Beethoven's op 111
Posted by: graham55 on 07 November 2006
Was there ever a more extraordinary piece of music?
The fist time that I heard it, where the variations in the second movemebt broke out into the 'ragtime' piece, I just laughed out loud. I assumed that the pianist (Maurizio Pollini) had gone off on a frolic of his own. But, no, it's what Beethoven wrote.
No one has ever come close to the piece for me since Pollini (although I like Kovacevich on Philips and EMI). And I have a hugely treasured DG LP box set of Pollini's late Beethoven recordings, signed for me by the man himself at the RFH a long time ago.
Any thoughts from anyone else as to who plays this well?
Graham
Posted on: 07 November 2006 by Oldnslow
Lots of pianists play this great piece well in my view (Anderszewski, Kovacevich, Benjamin Frith, Maria Yudina are all superb) but my favorite is the l957 performance by Rudolf Serkin. I like Pollini's Beethoven but have not heard his Diabelli. I would also like to hear it played by Ronald Brautigam on fortepiano, which I'm sure he will do in a few years).
Posted on: 07 November 2006 by Oldnslow
Oops, sorry,. I thought you were referring to the Diabelli Variations!! Lots of great Op.111 too and certainly Pollini is right up there with the best. I also have a fondness for Michaelangeli's Opus 111 on Decca, a performance that was vilified by lots of critics(and probably still is) when it first appeared on LP. Doesn't bother me. I love it.
Posted on: 08 November 2006 by graham55
I don't think that Decca have released Michelangeli's recording on CD, which seems a strange omission. I have a live account available on BBC Legends.
Graham
Posted on: 08 November 2006 by Michael_B.
Serkin's performance of 111 is also very fine in my opinion.
Posted on: 08 November 2006 by Oldnslow
I know Michaelangeli's Op.111 on Decca has not been reissued on CD yet, probably because it was so scathingly reviewed! The old LP also had some wonderful Scarlatti and that little Galuppi sonata, which I love. I have the BBC Legends performance of Op.111, but I don't think it is as good as the Decca.
Posted on: 11 November 2006 by Todd A
I love the Op 111, but I think some praise heaped upon it is a bit hagiographic.
As to recordings, there are plenty of good ones. Pollini's is among the best, there's no doubt, but among my favorites I'd also include: Annie Fischer's Hungaroton recording (and her EMI one is pretty good, too); Robert Silverman in both his Orpheum Masters and Rouvain recordings; Craig Sheppard’s recent recording; Friedrich Gulda’s 1964 recital performance on Orfeo; the aforementioned Serkin; and even Walter Gieseking in his very swift yet surprisingly good 1947 recording. I have a couple recordings of Michelangeli in this (though not the Decca recording), and neither is especially good – he’s much better in music other than Beethoven.
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Posted on: 14 November 2006 by Oldnslow
I strongly concur with Todd's recommendation of Gulda's live recital on Orfeo from '64 Saltzburg festival. Entire recital (which contains op.2, no2, Moonlight, and op110-111) is outstanding, and a unique live recording of this fascinating artist. Good mono sound too.
