Authentic mp3 page - Pathetique sonata Op.13

[Rod]

It occured to me that I have Paul Badura-Skoda's recording (Vol 4 of his complete B sonatas on fortepiano, Astree E8694) of Op13 in my bag with me today, by pure coincidence (you know my strict listening order!). It has a much louder recording level (a little too close miked for my taste), but the performance overall has less certainty and authority than van Immerseel's. Not a bad effort though and technically more authentic as it is performed on an original 5 octave Walter from circa 1790.

I have just enough web space to accomodate the finale, so visitors to this post will get a nice Brucie bonus! Enjoy...

Rondo. Allegro



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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[urtextmeister]

I'm surprised at this response to Op. 13 first movement on Fpiano. I have heard this 654,120 times on modern piano and I found this refreshing, clarifying and exciting. I agree, however, that the sound of this sonata on modern piano is something most of us are addicted to.
Two small points. Yes, the Grave seems fast because the sound decays faster on this instrument. One really has no choice. Also, yes the modern piano is more appropriate for big concert performances, but I don't Beethoven intended any of his sonatas for big concert performances.

[Chaszz]

Originally posted by Rod:
The mp3 sounds too quite for my computer too, but the CD itself is superb on my hifi. Perhaps I should have considered this factor earlier and used a different recording. Well too late now.

Why don't you put Serkin's effort here for us to sample?

I only have it on vinyl LP.

[Rod]

Originally posted by urtextmeister:
I'm surprised at this response to Op. 13 first movement on Fpiano. I have heard this 654,120 times on modern piano and I found this refreshing, clarifying and exciting.

The voice of reason.

Originally posted by urtextmeister:

Two small points. Yes, the Grave seems fast because the sound decays faster on this instrument. One really has no choice. Also, yes the modern piano is more appropriate for big concert performances, but I don't Beethoven intended any of his sonatas for big concert performances.

The decay on the modern instrument is too much in my opinion, too much for Beethoven in any case. You are correct when you say the sonatas were not written for big concert performance.


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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[Rod]

Originally posted by Joy:
I really enjoyed this recording. It is one of my favourites. Interesting information about it as usual. I can't comment about fortepianos and modern day pianos. I also have Alfred Brendel's rendition of this and enjoy it very much. I also like listening to the fortepianos and I think a lot of it has to do with just knowing that this is the way it sounded in Beethoven's day adds a sort of mystique to the whole listening experience. So I like both.

Glad you enjoyed it. Please bear in mind, Joy, that if everyone thought like Bendel there would be no fortepiano performances or recordings!.


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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[Chaszz]

Originally posted by Rod:
It occured to me that I have Paul Badura-Skoda's recording (Vol 4 of his complete B sonatas on fortepiano, Astree E8694) of Op13 in my bag with me today, by pure coincidence (you know my strict listening order!). It has a much louder recording level (a little too close miked for my taste), but the performance overall has less certainty and authority than van Immerseel's. Not a bad effort though and technically more authentic as it is performed on an original 5 octave Walter from circa 1790.

I have just enough web space to accomodate the finale, so visitors to this post will get a nice Brucie bonus! Enjoy...

Rondo. Allegro

I enjoyed this, but still prefer it on the modern piano. I like the longer sustain for this piece.

Chaszz

[Chaszz]

Originally posted by Rod:

...New period instrument recordings of Beethoven are rare these days, though they still occur every now and again. I was lucky and jumped on the period band wagon just as it reached its zenith in the late 80's/early 90's. Those days are gone however and many of my recordings are long deleted from the catalogue, so make the most of what I present here...

Why has the period movement declined?
What are the real or alleged reasons?

[Rod]

Originally posted by Chaszz:
I enjoyed this, but still prefer it on the modern piano. I like the longer sustain for this piece.

Chaszz

Well this Walter piano is much earlier and less powerful than the Graf, the level of sustain in these cases is more down the the performer than the instruments.



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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[Rod]

Originally posted by Chaszz:
Why has the period movement declined?
What are the real or alleged reasons?

Well there are still many live performances but not so many recordings. Why the fashion has changed I can't say. But with Baroque composers the reverse is true with many more period intrument recordings than modern these days.

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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[spaceray]

Originally posted by Rod:
Well there are still many live performances but not so many recordings. Why the fashion has changed I can't say. But with Baroque composers the reverse is true with many more period intrument recordings than modern these days.

This is so true,authentic Baroque really is the fashion of the day here in Canada.Particularly in the music schools .it is very hot in Montreal and all over Quebec.
This is most unusual as for the last twenty years or so the growth in music was in choral and domestic composers.

[Joy]

That's what's happening here too. On the classical radio station they even devote 3 hrs. on Sunday to nothing but Baroque.

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'Truth and beauty joined'

[donthedon]

Linkin Park Rulz...just like beethoven

[Andrea]

I really enjoyed this piece performed on a Viennese Graf. I too could close my eyes and feel like I'm hearing it being performed as it was in Beethoven's time. I just have to look at my Beethoven oil portrait, a la C.Horneman, on my wall and I can picture it even better.

[Rod]

Originally posted by Andrea:
I really enjoyed this piece performed on a Viennese Graf. I too could close my eyes and feel like I'm hearing it being performed as it was in Beethoven's time. I just have to look at my Beethoven oil portrait, a la C.Horneman, on my wall and I can picture it even better.

Technically, by the time Beethoven received his Graf his performing days were long over. The track I have provided in this chain with the 1790s Walter piano is more relevant in this respect, for this was the best piano available at the time B composed the Pathetique and he certainly performed using this model. Though I regard the Graf as the ultimate piano still generally available for Beethoven piano music.

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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin


[This message has been edited by Rod (edited September 04, 2003).]

[urtextmeister]

I like this performance of the Rondo. One thing I notice about B.-Skoda's playing: often you don't hear all of the notes, which gives a hurried feeling. I think he sacrifices clarity and precision at times for a faster tempo.
How does everyone feel about tempo fluctuations within a movement like this? This seems to be another characteristic of this pianist (as well as others). I like the idea of using tempo to heighten the contrast between sections, but I also like straighter performances in which you hear everything on a level playing field, tempo-wise. I'd like to hear some comments about this.