Beethoven: Complete Music for Piano and Violoncello

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Here's a version of the Beethoven Cello Sonatas as good as any in the catalogue, despite those by starry performers who have recorded them over the years. Perényi and Schiff play with rhythmic accuracy and drive, wide dynamic range, virtuoso flair, and, best of all, an improvisatory quality that brings out the strengths of these works. The first two early sonatas can seem slight, but here are full of humor and forward impetus. The Op. 69, a work of unsettling mood shifts and gorgeous melodies, is done with the passion it requires, and the duo plumbs the depths of final Op. 105 pair. The cello transcription of the Op. 17 Horn Sonata, a slighter work, is increased in stature thanks to the artists' conviction. And the sets of variations on themes by Handel and Mozart come off as more than simply salon music. Schiff's keyboard mastery, with clean runs and crisp rhythms, is a big plus, and Perényi matches him all the way, his lean tone easily conveying the coloristic subtleties that make the scores come alive. --Dan Davis

Tracks:

Allegro moderato
Poco adagio quasi andante
Rondo (Allegro moderato)
Variations on "See the conquering hero comes" for Cello and Piano, WoO 45

Tracks:

Allegro con brio
Adagio con molto sentimento d'affetto
Allegro - Allegro fugato
Allegro vivace
Variations on "Bei Mern, welche Liebe f, for Cello and Piano, WoO 46
Variations on "Ein Mhen oder Weibchen" for Cello and Piano, Op. 66

Amazon.com

Here's a version of the Beethoven Cello Sonatas as good as any in the catalogue, despite those by starry performers who have recorded them over the years. Perényi and Schiff play with rhythmic accuracy and drive, wide dynamic range, virtuoso flair, and, best of all, an improvisatory quality that brings out the strengths of these works. The first two early sonatas can seem slight, but here are full of humor and forward impetus. The Op. 69, a work of unsettling mood shifts and gorgeous melodies, is done with the passion it requires, and the duo plumbs the depths of final Op. 105 pair. The cello transcription of the Op. 17 Horn Sonata, a slighter work, is increased in stature thanks to the artists' conviction. And the sets of variations on themes by Handel and Mozart come off as more than simply salon music. Schiff's keyboard mastery, with clean runs and crisp rhythms, is a big plus, and Perényi matches him all the way, his lean tone easily conveying the coloristic subtleties that make the scores come alive. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

A nice set that breaks no new ground and entertains.......2005-05-11

This new contribution to the Beethoven piano-cello diskography is a worthy entrant by a couple Hungarians widely known in classical music circles. Andras Schiff needs no introduction for any piano afficianado and Miklos Perenyi is a first rate cellist who may not have as many recordings as the average big name cellist.

Perenyi (appparently pronounced pear-Yen-skyi) -- who was a student of Casals -- first came to my attention in a film about the life of Franz Josef Haydn. The film followed Haydn's life in the Esterhazy years and featured many performances by the Austro-Hungarian Symphony and soloists including Perenyi, who was filmed playing the finale of one of the cello concertos.

That led me to purchase Perenyi's version of the two Haydn concertos, which was then available on the ultra-cheap Laserlight label. His performances were remarkable and compared to any current or past player. The work of the Franz Lizst Chamber Orchestra that supported him was scrappy but did nothing to diminish his outstanding playing. Perenyi also recorded the Beethoven cello-piano sonatas once previously on the Hungaraton label.

Perenyi's playing is virtuosic, concentrated and distinguished by many of the same behaviors as Rostropovich -- the bottom lip stuck out, eyes closed, chin and nose up with mind intensely focused on the musical messaging. This type of playing is quite a contrast to classical pop star Yo Yo Ma, who smiles all the way through every performance maintaining eye contact with the audience.

Imagine my surprise when I found Perenyi's playing to be much friendlier and more intimate in this music, which is rarely identified with intimacy even though it is chamber music for two players. Schiff is a rhapsodic partner, for the most part, acting as romantic foil to Perenyi's straight man in this collection, which alleges to be all of Beethoven's music for this combination of instruments.

I have owned a fair number of sets of this music over the years including a couple of the critics' and public's favorites -- the Richter-Rostropovich collaboartion on Philips and the period set by Jos van Immerseel and Anner Bylsma. The latter has probably been my favorite among all the integral sets I've owned. This set includes more music than any of those.

One significant downside to this production is its packaging. There are notes in several langauges that talk about the performers and the music. But for the first time in my experience collecting classical LPs, reel to reel tapes, cassettes and CDs, there is not a single track listing -- or listing of the order of the music of any kind -- on the outside of the box.

There is a track listing of all the music on a couple inside facing pages of the booklet but it is organized differently than anything I've ever seen in this music. And there is no listing on those pages of which music is on which disk, putting a beginner buying this music at something of a disadvantage.

This may be insignificant but it's also inconvenient, especially if you are listening to the music in the car. I cannot remember a single cassette or CD I've ever owned that I played in the car where I ran into this issue.

There's also not much to be said for the artistry on display in this package, which is remarkably similar to the Beatles "white" album. There are a lot of white pages with text but no art or photography. The cover art appears to be some brown clouds floating by the sea of white. I've never judged the book by its cover but this is quite a departure from the norm in full priced classical music.

Aside from these blemishes, this is a highly muscial and respectable offering that is shipshape is all respects. It is very worthy of your attention if you seek this collection or if you enjoy these performers.

I read a critic who said this music has no agenda, meaning it is played straight and without undue personal affectation (take that, Richter and Rostropovich!) So if you like players that are also highly personal interpreters, you may find this set a bit straight laced. Everyone else should enjoy it.

Beautiful, exciting, and deeply satisfying.......2004-12-08

I snapped up this CD the second that I saw it was available. Schiff is one of my favorite pianists, especially in music of the Classical period, and he and Perenyi have made what I consider the best recording of Schubert's Arpeggione Sonata (part of a Teldec two-disc set strongly recommended in the Gramophone Guide -- search for ASIN B000007RXO by using the Search box near the top of this page).

Though he's universally acclaimed for his masterful use of pianistic color, I also admire Schiff for his versatility. Sure, he's recorded complete digital cycles of the Mozart piano concertos (ASIN B000025706), Beethoven piano concertos (ASIN B000000S92), and Schubert sonatas (ASIN B00000IP6T). However, he has also won a Gramophone Award as an accompanist for Schreier in Schubert's songs (search for ASIN B0000C6IW3), and his disc coupling Dvorak's Piano Quintet and second Piano Quartet with the Panocha Quartet is beautiful, even sublime (available through *Amazon.co.uk* on the mid-priced Elatus label -- ASIN B0000A1M7V -- and the original full-priced Teldec disc is still available there as well -- ASIN B000026BI5). Among major pianists currently on the scene, I think only Leif Andsnes possibly rivals Andras Schiff as a chamber musician and accompanist.

It's difficult to articulate precisely what makes Schiff such an outstanding chamber-music player. Part of it is that he listens to and responds to his partners in an actual dialogue, which is both rare and exciting; part of it is that his playing is fabulously detailed; and part of it is that he articulates the piano part with wonderful intelligence and insight. Listening to Schiff play chamber music, one has the pleasure and deep satisfaction of feeling that the score has rarely been as well illuminated before. I'm reminded of the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge saying that watching the great Shakespearean actor Kean was like reading Shakespeare by "flashes of lightning." Schiff's recording of Schubert's piano trios is almost unsurpassed in this respect, but this two-disc set of Beethoven's cello and piano music is not far behind!

It's a source of perpetual amazement to me how the same music can affect you (or not) in different performances. I had previously ventured into this repertoire by purchasing the Ma/Ax recordings on Sony -- after hearing them I was left completely nonplussed. Those players lack nothing technically, but they did not communicate to me on any level: All the notes were there, but where was the music? Enter Schiff and Perenyi, who make each piece sound a masterpiece. Here is real communication, both with each other and with the listener. Perenyi matches Schiff every step of the way, and the ECM recording is faultless.

This set -- two mid-priced discs in a slimline package -- is a gem. And if you haven't heard Schiff's recording of Schubert's Piano Trios and Arpeggione Sonata, get that too!

______________________________________________________________________

*About ASINs* Just FYI, you can use the ASIN to find a particular CD on Amazon.com (or on any of Amazon's international sites). An ASIN is Amazon's own inventory number -- every CD has a unique ASIN, which appears under "Product Details." Simply copy the ASIN and then paste it in the Search box near the top of this page. When you click "Go!" the CD will be returned as the *only* search result and its page will appear.

Beethoven: Complete Sonatas for Pianoforte & Violoncello

Average customer rating:

Beethoven's Wonderful Sonatas
Non-Heroic, Mature Beethoven
Gorgeous classical chamber music

Beethoven: Complete Sonatas for Pianoforte & Violoncello

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000J27X
Release Date: 1999-05-25

Tracks:

Sonata For Pianoforte And Violoncello In A Major, Op. 69: Allegro ma non tanto
Sonata For Pianoforte And Violoncello In A Major, Op. 69: Scherzo. Allergro molto
Sonata For Pianoforte And Violoncello In A Major, Op. 69: Adagio cantabile -
Sonata For Pianoforte And Violoncello In A Major, Op. 69: Allegro vivace
Sonata For Pianoforte And Violoncello In F Major, Op. 5, No. 1: Adagio sostenuto -
Sonata For Pianoforte And Violoncello In F Major, Op. 5, No. 1: Allegro
Sonata For Pianoforte And Violoncello In F Major, Op. 5, No. 1: Rondo. Allegro vivace
Sonata For Pianoforte And Violoncello In G Minor, Op. 5, No. 2: Adagio sostenuto e espressivo -
Sonata For Pianoforte And Violoncello In G Minor, Op. 5, No. 2: Allegro molto piu tosto presto
Sonata For Pianoforte And Violoncello In G Minor, Op. 5, No. 2: Rondo. Allegro

Tracks:

Sonata For Pianoforte & Violoncello In C Major, Op. 102, No.1: Andante -
Sonata For Pianoforte & Violoncello In C Major, Op. 102, No.1: Allegro vivace
Sonata For Pianoforte & Violoncello In C Major, Op. 102, No.1: Adagio - Tempo d'Andante -
Sonata For Pianoforte & Violoncello In C Major, Op. 102, No.1: Allegro vivace
Sonata For Pianoforte & Violoncello In D Major, Op. 102, No.2: Allegro con brio
Sonata For Pianoforte & Violoncello In D Major, Op. 102, No.2: Adagio con molto sentimento d'affetto -
Sonata For Pianoforte & Violoncello In D Major, Op. 102, No.2: Allegro fugato
12 Variations On 'Ein Madchen Oder Weibchen' From Mozart's Die Zauberflote For Pianoforte & Violoncello In F Major, Op. 66

Customer Reviews:

Beethoven's Wonderful Sonatas.......2003-04-19

This is a great Beethoven set. Immerseel and Bylsma do a wonderful job on Beethoven's complex but canorous melodies.

Non-Heroic, Mature Beethoven.......2001-01-08

I have been enjoying Beethoven's cello sonatas by (now historical) DuPre-Barenboim live recording, modern piano prevailing over cello. In Bylsma-Immerseel set, the balance is ideal thanks to the early 19 century fortepiano played by Immerseel. The overall atmosphere is intimate and mature. And the difficult Op. 102-2 is played with confidence, without trace of technical difficulty. Recommended to people who does not regard Beethoven as a heroic composer, but a unexpectedly 'orthodox' composer. Recording is vivid. (Only reservation: what a cover picture! Sony should be more esthetic!)

Gorgeous classical chamber music.......2000-08-09

I have not heard Bylsma's earlier recording with Malcolm Bilson- who would be my fortepianist of choice over Immerseel- but this is a great set. The playing is surprisingly romantic for two historical performance experts, but this is in no way a bad thing. While Bylsma's intonation is not always perfect, his texture and feel for the music is exemplary, and his instrument sounds fine indeed. Immerseel also creates a very warm, rich feel with his keyboard playing.

Beethoven's cello sonatas are one of those rare sets of works for which there are numerous period performances, most of which would be good choices. Also check out Chrisophe Coin with Patrick Cohen. Anthony Pleeth and Melvyn Tan have a very affordable set as well.

I don't think the balance is in favor of the piano, as many critcs have said, but rather quite equal, and the interplay between the two instruments is intricate and captivating. There is a dearth of cello works from the classical period, in my opinion, and even as this veers toward an early romantic sound, it is a most welcome addition to the canon.

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