Your favored CD's

[Pastorali]

I have the idea to create a web page about the favored CD's. This page should show a choice of most liked Beethoven cd's, or cd sets, to give visitors a good overview to explore Beethoven. I thought, the best way to find out this choice, is to ask you experienced B. listeners.

There are 7 sections:

1) Symphonies
2) Piano Concertos
3) Violin Concerto
4) Piano Sonatas
5) String Quartets
6) Messes
7) Fidelio

My choice:
1) David Zinman, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, Arte Nova Classics
5) New Budapest Quartet, Hyperion/Helios
6) "Missa Solemnis" David Zinman, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, Arte Nova Classics

Something forgotten? Let's make a overview

[chopithoven]

Originally posted by Pastorali:
6) "Missa Solemnis" David Zinman, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, Arte Nova Classics

Is the Missa also performed by the Tonhalle Orchestra according to the Barenreiter edition, like the symphonies? That must be interesting.

[Pastorali]

Originally posted by chopithoven:
Is the Missa also performed by the Tonhalle Orchestra according to the Barenreiter edition, like the symphonies? That must be interesting.

It seems not. There is no comment about it.

[Ahmad]

4) The 32 sonatas by Alfred Brendel.

[Tony John Hearne]

Symphonies by Toscanini and the NBC Symphony

[Gurn Blanston]

Originally posted by Pastorali:

There are 7 sections:
1) Symphonies
2) Piano Concertos
3) Violin Concerto
4) Piano Sonatas
5) String Quartets
6) Messes
7) Fidelio

Oh such difficult choices! And I have not heard everything out there, so will undoubtedly not have heard the one that will be judged the best, my misfortune

1. Academy of Ancient Music / Hogwood
2. Right now, it is BPO / Pollini, but I hope it will be Gardiner / Levin
3. Heifetz or Perlman/Giuliani
4. Brendel 1962 - also Kempff
5. Amadeus Quartet - also Tokyo Quartet
6. Haven't heard any
7. Mackerras, Benackova
8. Piano Trios - Beaux Arts Trio
9. Violin Sonatas - Kremer / Argerich
10. Bagatelles - John O'Connor
Hope you don't mind the add-ons, they can't be overlooked.

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Regards,
Gurn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's my opinion, I may be wrong.
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[This message has been edited by Gurn Blanston (edited December 28, 2003).]

[Rod]

Originally posted by Pastorali:
I have the idea to create a web page about the favored CD's. This page should show a choice of most liked Beethoven cd's, or cd sets, to give visitors a good overview to explore Beethoven. I thought, the best way to find out this choice, is to ask you experienced B. listeners.

There are 7 sections:

1) Symphonies
2) Piano Concertos
3) Violin Concerto
4) Piano Sonatas
5) String Quartets
6) Messes
7) Fidelio

My choice:
1) David Zinman, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, Arte Nova Classics
5) New Budapest Quartet, Hyperion/Helios
6) "Missa Solemnis" David Zinman, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, Arte Nova Classics

Something forgotten? Let's make a overview

Well you'll find my favourites on the mp3 page!

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

[Pastorali]

Originally posted by Gurn Blanston:
Oh such difficult choices! And I have not heard everything out there, so will undoubtedly not have heard the one that will be judged the best, my misfortune

1. Academy of Ancient Music / Hogwood
2. Right now, it is BPO / Pollini, but I hope it will be Gardiner / Levin
3. Heifetz or Perlman/Giuliani
4. Brendel 1962 - also Kempff
5. Amadeus Quartet - also Tokyo Quartet
6. Haven't heard any
7. Mackerras, Benackova
8. Piano Trios - Beaux Arts Trio
9. Violin Sonatas - Kremer / Argerich
10. Bagatelles - John O'Connor
Hope you don't mind the add-ons, they can't be overlooked.

Gurn
It's not judging the best, just making a overlook, there will be no ranking...you will agree, that would make less of sense. You are right with your add-ons, they would maybe blast the frame. I'm not in hurry with this page, we'll see

[Joy]

I have his 32 sonatas by Bernard Roberts which is very enjoyable to listen to. Also I have a few good recordings by Alfred Brendel
of The Moonlight, Pathetique, The Waldstein, and The Appassionata.

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'Truth and beauty joined'

[beetlover]

Originally posted by Ahmad:
4) The 32 sonatas by Alfred Brendel.

That's awesome. I wish I could find that CD. But I do have his favorite Beethoven Piano Sonatas and it's pretty good. So that's my answer to number 4.

[beetlover]

Originally posted by Pastorali:
I have the idea to create a web page about the favored CD's. This page should show a choice of most liked Beethoven cd's, or cd sets, to give visitors a good overview to explore Beethoven. I thought, the best way to find out this choice, is to ask you experienced B. listeners.

My choice:
1) David Zinman, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, Arte Nova Classics

Oh I have those too. I'm not really experienced with what is a good recording so sadly enough I just usually get whatever's avaliable. It's good to know that someone whould recommend those CDs. I never could find symphonies seven and eight though.

[Shane]

Try the sonatas by brendel, and also the concertos by ashkenazy.

[Sorrano]

Originally posted by Gurn Blanston:

4. Brendel 1962 - also Kempff

I didn't much care for the Kempff. Some of the sonatas he did I liked but there were others I felt that he played through them just to get through them. However, there are two editions and I refer to the later one.

[Gurn Blanston]

Originally posted by Sorrano:
I didn't much care for the Kempff. Some of the sonatas he did I liked but there were others I felt that he played through them just to get through them. However, there are two editions and I refer to the later one.

Sorrano,
I have never heard a whole cycle by Kempff, and it is entirely likely that he plays some better than others. I have one disk with Opp. 13, 27#2, 53 & 57 on it, released 1965 by DG. Of the many sonata recordings I have, I must say this is among my favorites. I like his style. Of course, it has been said that all my taste is in my mouth...



------------------
Regards,
Gurn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's my opinion, I may be wrong.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Sorrano]

Originally posted by Gurn Blanston:
Sorrano,
I have never heard a whole cycle by Kempff, and it is entirely likely that he plays some better than others. I have one disk with Opp. 13, 27#2, 53 & 57 on it, released 1965 by DG. Of the many sonata recordings I have, I must say this is among my favorites. I like his style. Of course, it has been said that all my taste is in my mouth...

The later cycle that Kempff played was released not too long ago (1995). The performances were done in 1965 whereas the earlier cycle was completed in 1951 or '52. Penquin Guide rates both cycles highly and the first as being better than the second. Some of the "lesser" sonatas in this second cycle (for example, among my personal favorite sonatas, Op. 10, No. 3, it sounds to me as though he were playing it just to get through it--almost as though it were an exercise). But then, that is my own opinion.