Schiff doesn't disappoint.....
Janos Gardonyi | Toronto, Ontario Canada | 12/28/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Volume III of Andras Schiff's much praised Beethoven sonata series has just come out. Single CD contains two `baby' sonatas (Op.49), familiar to all piano students, and Op. 14 no1 and 2 , more mature works from 1798-99, and the grand sonata Op 22 from 1800. We are past the `Pathetique' now and Beethoven's unique voice is more and more manifest. Schiff `s playing is analytical and crystal clear yet full of expression and has a singing quality so important to these pieces, especially Sonata No 10, my favorite in this group.No hesitation to recommend it."
András Schiff defines Beethoven's piano sonatas
Scaffa | Sweden | 01/05/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
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This review refers to the eight volumes of András Schiff's cycle of Beethoven's piano sonatas released by ECM Records. The lay out of the volumes is as follows:
Vol 1: opp. 2 and 7
Vol 2: opp. 10 and 13
Vol 3: opp. 49, 14 and 22
Vol 4: opp. 26, 27 and 28
Vol 5: opp. 31 and 53
Vol 6: opp. 54, 57, 78, 79 and 81a
Vol 7: opp. 90, 101 and 106
Vol 8: opp. 109, 110 and 111
All recordings except those on the last volume are of live performances (from 2004 to 2006) in the Tonhalle Zurich in front of a very quiet audience. No coughing between movements, no applause at the end, and hardly any noise at all during performances. The last volume was recorded in the empty hall of the Reitstadel in Neumarkt, Germany. The sound quality is superb throughout. The separation of the channels is done so that you have the higher notes, located on the right hand side of the keyboard, in the right channel, and the lower notes in the left channel. Personally I find this the only acceptable way of organising piano music into a stereo recording. It gives you the impression of sitting in with the pianist.
Schiff's performances are of the highest order. He even manages to breathe new life into often-heard sonatas such as the Op 27-2, Moonlight. Pianists have not been able to agree on how to interpret Beethoven's instructions for the first movement of the Moonlight. Some, including Schiff, take Beethoven literally and push down the pedal for the entire movement (this and many other things is explained by Schiff in his Wigmore Hall lectures which are available for free download from the Guardian website). Gulda did the same in his 1950s cycle but not in his 1960s cycle. The result is mesmerising and beautiful. In addition, Schiff plays the Moonlight sonata at a slightly faster speed than what is commonly done, which makes for a fresh and contemporary take on this well-known piece.
No single cycle will probably satisfy you completely. I find much of Barenboim's playing on his 1960s cycle very odd but his performance of the Hammerklavier would follow me to a desert island. Gulda's 1960s cycle is mostly excellent (as is the sound, but one has to accentuate 'mostly' here because there are some awkward splices) but I can't think of any better way of starting your exploration of these magnificent works than by listening to Schiff's cycle. He has a sublime touch, a masterly control over his means and an artistic sensibility that will convince you that this is how Beethoven should be played. And it's all rendered in glorious sound. Highly recommendable.
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Good Beethoven rendition
sabnizta | OH, USA | 02/15/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I feel more respect to Schiff's playing after listened to his recent lectures on all Beethoven sonatas, and bought all his current released Beethoven sonata CDs (Vol.I-III) and will get his next release when it's available. I used to think Schiff as a good Bach or Mozart interpreter but hardly would think of him as that good on Beethoven, and his new Beethoven CDs certainly have proved that I was wrong about him. This CD and others have really good sound quality and Schiff's playing is excellent to say the least. It's not to say however that I agree with everything Schiff did, and feel that his playing sometimes feels on a little 'sluggish' side, comparing with Pollini's more precise and decisive playing of Beethoven. Nevertheless, it's a good refreshing rendition of Beethoven sonata set, and I certainly would recommend everyone who's into Beethoven sonatas to get it."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1