Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Wilhelm Kempff :: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 8, 14, 21 & 23

Great performance

V. Venkatesh | Singapore | 01/19/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm surprised at the number of negative opinions on this performance. Kempff's performance in this recording is understated, beautiful and contemplative. Beethoven was never an one dimensional composer. This is a great recording of some of the greatest piano sonatas ever written."

Great piano music

Edgar Tejada | New York | 01/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The piano sonatas or character pieces from Beethoven are a great music to experience,this CD has the Mondschein Sonate or better know as Moonlight Sonata.The quality of the music and the interpreter are just fine I recommend it."

Not peerless, but anything less than a top recommendation se

G.D. | Norway | 02/21/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having just listened to Kempff and Leitner in the fourth and fifth concertos, I don't feel that I can be as unequivocal in my recommendation of Kempff's sonatas as I was of said concertos. Kempff recorded the complete cycle three times, and the performances here are picked from the last of them. Now, there is no doubt that Kempff was at his best in the cycle as a whole, and there is no doubt - I think - that the gloriously light and airy and spirited Waldstein is among the best ever recorded. But I have heard more poetry in the ubiquitous Moonlight sonata, even though Kempff scores many points with his intelligent, wise and balanced reading. The Appassionata is impeccably played, darkly dramatic and powerful though possibly even more heaven-storming in his earlier recording. The highlight, however, is the Pathetique, which is played with unsurpassed drive and ferocity but never lapsing into bathos; rhythmically incisive and formally cogent, almost effortless in its realization of the drama and power. Some will, perhaps, judge it to be a little too understated, and maybe it comes down to personal taste, but I do think it's one of the most satisfying versions of this one I've heard. The sound quality isn't quite top-notch, however; dry and top-heavy and admittedly compromising the artistry of the performances, especially perhaps in the Appassionata. Still, it feels wrong to give this release anything but a very strong recommendation."