Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Felix [1] Mendelssohn, Franz [Vienna] Schubert :: Essential Rudolf Serkin

Another Sony mix-and-match mess

kaream | 03/22/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This 2-CD set is another of Sony's stupid mix-and-match samplers for which their uncomprehending corporate suits are so notorious. As much as I love Rudolf Serkin, I'm sorry I bought this thing sight unseen. I suppose if anyone enjoys listening to isolated movements from Brahms or Schubert, go for it; this is all very fine piano playing. The Schubert Impromptu, of course, stands alone as is, but chopping up the sonata, quintet and concerto just makes hash of them.



Here's what's actually on it:



CD 1:

Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata, complete (1962)

Mendelssohn: Prelude and Fugue Op 35 No 1, complete (1976)

Schubert: 4 Impromptus D935, No 2 in A flat only (1979)

Beethoven: 11 Bagatelles Op 119, complete (1966)

Schubert: Piano Sonata D960, 2nd movement only (1975)

Brahms: Piano Quintet Op 34, 4th movement only (with the Budapest Quartet, 1963)



CD 2:

Brahms: Piano Concerto No 2, 1st movement only (with Szell & Cleveland Orch, 1966)

Schumann: Konzertstueck Op 92, complete (with Ormandy & Philadelphia Orch, 1964)

Mendelssohn: Capriccio Brillante Op 22, complete (with Ormandy & Philadelphia Orch, 1967)

Mozart: Piano Concerto No 20 K466, complete (with Szell & Columbia Sym, undated here, but an earlier and much preferable Sony CD set identifies this performance as 1961): Mozart: Legendary Interpretations by Rudolf Serkin





A complete Schubert Sonata D960 is on Schubert: Piano Sonata D. 960; Piano Sonata D. 840 "Reliquie", but I don't know if this is the same performance. The very fine live "75th Birthday at Carnegie Hall" rendering of this majestic sonata was only briefly available on LP, and apparently has never been reissued in CD format.



The same Brahms Quintet, complete, is available on Brahms - Three String Quartets Op. 51, together with the Budapest on the String Quartets.



The same Brahms Concerto, complete, is on Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2.



To the best of my knowledge Serkin never made a studio recording of the complete D935 Impromptus, nor any at all of the D899 set of four. A few Impromptus from various live recitals have been in print from time to time on other labels.



I'm afraid I have to admit that Serkin's reading of the Moonlight Sonata has never been one of my favorites, whereas I like most of his other Beethoven much better.





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