New Regis 9 CD box-set of LvB's Sonatas

Debs,

These performances have a better reputation than the stereo cycle, but there isn't much in it. If you like his 60s cycle, you'll probably like his earlier performances a bit more, but if you don't like the 60s cycle, this won't change your mind. Personally, I think Kempff was a master of the small scale works, including the bagatelles. He never convinced me in the bigger works, including most of the sonatas. However, I'm happy to say that I seem to have a minority view.

EJ

Thanks for reply, EJ

I very much enjoy WK’s Ludwig van sonatas when listening to them on Spotify…

but must admit to being a bit disappointed with my poorly pressed ‘Homage to Wilhelm Kempff’ 11 x LP box-set [on DG issued 1991 or 92] although only played a couple of these so far so may get that box out for more play later.

I get the impression these days his performances are used as a benchmark standard of play for others to better?

But I’ve gone ahead and ordered the Regis box-set, i've not heard his early works yet but know i will be okay with the mono, and think the price will only go up in a short while.

Debs

Kempfe's monos are the stuff that dreams are made of.  

Sigmund,

and very nice dreams too i hope ; )

amazon have emailed me to say it's on the way : )

also, just looked and the price has gone down slightly to £16.18

Debs

Warning! I do not recommend the Regis box-set!

Okay, after playing 3 of these 9 cd’s I can confirm the sound quality is very poor.

It’s just not possible to set the volume at an appropriate level without extream loud and harsh clanking in the higher registers, turning the volume down mean you no longer hear the main play, and whichever way you can’t get passed the audio razor wire and on to the musik.

It’s so bad I worry about tweeter damage, and I know it’s caused me some tinittus so I’ve had it with this set.

Today they go back to Amazon for refund : (

There is the Deutsche Grammophon mono 9 cd box-set available on Amazon which is price up at £38 which is presumably the real deal, and this is now on my wish list.

Debs

Debs,

FWIW the DG issue sounds great - lots of tape hiss which in this case is a sign that they didn't tamper with the material too much. I would say, a lot better than the stereo recordings (although I haven't heard the latest remastering of the stereo cycle, which I heard is an improvement on the very dull first CD issue).

EJ

Thanks EJ,

i must admit to wanting a copy of LvB's piano sonatas, but i don't want to collect lots of them at great expense. There are so many around.

The only complete set on CD i've owned before was the Bernard Roberts set on Nimbus Records, but this suffers from chronic recording room reverb with very distant clanking piano.

What may suit me is one of the Brendel versions, [even though they are stereo] they sound very good to me on Spotify - in that I connect with the music and not get hung up on the recording.

Debs

Debs,

I'm partial because I have attended Brendel's concerts several times, but I love his pianism. He got better with age, and his last (digital) set is brilliant although many would say 'overcooked'. I have copy signed by him. Other recommendations:

- Barenboim (EMI; bargain edition - Barenboim is really hot blooded and this underdog recording deserves to be better known)

- Paul Lewis (the most recent great set; great recording quality, performances are accomplished but slightly tame unless listened to at high volume)

- Stephen Kovacevich (duh)

Emil Gilels and Maurizio Pollini have recorded many sonatas, but not all; both are great IMO. Haven't yet heard Arrau, it's next on my own list. Next to Kempff, which I don't like all that much, I also have Annie Fischer. Annie's pure fire, but the performances are too inconsistent to warrant a recommendation.

EJ

Thanks Debs,

I wondered all along what could the appeal be to buy these recordings - other than the obvious lure to save money - that presumably are taken from the original owner.  Maybe someone could explain why or how Regis, or others, can do this?  Yes, I would like to save money too but I still find it hard not to stick with and honour the original source owner who conceived the idea, did the work and took all the risks.  I feel this way about anything I buy and utterly despise those who copy or reverse engineer some product and then profit from some one else's ideas and development.  At least you settled my curiosity and now I don't have to wonder any further on this.

I'll will continue to enjoy either the mono or stereo set.  I like Kempff's style (a very strong, rhythmic left hand and a very legato, lyrical or cantabile singing voice in the right hand) although the two sets are not entirely perfect.  If anything, I think it is the recording quality of both sets that is not entirely satisfactory and somewhat variable.  In fact, I own a few more than one stereo cycle because the very first one I had started driving me crazy (much to bright/shrill).  It turns out the second later one was not any better and well, you can probably predict how the story continues...

It is just a pity that something like recording quality can do such a disservice to a wonderful performer and musician.  

For me, nothing surpasses Barenboim's most recent recording of the the 32 Beethoven sonatas, the third recorded cycle of his career; it's a live performance on DVD, and it's magic. To my ears, never before has the architecture of this music been delineated with such clarity and balance; never before has the narrative of this music been revealed with such organic integrity.

The two bonus DVDs of masterclasses proves that not only can Barenboim walk the walk, he can talk the talk ... he is a great teacher as well as a great musician. He coaches established young pianists like Lang Lang and Jonathan Biss with truly mind-blowing insight, getting right to the crux of the issue and yielding significant improvements with succinct perception and wisdom. I can't recommend this boxed set highly enough.

Fred,

Thanks for your Barenboim recommondation.

I have just received his 2cd set of wtc book one...

It would seem I'm warming to Barenboim with his Old Testament Bach : )

Only played disc one so far, recorded fairly recently in 2003 and it sounds very good, his playing progressively gets more engaging throughout but I think that may just me mellowing out, and tuning in to what is an excellent performance.

Also, I see EMI have just introduced another Barenboim LvB sonata full 10xCD set at a very competitive pre-order price, so I may go for it.

This new set [release date: 6th Sept 2012] is in addition to an earlier EMI set, and also the [original?] Deutsche Grammophon set which I believe are all recordings from the late 1960’s at Abbey Road?

But not sure if this brand new set maybe a later recording…

It doesn't say much about it on amazon, but the £17.99 price is very tempting : )

Debs

Debs,

Barenboim recorded his first set for EMI in the 60s, it is this set that EMI is about to re-release. Barenboim recorded his second cycle for DG in the 80s, and again, on DVD, most recently, for EMI.

There are quite some differences between the EMI and DG sets, and they are all recorded in great sound.

Cheers,

EJ

I am generally a fan of Wilhelm Kempff's piano playing, but somehow I never really connected to the mono-version of the Beethoven Sonatas, so I sold it again. Artur Schnabel's 1930's-version*, also mono,  on the other hand, I thouroughly enjoy. Being from the 1930's obviously the sound quality isn't first-rate, but I think they have done an reasonable good transfer-job, and the quality of Schnabel's playing compensates generously for any lack in sound quality, in my view at least.

Apart from the mentioned EMI 8CD release, there is also a Naxos Historical release of 11 individual CDs. You could perhaps start with one CD from the Naxos-series, just to see if Schnabel is for you. I haven't heard the Naxos release, but I find that generally their releases have a high standard transfer-wise.

*(EMI References/8CD/Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas)

Annie Fischer on Hungaraton is something that can even compare with Schnabel, and with more modern sonics - hardly the point though.

She has all the fire of Schnabel, and seems able to play all the notes! Not a small achievement. She smoked like a train and lived for only one thing - music. Polite music making this is not ... but Beethoven was hardly a polite composer ... first of the moderns, if you leave out JS Bach!

The CD set is not cheap in relative terms, but priceless once encountered.

ATB from George