may go for the Berg or the Quartetto Italiano. As Tyson said in another thread with music so rich and complex it is impossible to find the "best" interpretation... unfortunately you have to own them all
Speaking of sonatas what are your favourite violin sonatas? I picked up more or less by accident Vengerov playing "Spring" and "Kreutzer" on the violon and I was really impressed, especially by the first.

Calaf,

The best recording of the Kreutzer that I have ever heard is the Perlman/Argerich from a live performance at Tanglewood. Both Perlman and Argerich are spotlight hogs so you would think that this would be a disaster, but listening to it is like listening to a seduction, and the consummation is magnificent!

My favourite Spring/Kreutzer is the Perlman/Ashkenazy pairing on Decca. Very intense and emotional coupled with good recording quality. I've heard other interpretations by Menuhin/?, Pires/Dumay and Schneiderhan/Kempff but the Perlman/Ashkenazy is really special.

I have the Kremer/Argerich and Perlman/Ashkenazy, and believe me the pairing of Argerich/Perlman is the best of the best!

Quote:



Who am I to argue with the lady? Another CD to order...
Thanks for the tip!

Edit: Bunnyears, is this it? The Amazon samples are very good indeed.

Quote:



same here! Our library has the Perlman/Ashkenazy set, I'll pick it up and compare the two...

I like the Perlman/Ashkenazy the best, in fact their whole set is first rate. Even better than the Perlman/Argerich (JMHO). Makes me wish that Ashkenazy had done more chamber music, he's really first rate, and does a lot to reign it Perlman's natural "showmanship". This set has really stood the test of time in my collection. I have several other complete sets, but none of them hit the balance quite as well. I wish I could say the same for Ashkanazy's Chopin set, which I really liked at first, but like less and less now that I have the Arrau, the Rubinstein, and the Francois sets.

I have to agree that I like the Perlman/Ashkenazy sonatas better than the Argerich/Kremer sonatas, but the Argerich/Perlman one time, one recording, really is an earth shaker. It's just a solitaire diamond sparkling in the sunlight.

Does anyone have the Oistrakh/Oborin violin sonatas? They are supposed to be the standard.