Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Michael Steinberg, Richard Goode :: Beethoven: The Late Sonatas

If it sounds good, it IS Goode.

Gavin Reed | Houston TX | 03/01/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If ever there were a more genuine Beethoven inerpreter, it would surely be Ludwig himself. An earlier reviewer of this disc suggested that this recording is boring. I'm not sure what type of ears it takes to hear these as boring. These pieces are exciting ones and do require powerful performances, but this does not always entail pyrotechnics. Goode has a profound way of reading between the lines and giving us insight into Beethoven's intensely personal pieces. If one reads the reviews of Goode's complete Beethoven Sonatas, he will find that none of the reviewers suggest anything close to the sentiment of the first reviewer. People have their personal taste when speaking of interpretation, but at least Goode has the courage to put his out there for all to hear. Goode has not taken "a helicopter to the top of Everest." He has spent decades honing his skills to a fine point. Goode has the reputation of a musician's musician. And, in this day in age, NO ONE is more revered as a Beethoven interpreter/performer. He draws packed houses all over the world of people waiting to see what he will do onstage. Goode gives us the humanity that we only dare show ourselves behind locked doors."

Great music well played

stephen sittler | oak lawn, il United States | 03/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beethoven's late sonatas live at a musical frontier no one else has reached, or likely ever will. They're probably the greatest music ever written. LB complained the piano wasn't good enough to realize them, but Kempff and Goode prove him wrong. You won't go wrong with either of these gentlemen, but be forewarned: this is music whose beauty will make you weep, and lesser works and composers will seem sadly diminished."

Excellent "Hammerklavier" and very good Op.111, but...

Robert Ritter | Blighty | 05/26/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I own the complete set of Beethoven sonatas by Goode and I have to say that he is significantly better at playing the early- and mid-period sonatas, at which he is probably the best pianist on record (though never perfect, unfortunately). He is not so good with the late sonatas, with the (large) exception of the Op.106 sonata, which he performs marvellously (one of the best of record), and the Op.111 sonata which is excellent too. He has been praised for his Op.101 and Op.110 sonatas, too, I believe, but I distinctly prefer Brendel for those and the Op.109. Although, I have yet to hear recordings of those works which come close to my idea of perfection.I would strongly recommend buying the complete set of sonatas by Richard Goode, but I do not believe he is that brilliant for the 'late' ones."