Search - Claudio Arrau, Beethoven :: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas

Arrau's Latest Beethoven

James K. Hanson | Hudson, New York | 01/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since there are no other reviews of this set available, and the product description is a bit skimpy, I thought I should at least point out that this box consists of Arrau's 1980s digital re-recordings of the Beethoven sonatas, save for the Moonlight and Hammerklavier, which he did not re-record, for whatever reason. Arrau's earlier records of those two sonatas from the 60s are included here, and as a bonus there is a Diabelli Variations from the 50s. Most of these recordings were made in the late 1980s, ie, 20 years or more after Arrau's original Philips set. By and large, Arrau's interpretive stance did not change much over the years. This set is worth hearing (particularly for Arrau's admirers) because the sound engineering is really quite a bit better than it was in the earlier set, which I have always found to be a bit claustrophobic sounding. So, on the plus side, Arrau's remarkable sound is well represented here. On the other hand, it's undeniable, I think, that the great pianist's very considerable abilities were on the wane by the time most of these records were made. In particular, his playing of op. 2.3, op 78 and op. 81 (a) reveals a rather disquieting unsteadiness that was never evident in Arrau's earlier playing. As I worked through the set, it became apparent that recordings from 1989 and 1990 were problematic technically. In general, Arrau's playing is more cautious than before, and the tempi are generally slower than before. (Op. 31.1 is particularly cautious in comparison with his earlier version). There is some compensation, I feel, for the technical decline, inasmuch as Arrau allows himself a bit more interpretive license than he did on the earlier set. His playing is more personal here, perhaps a bit warmer than before -- although I shrink from suggesting that age and wisdom are inseparable. Anyone who is reading this review is likely to know that Arrau had a great deal to say about Beethoven; perhaps, like me, you will want to hear what he had to say at the very end of his life."