Any classical fans out there? Recommend a good Beethoven box set?

[scottmandue]

Specifically his {Beethoven} piano writings.
We rented 'Immortal Beloved' last night (1994 movie about Beethoven's life) and my wife was all ga-ga over his piano music and hinted that Christmas is right around the courner.
I have a smattering of classical CD's (most of which have been relegated to the garage) the usual suspects, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Handel, Rachmaninov, etc.

I know we have classical lovers are out there.

Searched Amazon for 'Beethoven piano' and came up with a long list of options.

Will someone out the recommend a set of high quality recordings (for me) that has his... dare I say... 'top hits' (for my wife).

Thanks in advance!

And happy Thanksgiving!

[Nostril Cheese]

Live at Budokan was pretty good.

[1990C4S]

Very happy with this one...

[Por_sha911]

No suggestions on a box set but I do have an opinion.

This may get shot at but, I prefer Ludwig Von on vinyl. Has more soul.

[Noney]

A search for anything involving Beethoven will yield an enormous amount of hits, so it's tough to nail down exactly what you want. Luckily, you've narrowed it down to his piano works. Beethoven was an ace piano player and was known for his ability to improvise on the spot, so any interpretation of his piano works must be approached carefully and with great respect. In my mind, no one has done this as well as Richard Goode. Mr. Goode has dedicated the majority of his musical life to the interpretations of Beethoven's piano music, and he was the first American to record the complete Beethoven Sonatas. His works are very highly regarded by "the experts" and if you're looking for a place to start, these might bear further exploration.

The Sonatas
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas / Richard Goode - Nonesuch - NON 79328 - - HBDirect Classical

The Concertos
Beethoven: Piano Concertos / Fischer, Goode, Budapest, Festival Orchestra - Non - HBDirect Classical

[BE911SC]

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Noney

A search for anything involving Beethoven will yield an enormous amount of hits, so it's tough to nail down exactly what you want. Luckily, you've narrowed it down to his piano works. Beethoven was an ace piano player and was known for his ability to improvise on the spot, so any interpretation of his piano works must be approached carefully and with great respect. In my mind, no one has done this as well as Richard Goode. Mr. Goode has dedicated the majority of his musical life to the interpretations of Beethoven's piano music, and he was the first American to record the complete Beethoven Sonatas. His works are very highly regarded by "the experts" and if you're looking for a place to start, these might bear further exploration.

The Sonatas
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas / Richard Goode - Nonesuch - NON 79328 - - HBDirect Classical

The Concertos
Beethoven: Piano Concertos / Fischer, Goode, Budapest, Festival Orchestra - Non - HBDirect Classical

Thank you, as you say I started reading reviews of the different Beethoven recordings and there is a lot of love/hate for the different performers.
Have you heard any of Claudio Arrau's work? Friedrich Gulda? Daniel Barenboim?

[varmint]

hard to beat the von Karajan symphonies collection.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by BE911SC

I know the movie we watched was not a documentary but that is pretty funny, apparently Beethoven had quite a temper.

[imcarthur]

Perhaps the most beloved Piano Sonata's are:

Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor ("Pathétique")
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor 'Sonata quasi una fantasia' ("Moonlight")
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor ("Appassionata") (1805)

Those would be a good starting point.

Ian

[Noney]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Thank you, as you say I started reading reviews of the different Beethoven recordings and there is a lot of love/hate for the different performers.
Have you heard any of Claudio Arrau's work?

I am only familiar with Arrau's Debussy and Liszt recordings, so I can't comment on his interpretations of Beethoven. Arrau is a legend and his catalog of recordings is so large that it's nearly impossible to digest all of them, but there's no denying his talent. One of the things I look forward to in retirement (hopefully) is having the time to get my arms completely around a body of work such as this. Hopefully I get there some day!

Beethoven was not an aristocrat or a land owner, but he still had the ego (and the talent!) to pretty much do as he liked. If you've read about Steve Jobs you'll know that despite his ego, temper, and general schitty attitude, people put up with him because of his god-given gifts. Same thing with Beethoven. He could be insufferable at times, but he wrote with such passion, conviction and sheer beauty that people were naturally drawn to him. It's this ego, passion and bigger-than-life persona that I feel really comes through in Richard Goode's interpretations.

Good luck in your search, music is a great gift!

[scottmandue]

Wifey just emailed me:

Beethoven: Complete Sonatas for Piano & Cello

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Yo-Yo Ma (Performer), Emanuel Ax (Performer)

Not exactly what I was looking for but may be a cheap way out.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Noney

I am only familiar with Arrau's Debussy and Liszt recordings, so I can't comment on his interpretations of Beethoven. Arrau is a legend and his catalog of recordings is so large that it's nearly impossible to digest all of them, but there's no denying his talent. One of the things I look forward to in retirement (hopefully) is having the time to get my arms completely around a body of work such as this. Hopefully I get there some day!

I feel really comes through in Richard Goode's interpretations.

Good luck in your search, music is a great gift!

How do you feel about "Emil Gilels Beethoven"? The problem with reading internet reviews is fans of the artist gush and there are always a few haters.

I feel the same way you do about retirement, except in my case it will be digging through my bookcase.

[herr_oberst]

My favorite piece is "Moonlight" (Sonata #14), William Kempff on piano, from a 1995 vinyl album called:

"Beethoven, Piano Sonatas # 8, 14, 21 & 22"

I can play this over and over for an hour, and I often do.......it's been digitized and I listen at work through the headphones....

As far as a boxed set, I only have one, it's a Murray Hill recording of Josef Krips conducting the London Symphony called "Beethoven Complete Nine Symphonies" Released in 1960.

I've listened through just once in a long rainy weekend, but I don't remember anything memorable about it. It gets good reviews, though.

[BE911SC]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I know the movie we watched was not a documentary but that is pretty funny, apparently Beethoven had quite a temper.

So did Schroeder.

[scottmandue]

Just cheaped out and ordered the Yo-Yo Ma CD.

Bookmarked the boxed sets to purchase for me after the holidays.

Thanks for your help!

[Noney]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

How do you feel about "Emil Gilels Beethoven"?

Sorry, I haven't heard Gilels' recordings.

I totally sympathize with your feelings about the reviews, however. A lot of the classical snobs will declare that their favorite recording is the pinnacle of music and the ONLY acceptable version, while others will purchase the same CD not realizing that it was recorded in the '50s or '60s and bash the hell out of it due to the lack of dynamic range and quality of the recording. Once you start to get into classical music, I think it's important to listen to different recordings of the same piece of music so that you can hear the different approaches that are taken. Even slight variations in emphasis and dynamics can drastically change the mood of a composition.

That Yo-Yo Ma CD you bought should go over well. He is a great "gateway drug" into the world of classical music and he's managed to walk the fine line between mass appeal and legit musicianship. Like Metallica, some people have thrown him under the bus for selling out, but I think he's the real deal and I still throw his CDs in on occasion.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

Live at Budokan was pretty good.

[5String43]

Piano? Hard to beat Arrou. And man, the 14th, "Moonlight," is something special, isn't it.

[JCF]

You tube has an amazing selection of different performances - this by Arrau is beyond category.

Find an artist that resonates with you because all have different approaches to the music.
I really like Alfred Brendel.

- and then get multiple versions of the late sonatas -