Search - Beethoven, Artur Schnabel :: Piano Sonatas 1

Schnabel is still champion!

Ralph J. Steinberg | New York, NY United States | 03/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The more I hear of Schnabel's Beethoven, the less I desire to hear other pianists in this literature. I know that this is a narrow-minded attitude, but I have never heard any other pianist who could approach this kind of vital and profound music-making. Much has been said about Schnabel's supremacy in the late Sonatas, but his mastery of these early works is also supreme. He brings to these works a sparkle and restless vitality in the fast movements that makes the music come alive as no one else can. And he has the courage to respect the extreme slow tempi of the slow movements. The Rondo a capricio "Rage over a Lost Penny" is breathtaking in its drive, yet all the charm and wit of the piece is there. The sound of these transfers is the best yet - avoid the EMI or other issues. If you have another set of the Sonatas, sell it; once you hear Schnabel, no one else will do."

One of the greatest

salmon | 03/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"if you're one of those who likes to "let the music speak for itself", or rather, let the "score" speak for itself, maybe schnabel is not your choice. there's definately a lot of individualism in schnabel, mostly to bring out what's probably the major weights in the music. yes, there's definately a finger slips here and there (i've never heard schnabel being praised for his technics), but it is definately just a micro-microscopic price paid for one of the greatest beethoven interpretations there is. the transfer job is done by Winner, probably the best you can get. unlike ALL the other transfers, Winner did his best to preserve the original sound, so it doesn't sound muffled or over-pedaled. however, buyers should be warned that it also comes with a lot of surface noises from the original LP.if you find the price unreasonable, may i suggest the same complete schnabel's beethoven sonatas on Dante, with a slightly inferior transfer, but a lower price. to date, there's also a incomplete set still being released by naxos, probably the closest to the pearl set, recording-wise (transfer by obert-thorn), but at only half the price. regards,
aly o salmon"