Beethoven Sonatas - A Survey of Complete Cycles
Part 4, 1990 - 1996
Incl: C.Arrau II • A.R.El Bacha • R.Benz • M.Bilson & Co • A.Brendel III • R.Goode • I.Hobson • M.Levinas • J.O'Conor • A.Perl
 | Claudio Arrau II 1984* - 1990 - Philips France (Arrau Heritage Edition) Arrau, who started to record a cycle for Walter Legge with Columbia between 1947 and 1960 (only 11 sonatas were recorded), went on to produce one of the most cherished cycles for Philips in the 60s. Twenty years later, near the summit (if not technical peak) of his career, he recorded them again, this time in digital sound. Notably good digital sound, it should be pointed out. Broad interpretations meet with unforgiving clarity and regal rigor. Arrau died before he could re-record opp.27/2 and 106 which are taken from the earlier cycle. A 1952 Deutsche Grammophon Diabelli Variation recording is added as a bonus. Availability:
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  | Michaël Lévinas 1984 - 1991 - Adès Most of this cycle was recorded between 1988 and 1991, played on a Steinway. Availability:
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 | Abdel Rahman El Bacha I 1984 - 1993 - Forlane Availability:
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 | John O'Conor 1986 - 1994 - Telarc Availability:
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   | “St. Petersburg Collective” 1992 - 1993 - Bomba Piter / Audiophile Classics This cycle was put together shortly after the demise of the Soviet Union, bringing together some of St. Petersburg's finest pianists (as per the label's description of this project). The participating pianists are: Dmitri Efimov, Pavel Egorov, Igor Lebedev, Roman Lebedev, Galina Sandovskaya, Vladimir Shakin, Sergey Uryvaev, Igor Urjash, Valery Vishnevsky, Tatyana Zagorovskaya, and Leonid Zaychik. The cycle has been re-released on Audiophile Classics. On either label, it's only available on individual volumes: 10 for Bomba Piter, ditto for Audiophile Classics, but on the latter label you can also get Igor Lebedev's Diabelli Variations on an eleventh disc. For lack of a name and single pianist to pin this cycle to, I'll call it the "St. Petersburg Collective" cycle. Availability:
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 | Robert Benz 1988 - 1995 - Thorofon Available only in individual volumes, and those spottily only.
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   | Richard Goode 1989 - 1993 - Nonesuch Considered by many not just the great 'native' American sonata cycle, but one of the very best modern cycles anywhere. Understated and cool. I've heard some of this that has had the greatest of promise, and I remember being turned off by the late sonatas... but I can no longer recall whether that was justified. If I were to get another LvB Sonata Cycle, this one is atop the list of those that intrigue me. Edit 10/2017: Happily it's been re-released in a space and money-saving wallet-style box by Warner. Availability:
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 | Ian Hobson 1992 - 1996 - Zephyr Availability:
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  | Alfredo Perl 1992- 1996 - Arte Nova / Oehms Arte Nova & Oehms were ownership-intertwined at one point, which explains the occasional overlap in their issues. (I.e. also Stanisław Skrowaczewski's exemplary Bruckner Cycle.) The recordings are identical; the Oehms re-issues tend to be packaged considerably nicer. Availability:
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  | Alfred Brendel III 1992 - 1996 - Philips (digital) This cycle dominated the digital age and contributed in good part to Brendel being the face of Beethoven for so many listeners. Availability: Reissued on Decca
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 | Malcolm Bilson & Students 199? - 1996 - Claves Played by Bilson and six students of his, on nine different fortepianos from around the time of the composition dates of the respective sonatas. Availability (other than directly from Claves):
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This listing of all Beethoven Sonata Cycles will continue as more sets reach completion or as I find more information about sets already completed.* There are certainly plenty sets under way that should or may reach completion soon: Among them Angela Hewitt (Hyperion), Igor Tchetuev (Caro Mitis), Jonathan Biss (Onyx), Akihiro Sakiya (DPIC Entertainment), Martin Roscoe (Deux-Elles), James Brawn (MSR), Paavali Jumppanen (Ondine) [Completed & Added], Yusuke Kikuchi (Triton) [Completed & Added] et al. I will also add a selection of historically important attempted cycles that were never finished but include
* If you count, as I did, Backhaus II and Arrau II as complete, despite one and two (respectively) missing sonatas. I do not count Walter Gieseking (tapes of 4, 5, 7, 20, 22 for a radio cycle are lost, a studio cycle for EMI was missing seven sonatas when he died), Wilhelm Kempff "0" (Polydor, opp.2/3, 22, 27/1, 28, 31/2, 101 missing).
** Invaluable research on this end done by Todd, resident Beethoven-Sonata expert (and addict) at the Good Music Guide Forum.
The (Great) Incomplete Cycles
Part 1: 1935 - 1969
Part 2: 1967 - 1974
Part 3: 1977 - 1989
Part 5: 1996 - 1999
Part 6: 2000 - 2005
Part 7: 2006 - 2009
Ronald Brautigam Special
Part 8: 2010 - 2013
Part 9: 2014 - 2016
Part 10: 2017 - ____
If you have additional information about recording dates, availability, cover art -- or corrections and additions -- your input is much appreciated.
This survey is meant to list all complete sets of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas and their availability in different markets, not to review them.
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1 comment:
I think Claudio Arrau's performance of the Beethoven Sonatas is hard to beat. Loved watching him play the Arietta from Sonata No. 32 in The Art of The Piano. Stunning.
David
http://www.globalaroundtown.blogspot.com
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