Paul Lewis and the Late Beethoven sonatas

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano

More, detailed listening to come on the main rig tomorrow. I think the interesting comparison may be versus the Uchida (which gets a lot of great feedback on Amazon.com).

The Uchida is the only one I have, but, rather than go with the amazon reviews, I just watched what Haim listens to (I am serious, I have enjoyed everything I have bought that he has posted - next purchase of this variety will be Lin/Shostakovich preludes which I believe was Haim's pick of favorite 2009 release). The Uchida seems fine to me but it is not music I listen-to often and I have nothing else to compare it to.

I look forward to your further comments, Adrian.

A belated Happy New Year to you and your family, seems like you have had some extra time-off for listening ?

regards
Jeff A

Thanks Jeff - kids go back to school in the morning so yes some extra listening time.

I am not an expert on this stuff by any stretch. I am trying to understand and learn from what Mike E is so passionate about hence my purchase of the Pollini, particularly as I like the Lewis. Bottom line is, they all sound good, they all play well, the pianos all sound different/recorded differently. I need to spend more time trying to hear the differences in artistic interpretation versus sound of piano. The big question is do I have the stamina and patience to go as deep as Mike on this stuff - very unlikely, a bit like trying to read a novel with me, I get distracted. But I am going to give it a shot (I am also trying to read a hefty book as well).

Cheers

PS, I agree Haim has a keen ear.

It is strictly my opinion and wouldn't be popular on these threads, but multiple versions/styles would not be something I could pursue. I did that a bit with jazz, and soon found myself not caring if I ever heard another version of, for example, "Blame It On My Youth". Essentially, I am talking "covers" here (ducking, incoming). I will piggy-back your experiences, Adrian.

I hope every one has a wonderful 2010 filled with the music (and interpretation) that floats their boat.

good listenin'
Jeff A

I think the Opus 109 is the most accessible of the late sonatas, and always start there.

Have fun with the Pollini.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Anderson:
It is strictly my opinion and wouldn't be popular on these threads, but multiple versions/styles would not be something I could pursue.
Jeff A

Jeff, I have said that some where else in one of Mike's threads (I agree with you), that one of the good things of liking say an E.S.T album is that there is only one E.S.T, no one else plays their music and rather than work my way through many different versions of the same, that to the untrained ear all sound the same, I just have to worry - do I like their music or not - end of.

So this is a bit of a learning for me. Just read one page of my book and then I got distracted.

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jeff Anderson:
that to the untrained ear

One of my best friends is a part-time musician in genres I am most familiar with and he and I can rarely talk music as we have not heard the same thing. When I was, literally, following an artist a few years back (ie: 50+ shows in two years) I would often make a comment after a show and he would look at me like I was from another planet.

I look forward to comments on Lewis live, also.

I'll slink back where I belong now.

Jeff A

Jeff, I never set out to own more than one version of a work, but things happen.

Most often, something doesn't make musical sense, and I go looking for another interpretation. But with these late Beethoven Sonatas, the music has such a grip on my imagination, I am always eager to hear a new version.

That non-withstanding, the Pollini has maintained its grip on me for over a decade.

So it goes.

Stick around, forget slinking :-)

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:
I never set out to own more than one version of a work, but things happen. Stick around, forget slinking :-)

Actually, the slinking was being done with style and grace - at least, that was how I saw it.

If there is a lesson hear (intentional), it is that for those of us lucky enough to love music, (ie; you, me, everyone spending time hear), if we are lucky, again, the music leads us where we need to go to enjoy it, for ourselves, to the fullest. If another shares a similar journey parallel to ours, we are blessed.

But trying to explain the unexplainable leads us all to exasperation at times.

Enjoy your discoveries in 2010. I'll be reading and learning.

regards
Jeff A

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Anderson:

But trying to explain the unexplainable leads us all to exasperation at times.

regards
Jeff A

Never reach for an explanation, it's more like catching a patch of sun on a cloudy day.

If you notice a thing or two on a listen, and remember it, then after a few more listens, there is an image of something in your head.

If noting those things on subsequent listens uncovers even more to hear, well, that is worthwhile.

You never know it all. What you can do is keep a fresh and ready ear :-)

So forget exasperation, think relaxation.

The hardest thing to do is to just listen ...

Sorry, I apparently was unable to convey what I meant. Which is why I will continue with the style and grace thing.

regards
Jeff A