Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonatas
Media Review / Comparison Summary
2014-10-05 — Original posting (on Blogger)
2014-11-13 — Re-posting as is (WordPress)
2014-11-20 — Update (Igor Levit)
2015-05-27 — Update (op.110)
2015-07-25 — Update (op.81a, Scherbakov)
2015-08-20 — Last Update (Brautigam, complete sonata recording)
2016-07-27 — Brushed up for better readability
2017-09-18 — Added Mélodie Zhao
2022-07-02 — Corrected recording dates for Artur Schnabel
Posts About Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas
In a series of blog entries (only just started!), I’m comparing the recordings of (the) Piano Sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) in my music collection.
Organization, Procedure
I’m tackling one sonata per blog posting:
- No.1 in F minor, op.2/1 (tbd)
- No.2 in A major, op.2/2 (tbd)
- No.3 in C major, op.2/3 (tbd)
- No.4 in E♭ major, op.7 (tbd)
- No.5 in C minor, op.10/1 (tbd)
- No.6 in F major, op.10/2 (tbd)
- No.7 in D major, op.10/3 (tbd)
- No.8 in C minor, op.13, “Pathétique” (tbd)
- No.9 in E major, op.14/1 (tbd)
- No.10 in G major, op.14/2 (tbd)
- No.11 in B♭ major, op.22 (tbd)
- No.12 in A♭ major, op.26 (tbd)
- No.13 in E♭ major, op.27/1, “Quasi una fantasia” (tbd)
- No.14 in C♯ minor, op.27/2, “Moonlight” (tbd)
- No.15 in D major, op.28, “Pastoral” (2014-09-28, updated 2022-07-02)
- No.16 in G major, op.31/1 (tbd)
- No.17 in D minor, op.31/2, “The Storm” (tbd)
- No.18 in E♭ major, op.31/3, “The Hunt” (tbd)
- No.19 in G minor, op.49/1 (tbd)
- No.20 in G major, op.49/2 (tbd)
- No.21 in C major, op.53, “Waldstein” (tbd)
- No.22 in F major, op.54 (2014-09-29, updated 2022-07-02)
- No.23 in F minor, op.57, “Appassionata” (tbd)
- No.24 in F♯ major, op.78, “À Thérèse” (tbd)
- No.25 in G major, op.79 (tbd)
- No.26 in E♭ major, op.81a, “Les Adieux” (2015-07-25, updated 2022-07-02)
- No.27 in E minor, op.90 (tbd)
- No.28 in A major, op.101 (tbd)
- No.29 in B♭ major, op.106, “Hammerklavier” (tbd)
- No.30 in E major, op.109 (tbd)
- No.31 in A♭ major, op.110 (2015-05-27, updated 2022-07-02)
- No.32 in C minor, op.111 (2014-10-04, updated 2022-07-02)
The Purpose of this Summary
In this note I would like to summarize the results of all of the above postings, this time focusing on artist rather than individual compositions; at the bottom of this posting you find a table that collects all of my ratings. Please keep in mind that a) these are just my personal ratings, and b) the criteria in comparing performances of music that has been composed 200 years ago can’t be entirely objective: the composer’s notation only provides a rough skeleton defining how the music was intended to sound; most artists don’t (or can’t) resort to period instruments — and even if we were really able to reproduce the original sound (which we can only approximate now), we cannot reproduce the human perception at the time of the composition, as our ears & brain are heavily biased by the music performed today!
The Artists in my Collection
For details on the actual CDs / recordings please select the appropriate blog postings from the list above; full CD details are typically given on the first sonata (sorted as shown above) for a given CD or CD set. The sections below are sorted by the name of the artist; the following pianists are featured here:
- Wilhelm Backhaus (1884 – 1969)
- Paul Badura-Skoda (1927 – 2019)
- Daniel Barenboim (*1942)
- Ronald Brautigam (*1954)
- Edwin Fischer (1886 – 1960, none discussed yet)
- Emil Gilels (1916 – 1985)
- Friedrich Gulda (1930 – 2000)
- Clara Haskil (1895 – 1960, none discussed yet)
- Jos van Immerseel (*1945, none discussed yet)
- Julius Katchen (1926 – 1969)
- Wilhelm Kempff (1895 – 1991)
- Igor Levit (*1987)
- Mikhail Pletnev (*1957, none discussed yet)
- Maurizio Pollini (1942 – 2024)
- Svjatoslav Richter (1915 – 1997)
- Arthur Rubinstein (1887 – 1982)
- Konstantin Scherbakov (*1963)
- András Schiff (*1953)
- Artur Schnabel (1882 – 1951)
- Mélodie Zhao (*1994)
Some of these artists (and their associated recordings below) may only show up in upcoming reviews.
Wilhelm Backhaus
- 1952 – 1969: Decca 473 7198 (8 CDs, mono / stereo)
Beethoven: The 32 Piano Sonatas - Average rating (8 tracks): 2.0 (partially done only)
Paul Badura-Skoda
Instrument: Bösendorfer 290 Imperial
- 1969 – 1970: Gramola 987 42/50 (9 CDs, stereo)
CD#1: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas op.2/1-3
CD#2: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas op.10/1-3
CD#3: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas opp.7, 13, 14/1, 14/2
CD#4: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas opp.22, 26, 27/1, 27/2
CD#5: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas op.31/1-3
CD#6: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas opp.28, 49/1, 49/2, 53, 54
CD#7: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas opp.57, 78, 79, 81a
CD#8: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas opp.90, 101, 106
CD#9: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas opp.109, 110, 111 - Average rating (8 tracks): 2.0 (partially done only)
Daniel Barenboim
- 1984: DG 413 759-2 (6 CDs, stereo)
Beethoven: The Piano Sonatas Nos.1 – 15 - 1984: DG 413 766-2 (6 CDs, stereo)
Beethoven: The Piano Sonatas Nos.16 – 32 - Average rating (8 tracks): 2.0 (partially done only)
Ronald Brautigam
Fortepiano by Paul McNulty, 2001, after Walter & Sohn, 1802
Fortepiano by Paul McNulty, 2007, after Conrad Graf, ca.1819
- 2003: BIS-SACD-1362 (SACD/CD)
Beethoven: Vol.1 — Piano Sonatas opp.13, 14/1, 14/2, 22 - 2004: BIS-SACD-1363 (SACD/CD)
Beethoven: Vol.2 — Piano Sonatas opp.2/1-3, 49/1, 49/2 - 2005: BIS-SACD-1472 (SACD/CD)
Beethoven: Vol.3 — Piano Sonatas opp.7, 10/1-3 - 2005: BIS-SACD-1473 (SACD/CD)
Beethoven: Vol.4 — Piano Sonatas opp.26, 27/1, 27/2, 28 - 2005: BIS-SACD-1572 (SACD/CD)
Beethoven: Vol.5 — Piano Sonatas op.31/1-3 - 2007: BIS-SACD-1573 (SACD/CD)
Beethoven: Vol.6 — Piano Sonatas opp.53, 54, 57, 78, 79 - 2007: BIS-SACD-1612 (SACD/CD)
Beethoven: Vol.7 — Piano Sonatas opp.81a, 90, 106 - 2008: BIS-SACD-1613 (SACD/CD)
Beethoven: Vol.8 — Piano Sonatas opp.101, 109, 110, 111 - 2014: BIS-SACD-2000 (9 SACD/CD)
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas - Average rating (8 tracks): 4.9 (partially done only)
Edwin Fischer
(with Wilhelm Furtwängler, Philharmonia Orchestra)
- 1952: EMI Classics (CD, mono)
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5, Piano Sonatas opp.13, 57 - Average rating (0 tracks): X.X (tbd)
Emil Gilels
- 1972 – 1985: DG 00289 477 6360 (9 CDs, stereo)
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas - Average rating (4 tracks): 3.3 (partially done only)
Friedrich Gulda
(with Horst Stein, Vienna Philharmonic)
- 1976 – 1973: Universal 476 8761 (12 CDs, stereo)
Beethoven: The 32 Piano Sonatas, The 5 Piano Concerts - Average rating (8 tracks): 3.9 (partially done only)
Clara Haskil
- 1960: DiscoverClassicalMusic (iTunes download)
Beethoven: Piano sonatas opp.31/2, 31/3 - Average rating (0 tracks): X.X (tbd)
Jos van Immerseel
Instrument: Fortepiano by Conrad Graf, 1824
- 1983: Accent ACC 78332 (CD, stereo)
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas opp.13, 27/2, 6 Bagatelles op.126, Andante favori WoO 57 - Average rating (0 tracks): X.X (tbd)
Julius Katchen
- 1968: Decca / iTunes download (stereo, 256 kbps)
Beethoven: Diabelli Variations, op.120; Piano Sonata op.111 - Average rating (2 tracks): 3.0 (op.111 only)
Wilhelm Kempff
(with Ferdinand Leitner, Berliner Philharmoniker)
- 1964: DG 427 237-2 (3 CDs, stereo)
Beethoven: The 5 Piano Concertos, Piano Sonata op.111 - Average rating (2 tracks): 1.5 (op.111 only)
Igor Levit
- 2013: Sony classical 88883747352 (2 CDs, stereo)
Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas (opp.101, 106, 109-111) - Average rating (0 tracks): 3.0 (partially done only)
Mikhail Pletnev
- 1988: Virgin Classics 0946 363280 2 7 (CD, stereo)
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas opp.27/2, 53, 57 - Average rating (0 tracks): X.X (tbd)
Maurizio Pollini
- 2003: DG 474 451-2 (2 CDs, stereo)
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas opp.54, 57, 78, 90 - 1976: DG 449 740-2 (2 CDs, stereo)
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas opp.101, 106, 109, 110, 111 - Average rating (4 tracks): 3.8 (partially done only)
Svjatoslav Richter
- 1960: RCA Victor / BMG 07863-56518-2 (CD, stereo)
Brahms: Piano Concerto No.2 op.83; Beethoven: Piano Sonata op.57 - 1965: Harmonia mundi PR 254 023 CM 210 (CD, stereo)
Beethoven: Diabelli Variations op.120, Piano Sonata op.110 - Average rating (0 tracks): X.X (tbd)
Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein — The Complete Album Collection
- SONY Classical 88691936912 (142 CDs / 2 DVDs, mono / stereo)
CDs #11-14 — Beethoven: Piano Sonatas opp.81a (1940), 31/3 (mvt.3, 1945)
CD#20 — Beethoven: Piano Sonatas opp.31/3, 57 (1945)
CD#21 — Beethoven: Piano Sonata op.13 (1946)
CD#53 — Beethoven: Piano Sonatas op.13, 57 (1954)
CD#65 — Beethoven: Piano Sonatas opp.31/3, 53 (1954)
CD#82 — Beethoven: Piano Sonatas op.13, 27/2, 81a (1962)
CD#90 — Beethoven: Piano Sonatas op.2/3, 57 (1963)
CD#125 — Beethoven: Piano Sonata op.31/3 (1976)
CD#133 — Beethoven: Piano Sonata op.31/3 (1976); Piano Concerto No.2 op.19
CDs #136/137 — Beethoven: Piano Sonata op.57 (1975) - Average rating (0 tracks): X.X (tbd)
Konstantin Scherbakov
- 2015: TwoPianists Records TP1039190 (CD, stereo); ℗ / © 2015
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas op.13, 57; “Eroica”-Variations op.35 - Average rating (0 tracks): X.X (tbd)
András Schiff
Instrument: Bechstein, 1921
- 2012: ECM New Series 2294/95 (2 CDs, stereo); ℗ / © 2013
Beethoven: Diabelli Variations op.120; Piano Sonata op.111; Bagatelles op.126 - Average rating (2 tracks): 3.5 (op.111 only)
Artur Schnabel
- 1932 – 1937: Regis / Forum FRC 6801 (8 CDs, mono)
Beethoven: The 32 Piano Sonatas - Average rating (8 tracks): 3.0 (partially done only)
Mélodie Zhao
Instruments: Bösendorfer (Sonatas 1 – 9), Steinway D-274 (recorded at Studio Ernest Ansermet, RTS Geneva)
- 2012 – 2013: claves records 50-1304-13 (10 CDs, stereo); © 2014
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas - Average rating (3 tracks): 3.0 (partially done only)
Summary Table
In the table below (I will expand this, whenever I’m adding new reviews), I’m summarizing the results of my iTunes ratings (*, **, **, ****, *****). Keep in mind that these ratings are subjective, though I have tried my best to avoid underrating specific recordings, e.g., by
- listening to slower recordings first (after a fast recording, a slow interpretation may often sound “clumsy”);
- revisiting recordings where I felt insecure in my judgement in the first pass;
- later in the comparison, I sometimes would also listen to those recordings first which I anticipate to be worse than others. That’s not in order to confirm a prejudice, but because after a good one, a bad recording may sound even worse;
- avoiding directly confronting “classic” recordings with newer, “historically informed” performances, or recordings with period instruments.
Note also that not all average ratings in the table below are directly comparable, as for some artists I only had a few sonatas to compare (some even just a single one!). There may not be any overlap between recordings of such artists.
Legend
Keep in mind that the ratings are equivalent to the iTunes star ratings (* .. *****), with obvious limitations in differentiation. In general, I used the rating levels as follows:
- ***** = top rating, my favorite recording(s)
- **** = excellent recording
- *** = good recording, often a typical “classic” recording
- ** = with features / attributes that I dislike, or with “moderate deficiencies”
- * = major objections, or recordings that are against the composer’s (perceived) intent, etc.
Despite the lack of rating differentiation, the above summary should (at least for artists represented by a complete collection of all sonatas) be relatively safe against occasional mis-ratings due to confrontation with the “wrong” contenders, due to variations in my own “receptivity” etc., thanks to the sheer number of the ratings which should average out occasional, minor mis-judgements. That said, there is of course no guarantee that anyone will agree with the above results…
Addendum
For the non-pianists: I use pocket scores (typically Lea Pocket Scores or Kalmus) to follow this music. The sonatas take up five volumes:
- No.1 – 6: — Find pocket score on amazon.com (#ad) —
- No.7 – 12: — Find pocket score on amazon.com (#ad) —
- No.13 – 20: — Find pocket score on amazon.com (#ad) —
- No.21 – 27: — Find pocket score on amazon.com (#ad) —
- No.28 – 32: — Find pocket score on amazon.com (#ad) —
