Search - Alfred Brendel :: Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas [Box Set]

As good as it gets

The Baker Street Irregular | Staines | 01/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Brendel is not the flashiest of pianists: generally, he eschews bombast. There are those who will prefer a greater sense of physical excitement, especially in movements like the finale of the Hammerklavier Sonata (Op. 106). But there is never any exaggeration, or excessive underlining of points: one gets the feeling listening to these that there is no-one standing between yourself and the music. The piano sound is, generally, very successfully captured, and Brendel's tone and clarity of line are exquisite. He gives the early sonatas their proper weight (listen, for instance, to the tragic intensity of the slow movement of Op. 10 No. 3); gives an absolutely sensational performance of - amongst others - the Pastoral Sonata (Op. 28); and as for those visionary late sonatas... there are several great recordings of these, but none more satisfying than these.The liner notes, incidentally, are by the distinguished Beethoven scholar William Kinderman, and are excellent. If I were forced to live with only one item from my CD collection, this box would be it."

Brendel's Third Complete Beethoven Cycle

Matt Matthews | Seattle, WA USA | 05/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There can be no serious doubt that these are among the distinguished performances by any musician on disk. Brendel recorded this cycle early in his career for Vox, then once again for Philips in the 80's; this last cycle, very likely the last he will ever record, exhibits Brendel, a magisterial musician, at the zenith of his genius. Comparisons with other great cycles, while inevitable, do little to point up the particular maturities of these readings. There are, of course, many ways of doing these sonatas. Schnabel is electrifying if a bit rushed on occasion, and often somewhat approximate in his fingerwork. Richard Goode has, perhaps, more rhythmic urgency, flexibility, and (where appropriate, particularly in the opus 2 sonatas) wit. Brendel's forte is in the elegant intellectual clarity of his playing, the sonic beauty, and a respect for the music that communicates itself instantly in the attention he gives to voicing, balance within a chord, to the shaping of phrase, and (most impressively perhaps) to the overall architecture of a movement. The clarity of his playing is nearly unexampled even among the very greatest Beethoven pianists (Backhaus, Arrau, Solomon, Ashekenazy). Goode alone among contemporary pianists gives as much attention to clarity (if not beauty) of tone, separation of voices, lucidity, intellectual and emotional meaning. The more intelligent the listener, the less apt he or she is to seek to stand above and evaluate these radiantly beautiful performances, and more apt, by concentrated listening, to absorb their beauty and learn from them."

Beethoven as Beethoven intended

Matt Matthews | 08/27/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Alfred Brendel has diligently worked his entire life striving for a perfect understanding of the great 32 sonatas of Beethoven. I believe he has reached this point. Within this amazing box set is the most sensitive and acurate playing I have ever heard. I agree with a former reviewer about the incredible playing of the "pastoral" sonata. This sonata has always been my favourite of the "gentle" sonatas of Beethoven. But, upon hearing Brendels rendition.... I was simply astounded. This is not to say that this is the only gem in the collection... there are 32 wonderful renditions (plus that wonderful andante!) each one stands head and shoulders above any other I have heard. If you want to hear what I believe is the most acurate playing of Beethoven, get this now. It will never dissapoint, and will provide a lifetime of enjoyment. Loving congradulations to Beethoven and Brendel!"