classical music question or two

[dimm0k]

I was brought up learning to play the piano and I guess that's where I have this "passion" for musical pieces that incorporate the piano. Unfortunately I no longer play, but maybe with enough listening I may find myself on the ivories again...

Anyway I was looking to acquire some specific musical pieces by Beethoven and Mozart, so my question is how do I find the best reproduction of these pieces? Correct me if I'm wrong but I was under the impression that the CDs that contain these pieces these days are merely someone's interpretation of those pieces...

 

[Henry Flower]

I'm not sure I understand your question: do want to find recommended interpretations, or 'reproductions' that are somehow not interpretations? If the former, just ask around. If the latter, I think you're looking for something that doesn't exist.

 

[dimm0k]

I guess I was looking for the latter, but I was not sure if they existed or not. Thanks for the clarification.

Any recommendation for Beethoven's Fur Elise?

 

[DavidMahler]

Fur Elise is the most often learned piano piece, however, it is one of Beethoven's least recorded works because it is not considered to be a good piece of music by Beethoven afficianados.......Alfred Brendel has recorded it for Philips. For a good Beethoven piano piece try the Pathetique Sonata (Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor) for starters. My favorite version of that is Stephen Kovacevich for EMI.

 

[kodreaming]

Fur Elise is a quite simple, but beautiful piece . However, it is not a popular piece for serious pianists. It is mostly included in those easy listening classical CDs.

Brendel is my favorite pianist. I will recommend this one.
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/...?album_id=4524

 

[scompton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kodreaming /img/forum/go_quote.gif Fur Elise is a quite simple, but beautiful piece . However, it is not a popular piece for serious pianists. It is mostly included in those easy listening classical CDs. Brendel is my favorite pianist. I will recommend this one. http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/...?album_id=4524

That album has been on my list of ones to buy for over a year. I should probably get it some time. There's just too many good albums to buy

 

[Agent Kang]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dimm0k /img/forum/go_quote.gif Anyway I was looking to acquire some specific musical pieces by Beethoven and Mozart, so my question is how do I find the best reproduction of these pieces? Correct me if I'm wrong but I was under the impression that the CDs that contain these pieces these days are merely someone's interpretation of those pieces...

Unless you find a recording with Herr Beethoven playing the sonata himself you're pretty much limited to others interpreting his music. So was this a serious question?

 

[Agent Kang]

Now, if you're looking for great recordings of his famous 32 sonatas, you're in luck as there is an abundance of talented musicians who recorded these works.

Gulda, Giles (incomplete), Fischer, Brendel, Shnabel, Arrau, Richter (only a few), Pollini (late sonatas are ok), and even Gould.

Best complete set IMO are Fischer, Gulda, and Schnabel (mono).

 

[DavidMahler]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agent Kang /img/forum/go_quote.gif Now, if you're looking for great recordings of his famous 32 sonatas, you're in luck as there is an abundance of talented musicians who recorded these works. Gulda, Giles (incomplete), Fischer, Brendel, Shnabel, Arrau, Richter (only a few), Pollini (late sonatas are ok), and even Gould. Best complete set IMO are Fischer, Gulda, and Schnabel (mono).

Pollini's late sonatas are more than OK

best in the catalogue in my humble opinion

 

[Agent Kang]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidMahler /img/forum/go_quote.gif Pollini's late sonatas are more than OK

You're absolutely right.

I must give credit where credit is due.

 

[Tyson]

Agreed on Pollini - almost anything he does in beethoven is near-definitive, IMO, and the late sonatas are no exception. For complete cycles, Good and Kempff are my top choices, with Gulda and Arrau not far behind.

 

[analogbox]

It seems that Emil Gilels is the most underated piano player. So far I only have two of his incomplete beethoven sonata cycle set, but I gotta say they are great. I also enjoy listening to John O'Conor and Andras Schiff.

My next list would be Pollini's. I've had his albums in my shopping cart for awhile now. I kinda feared that he'd have his heavy breathing noise like he did on Nocturnes but listening to the samples on iTune have cleared that issue.

 

[augustwest]

Pollini is long on technique, but short on humanity. If that is what you seek in your Beethoven interpretation he's your guy.

- augustwest

 

[robm321]

Quote:

Originally Posted by augustwest /img/forum/go_quote.gif Pollini is long on technique, but short on humanity. If that is what you seek in your Beethoven interpretation he's your guy. - augustwest

ha ha Isn't Beethoven about humanity? I guess that's what your point was.

 

[DavidMahler]

Quote:

Originally Posted by augustwest /img/forum/go_quote.gif Pollini is long on technique, but short on humanity. If that is what you seek in your Beethoven interpretation he's your guy. - augustwest

I disagree with this statement. I would rather phrase it as "Pollini is long on technique and sometimes that overshadows his humanity." I find a lot of passion in Pollini's approach....however, for Beethoven preceeding the Waldstein Sonata I wouldn't use Pollini as a reference because I do search for someone whos humanity exceeds their technique in those instances....someone like Kempff or Brendel. Brendel's sort of split right down the middle.