Beethoven Piano Sonata op. 111, John Lill

[AeolianHarp]

sonata, op. 111.

Two-movement structure


Beethoven’s last piano sonata has only two movements (i. Maestoso, ii. Arietta) rather than the more typical three. Lill likens it to Schubert’s ‘Unfinished’ Symphony; both are utterly complete and substantial, particularly the second and final movement in theme and variations form. ‘What can you follow that by?’ Lill asks. ‘Nothing. As Schubert said, what else is there left to write?’

Beethoven ends his last piano sonata in an incredible state of mind says Lill. Interestingly, Beethoven ends the work with a quaver followed by a rest. Whilst this might be the equivalent of a long pause in performance, he is effectively writing in a musical question mark; a bold statement for the end of his entire piano sonata oeuvre.

Read on:

http://notesonnotes.org/2014/03/19/b...111-john-lill/

[thesunlover]

These two's performances I like the most for this work:

Jumppanen
Fischer

Their styles are quite different.

[AeolianHarp]

For me it is Ronald Brautigam on fortepiano- he plays the sonatas like no other.

[Peter]

These two's performances I like the most for this work:

Jumppanen
Fischer

Their styles are quite different.

I go with Schnabel and Brendel for this work.

[thesunlover]

In the past months, I have listened Op.111 almost every day. I've reviewed 60 to 70 different versions, many of them more than 1 time, and some of them more than 5 or even 10 times. I believe I have a deep understanding of this masterpiece now.

Who are the best performer(s) I think? -- later....

[AeolianHarp]

I am glad you like it sunlover.

[gprengel]

In the past months, I have listened Op.111 almost every day. I've reviewed 60 to 70 different versions, many of them more than 1 time, and some of them more than 5 or even 10 times. I believe I have a deep understanding of this masterpiece now.

Dear sunlover,
you indeed must love this peak of piano literature and I can only agree! May I ask you to listen to this attempt of a symphonic orchestration (at best with headphones)?

http://www.gerdprengel.de/Beeth_op111_I_orch.mp3
http://www.gerdprengel.de/Beeth_op111_II_orch.mp3

Gerd

[thesunlover]

Thank you Gerd for the links. It's fun to listen to it

[thesunlover]

Of the 60-70 records I've listened, I rate the followings the best performers of Op.111:

(1) John Lill
(2) Daniel Barenboim (not the youtube video)
(3) Paavali Jumppanen
Louis_Lortie

Lill must understand this work better than any other performer, although his version is still not perfect.

[AeolianHarp]

Of the 60-70 records I've listened, I rate the followings the best performers of Op.111:

(1) John Lill
(2) Daniel Barenboim (not the youtube video)
(3) Paavali Jumppanen
Louis_Lortie

Lill must understand this work better than any other performer, although his version is still not perfect.

I would like to hear John Lill's playing. He has a special connection to and understanding of Beethoven.

[Decrepit Poster]

I've not seen it mentioned, so want to draw your attention to Andras Schiff's discussion of Op 111 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQBq8_5lCEY
So far as I know, all the sonatas are represented in this series of lectures. I discovered it only the other day and have watched/heard only a few, Op 111 not amongst them.

[AeolianHarp]

Thanks I shall look at that. I also found this John Lill interview:

http://www.classicfm.com/artists/joh...piano-sonatas/

John Lill on the "spiritual course" of Beethoven's piano sonatas

3rd October 2013, 16:25

John Suchet chats with the pianist John Lill about the piano sonatas of Ludgwig Van Beethoven ahead of Lill's performance of the complete cycle.
John Lill

How do you begin to approach the task of performing all of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas? Pianist John Lill has done it before on several occasions, but not for 25 years - and he's about to tackle these towering works again in London's Cadogan Hall over the next six months.

In this fascinating interview with fellow Beethoven evangelist John Suchet, Lill reveals just how his approach to the great composer has changed over the years: "I believe it transcends emotion. It's a spiritual course that we're on with Beethoven."

Lill also touches on the mammoth challenge of performing these works with fresh eyes after so many previous encounters and offending the purists by not playing them in order.

[thesunlover]

I would like to name Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.32 in C minor, Op. 111 the "Eternity Sonata".

[thesunlover]

Updates:

Fischer's performance is not that good.

My new favorites:

(1) Louis Lortie
(2) John Lill
(3) Daniel Barenboim (not the youtube video)
Paavali Jumppanen
Vladimir Ashkenazy
(4) Brendel (?)

Of the 60-70 records I've listened, I rate the followings the best performers of Op.111:

(1) John Lill
(2) Daniel Barenboim (not the youtube video)
(3) Paavali Jumppanen
Louis_Lortie

Lill must understand this work better than any other performer, although his version is still not perfect.

[Sorrano]

I would like to name Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.32 in C minor, Op. 111 the "Eternity Sonata".

Sounds good to me!

This morning:
Haydn: Symphony #83 in g, "La poule"

Feeling a little hen-pecked this morning.

(Oops, posted this in the wrong thread!)