Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Bruce Hungerford :: Beethoven: Masterpieces for Solo Piano

One of the Best

The Cultural Observer | 09/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is unfortunate that Bruce Hungerford's untimely death prevented him from completing a complete cycle of Beethoven's sonatas. Otherwise, he could have been ranked among the greatest of the great. His playing explores the deep text of a score as vividly as Arrau would, and his technique is nearly as virtuostic as Horowitz. He would have been the perfect performer of these great, powerful pieces of music had he lived long enough, and it is a pity that only a small circle of piano-lovers recognize his talent. I recommend him highly, and the sound is indeed amazing as well."

Most impressive!

SwissDave | Switzerland | 11/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I collect interpretations of Beethoven sonatas, thus was surprised to learn there are "old and tested" performances (I should really say, ones of this stature!) I did not know. The "A Thérèse", "Waldstein", "Tempest" and Op. 109 sonatas are absolute standouts here, and Hungerford's Op. 110 also ranks among the finest versions I know. They all tend to be, for the lack of a better word, masculine performances, in the best sense of the term, as well as intellectual ones, thoroughly considered, sometimes surprising in conception as well as detail, though never unnecessarily cute. Better yet, there's not a single letdown on this double CD. At this price, buy first and think later, or else these might disappear again before you know what you're missing...



Greetings from Switzerland, David."