classicalguy
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Enough with symphonies. I'm interested in opinions on the Beethoven String Quartets and the Beethoven Piano Sonatas.
The best version I have of the quartets is the Italiano - pretty good sound, and sprightly preformances (I actually only have their middle and late quartets). The Guarneri comes in a close second. I also have the old Budapest recordings that were reissued on Masterworks Heritage, which are very good but the sound quality (mono) just doesn't measure up, IMO. I have not heard the Emersons (very full [read over] priced), and I have not heard the new cycle (only partially released, I believe) by the Takacs [also full/over priced] (both have garnered great reviews). Finally, I'd have not heard the Orford on Delos, which I expect would have great sound, but no one seems to talk about it.
With respect to piano concertos, I have and like two versions by Brendel (older one being a more interesting, newer one having better sound), but I don't think (as many seem to) that he is the last word in this genre. Nor have I been overwhelmed by the few disks I have of Richard Goode, who also receives "THE set to own" praise.
Pollini brings his near-perfect technique along with pretty good recorded sound but lacks inventiveness. His playing to me is almost too perfect. His mentor Michaelangeli was able to play perfect while still bringing electricity to the performance, but alas never completed a full or near full set of anything.
I would put John O'Conor's Telarc performance in that same class as Pollini - note perfect, but lacking in excitement. I have various performances by Richter that provide inventiveness and excitement in spades but lack in the recorded sound dept, and miscellaneous versions by Taub, Gilels, Wild, Rosenberger, and others that have merits and demerits. I heard glowing reports regarding the sound of the Robert Silverman set put out by stereophile, but few comments about the quality of the performance. So is there a "perfect set," or is this an area that by necessity calls for individual performances according to one's mood?
The best version I have of the quartets is the Italiano - pretty good sound, and sprightly preformances (I actually only have their middle and late quartets). The Guarneri comes in a close second. I also have the old Budapest recordings that were reissued on Masterworks Heritage, which are very good but the sound quality (mono) just doesn't measure up, IMO. I have not heard the Emersons (very full [read over] priced), and I have not heard the new cycle (only partially released, I believe) by the Takacs [also full/over priced] (both have garnered great reviews). Finally, I'd have not heard the Orford on Delos, which I expect would have great sound, but no one seems to talk about it.
With respect to piano concertos, I have and like two versions by Brendel (older one being a more interesting, newer one having better sound), but I don't think (as many seem to) that he is the last word in this genre. Nor have I been overwhelmed by the few disks I have of Richard Goode, who also receives "THE set to own" praise.
Pollini brings his near-perfect technique along with pretty good recorded sound but lacks inventiveness. His playing to me is almost too perfect. His mentor Michaelangeli was able to play perfect while still bringing electricity to the performance, but alas never completed a full or near full set of anything.
I would put John O'Conor's Telarc performance in that same class as Pollini - note perfect, but lacking in excitement. I have various performances by Richter that provide inventiveness and excitement in spades but lack in the recorded sound dept, and miscellaneous versions by Taub, Gilels, Wild, Rosenberger, and others that have merits and demerits. I heard glowing reports regarding the sound of the Robert Silverman set put out by stereophile, but few comments about the quality of the performance. So is there a "perfect set," or is this an area that by necessity calls for individual performances according to one's mood?