Walter Gieseking 2

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Born in France to German parents in 1895, Walter Gieseking grew up in the south of France and retained a lifelong affinity for the music of Debussy and Ravel. He had a stupendous technique and perhaps the keenest understanding of sonority of any pianist ever: he was unrivalled in the use of the pedals and his ability to convey a full tone in the softest dynamics. All this made him an ideal interpreter of the music of Debussy, whose two books of preludes and Estampes are the main offering here. Gieseking explored Debussy's sound-world as thoroughly as anyone has ever done, with flamboyance and a pianistic naturalness that seems to have been lost to subsequent generations. In these wonderfully evocative and organic readings from 1936-39, he produces a truly fantastic tissue of sound that fully justifies Debussy's admonition that his music should be played "as though the piano had no hammers."

Gieseking's rendition of Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit, recorded in 1937 and 1938, is equally striking and astute. His Mozart suffers a bit from the kind of music-box treatment that was typical of the time, and from articulation that's a bit slapdash. His Beethoven, by contrast, is intensely focused and dazzling. --Ted Libbey

Tracks:

Allegro Affettuoso - Walter Gieseking
Intermezzo. Andantino Grazioso - Attacca - Walter Gieseking
Allegro Vivace - Walter Gieseking
Nicht Zu Schnell - Tibor De Machula
Langsam - Tibor De Machula
Sehr Lebhaft - Tibor De Machula

Tracks:

Allegro Non Troppo - Edwin Fischer
Allegro Appassionato - Edwin Fischer
Andante - Edwin Fischer
Allegretto Grazioso - Edwin Fischer

Tracks:

Introduction. Adagio
Adagio. Sehr Langsam
Scherzo. Molto Vivace (Schnell) - Trio
Finale. Adagio - Allegro Moderato

Tracks:

Thema I. Bewegt - Thema II. Sehr Lebhaft - Thema III. Ruhig
Scherzo. Munter
Wiegenlied. MaBig Langsam
Adagio. Langsam
Finale. Sehr Labhaft
Tone-Poem After Nikolaus Lenau

Tracks:

Tone-Poem For Large Orchestra
Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks After An Old Picaresque Legend - In Rondeau Form
Daphnis Et Chloe - Suite Nr.2

Customer Reviews:

Average quality recordings, great historical significance.......2004-12-09

These recordings were made in wartorn Berlin by one of the past century's greatest conductors, Wilhelm Furtwangler, who was one of very few international caliber artists who remained in Germany during WWII. Combine Furtwangler's passionate conducting with the sad context of war and you've got an utmost interesting and pertinent package.

Schumann's Piano Concerto is wild and intense as you may expect, and totally unedited as you can hear several of Walter Gieseking's errors. The Cello Concerto is equally intriguing, as well as Brahms' Piano Concerto. This set contains a lot of pieces which are not part of Furtwangler's "standard favourites".

The only drawback is the sound quality. These are live recordings who were made with primitive technology, and we lose much of the dynamics of Furtwangler's volume fluctuations. However, the style and tempi are unmistakenly his.

While most of today's digital recordings are bland and perfect, this boxed set is a good alternative for those who appreciate the historical context of a recording. As much as I enjoy Zimerman/Karajan's interpretation of Schumann's masterpiece on digital DGG, there is something about these old recordings that is so passionately nostalgic that I can't help but listen to this noisy mono recording more often than I listen to other versions I possess. It's also one of very few Furtwangler collections which are properly packaged, in an attractive slim box from Deutsche Grammophon's Dokumente series.

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas 8, 9, 10, 13 & 14

Average customer rating:

Great CD!
Buy this CD !
Excellent Playing, Good Recording...4 Bucks!

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas 8, 9, 10, 13 & 14

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto Op35; Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Op77
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Nos. 21, 23, 30, & 31
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde/Parsifal/Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg/Lohengrin/Tannhäuser
D. Scarlatti: 18 Sonatas
Piano Favorites

ASIN: B000000UVP
Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

Sonata No. 8 in C Minor
Sonata No. 8 in C Minor
Sonata No. 8 in C Minor
Sonata No. 9 in E Major - Allegro
Sonata No. 9 in E Major - Allegretto
Sonata No. 9 in E Major - Rondo (Allegro Comodo)
Sonata No. 10 in G Major - Allegro
Sonata No. 10 in G Major - Andante
Sonata No. 10 in G Major - Scherzo (Allegro assai)
Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major - Andante - Allegro
Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major - Allegro molto e vivace
Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major - Adagio con espressione - Allegro vivace
Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor - Adagio sostenuto
Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor - Allegro
Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor - Presto agitato

Customer Reviews:

Great CD!.......2006-01-29

Terrific performances, great sonics, $4 price. Buy tis disc - you can't lose. One of the best Moonlights I have heard.

Buy this CD !.......2004-10-12

If you like the sonatas of Beethoven, you must buy this CD. Gieseking was a great pianist, and this CD contains some of the better known sonatas. I own six complete sets of the Beethoven piano sonatas from various artists, and probably 50 more individual CD's, and if I could only take one, this would be the CD. At $ 4.00, it is an absolute steal. It makes me wonder why I pay $12 to $17 for other historical performances on CD.

Excellent Playing, Good Recording...4 Bucks!.......2000-01-23

Gieseking was one the foremost pianists of his generation, although his personal reputation was ruined (rightfully) by Nazi affiliations during the 30s and 40s. Nonetheless, his work in the Beethoven sonatas is very strong and deserves respect. This disc contains several of the "name" sonatas amongst it's fare. They are extremely well played, and the sound is good for a 50's recording. ...this is very much a bargain.

Average customer rating:

Happy to be the first 1 star.
Murky
Debussy and Gieseking
EMI IS ATROCIOUS!!!!!!!!!
Hello Sky, Hello Trees

Debussy: The Complete Works For Piano

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Ravel: The Complete Works for Solo Piano
Brahms: Works for Solo Piano
Debussy: Orchestral Music
Liszt: Piano Works
Chopin: The Piano Works

ASIN: B000002S6Z
Release Date: 1997-01-21

Tracks:

Prdes Book I: I. Danseuses de Delphes (Lent et grave) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book I: II. Voiles (Mod) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book I: III. Le vent dans Ia plaine (Anim- Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book I: IV. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir (Mod) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book I: V. Les collines d'Anacapri (Trmod) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book I: VI. Des pas sur la neige (Triste et lent) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book I: VII. Ce qu'a vu le vent d'Ouest (Animt tumultueux) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book I: VIII. La fille aux cheveux de lin (Trcalme et doucement expressif) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book I: IX. La snade interrompue (Modment anim- Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book I: X. La cathale engloutie (Profondnt calme) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book I: Xl. La danse de Puck (Capricieux et lr) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book I: XII. Minstrels (Mod) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book II: I. Brouillards (Mod) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book II: II. Feuilles mortes (Lent et mncolique) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book II: III. La Puerta del Vino (Mouvement de Habanera) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book II: IV. Les f sont d'exquises danseuses (Rapide et lr) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book II: V. Bruys (Calme) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book II: VI. General Lavine - eccentric (Dans le style et le mouvement d'un Cakewalk) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book II: VII. Le terrasse des audiences du clair de lune (Lent) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book II: VIII. Ondine (Scherzando) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book II: IX. Hommage . Pickwick, Esq., P.P.M.P.C. (Grave) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book II: X. Canope (Trcalme et doucement triste) - Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book II: XI. Les tierces altern (Modment anim- Walter Gieseking
Prdes Book II: XlI. Feux d'artifice (Modment anim- Walter Gieseking

Tracks:

Pour le piano: I. Prde (Assez anime et tres rythme) - C. Debussy
Pour le piano: II. Sarabande (Aved une elegance grave et lente) - C. Debussy
Pour le piano: III. Toccata (Vif) - C. Debussy
Estampes: I. Pagodes (Moderement anime) - C. Debussy
Estampes: II. La soirdans Grenade (Mouvement de Habanera) - C. Debussy
Estampes: III. Jardins sous la pluie (Net et vif) - C. Debussy
Images, Set I: I. Reflets dans l'eau (Andantino molto) - C. Debussy
Images, Set I: II. Hommage ameau (Lent et grave) - C. Debussy
Images, Set I: III. Mouvement (Anime) - C. Debussy
Images, Set II: I. Cloches ravers les feuilles (Lent) - C. Debussy
Images, Set II: II. Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut (Lent) - C. Debussy
Images, Set II: III. Poissons d'or (Anime) - C. Debussy
Children's Corner: I. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum (Moderement anime) - C. Debussy
Children's Corner: II. Jimbo's Lullaby (Assez modere) - C. Debussy
Children's Corner: III. Serenade for the Doll (Allegretto ma non troppo) - C. Debussy
Children's Corner: IV. The Snow is Dancing (Moderement anime) - C. Debussy
Children's Corner: X. The Little Shepherd (Tres modere) - C. Debussy
Children's Corner: VI. Golliwogg's Cakewalk (Allegro giusto) - C. Debussy

Tracks:

12 Etudes: I. Pour les cinq doigts (d'apres Monsieur Czerny) (Sagement) - C. Debussy
12 Etudes: II. Pour les tierces (Moderato, ma non troppo) - C. Debussy
12 Etudes: III. Pour les quartes (Andantino com moto) - C. Debussy
12 Etudes: IV. Pour les sixtes (Lento) - C. Debussy
12 Etudes: V. Pour les octaves (Joyeaux et emporte, librement rythme) - C. Debussy
12 Etudes: VI. Pour les huit doigts (Vivamente, molto leggiero e legato) - C. Debussy
12 Etudes: VII. Pour les degrchromatiques (Scherzando, animato assai) - C. Debussy
12 Etudes: VIII. Pour les agrnts (Lento, rubato e leggiero) - C. Debussy
12 Etudes: IX. Pour les notes rt (Scherzando) - C. Debussy
12 Etudes: X. Pour les sonoritoppos (Modere, sans lenteur) - C. Debussy
12 Etudes: XI. Pour les arps compos(Dolce e lusingando) - C. Debussy
12 Etudes: XI. Pour les accords (Dedide, rythme, sans lourdeur) - C. Debussy
Masques (Tres vif et fantasque) - C. Debussy
D'un cahier d'esquisses (Tres lent-sans rigueur) - C. Debussy
L'Isle joyeuse (Quasi una cadenza - Tempo : Modere et tres souple) - C. Debussy
La plus que lente (Lent - Molto rubato con morbidezza) - C. Debussy
Le petit negre (Cakewalk. Allegro giusto) - C. Debussy
Berceuse heroique (Modere - sans lenteur) - C. Debussy
Hommage aydn (Mouvement de Valse lente) - C. Debussy

Tracks:

Suite Bergamasque: I. Prde (Moderato - tempo rubato) - C. Debussy
Suite Bergamasque: II. Meneut (Andantino) - C. Debussy
Suite Bergamasque: III. Clair de lune (Andante tres expressif) - C. Debussy
Suite Bergamasque: IV. Passepied (Allegretto ma non troppo) - C. Debussy
Danse bohenne (Allegro) - C. Debussy
Rrie (Andantino sans lenteur) - C. Debussy
Mazurka (Scherzando - assez anime) - C. Debussy
Valse romantique (Tempo di valse - Allegro moderato) - C. Debussy
Deux Arabesques: I. Andantino con moto - C. Debussy
Deux Arabesques: II. Allegretto scherzando - C. Debussy
Nocturne en re bemol majeur - in D flat - Des-dur - C. Debussy
Danse (Tarentelle styrienne) (Allegretto) - C. Debussy
Ballade (Andantino con moto) - C. Debussy
Fantaisie For Piano And Orchestra: I. Andante - Allegro - C. Debussy
Fantaisie For Piano And Orchestra: II. Lento e molto espressivo- - C. Debussy
Fantaisie For Piano And Orchestra: III. Allegro molto - C. Debussy

Amazon.com essential recording

These classic performances belong in the collection of anyone who cares about Debussy's piano music. Walter Gieseking's career was a troubled one--his pandering to the Nazi party cast a shadow over his last years, but the greatest irony of all was that this German nationalist turned out to be the greatest exponent of French music of his era. His Debussy playing marries an effortlessly subtle control of the keyboard to a real sense of fantasy. The music truly shimmers in his hands, and despite the limited range of the mono recording, the ear quickly adjusts. This is, in short, one of those classic recordings that critics and music lovers have enjoyed for nearly 50 years. So should you. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Happy to be the first 1 star........2007-07-14

I should probably qualify my distate for these albums by saying that, like many piano players I don't particularly care for, the playing is not bad, is in fact even fine, but I can't stand the style; the recording quality itself was only a minor issue for me, as sometimes I like the sound of an older recording, it gives it more weight, more dream quality.

I bought this set about 10 years ago, for about $60, which at the time was an exorbitant amount (being a broke college student). I knew and loved many of Debussy's pieces, and liked none of them here. I was so dissappointed that I didn't buy another classical cd for about 9 years, the next actually being the BCO's awesome recording of Suk's Asreel Symphony.

I now own Thibaudet's Debussy, and while I'm stile not completely satisfied there, that set goes up from the 1 star here to 3 stars, and is enjoyable enough that I don't mind having spent the money.

This set, however, will forever mark itself in my mind as the archnemesis of that other iconic Purple album - Jean Francois Paillard's 'The Pachelbel Canon', which is the only one to own (well, the second one to own - the ultimate recording being on the disc with the two Fasch trumpet concertos).

Murky.......2007-04-01

I have to agree with the reviewers complaining about the sound quality on these CD's. I first discovered Debussy's piano music through these recordings when I was left my grandfather's record collection and I was obsessed. I bought this hoping to get back that vinyl magic but this is a murky compressed sounding thing, with none of the charm it should have. Boo.

Debussy and Gieseking.......2007-01-10

Historical 1950s recordings that demonstrate Gieseking's well attested shades of piano sound that are unique and outstanding.

EMI IS ATROCIOUS!!!!!!!!!.......2006-10-28

I despise EMI and for good reasons.
They have terrible recorded sound... from what I heard, i thought gieseking performed these pieces during the 1940s. I have remastered recordings from the 1920s and 30s that sound better than this!! But then again, EMI was never known for providing top-notch sonics.
Sheesh few years ago i purchased pablo casals on emi and it was simply horrible. i had to go get the one on testament (which is, by the way, superior to the Naxos remastering - believe it or not!).
I can't believe that much of gieseking's sound is lost and there's not much we can do about it!!!! emi will burn in hell... lol.

Hello Sky, Hello Trees.......2006-04-04

While there are those individuals, less sophisticated than my wonderful self, who are wont to dismiss Debussy as music only for those whose horticural inclinations run contrary to the course of gravity, I would have to venture that they don't know a good thing when they see one, and that to shun a composer merely because his fan base is given to lifting shirts would be nothing short of childish. After all, Debussy is really rather good, brilliant in fact, and if the good people at EMI should happen to let his liner notes be written by an inveterate pillow-biter, that does nothing to detract from his merits. "Bravo Debussy!" I say, and as I knock back another pastis enquire nonchalantly, "Anyone for tennis?"

Average customer rating:

Is an Enchanting Thing
Fantastic pianist but poor Beethoven recordings.
Landmark recordings by a master

Walter Gieseking 2

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

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ASIN: B00000JNQ0
Release Date: 1999-07-20

Tracks:

Preludes, Book I: Danseuses de Delphes
Preludes, Book I: Voiles
Preludes, Book I: Le vent dans la plaine
Preludes, Book I: Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir
Preludes, Book I: Les collines d'Anacapri
Preludes, Book I: Des pas sur la neige
Preludes, Book I: Ce qu'a vu le vent d'Ouest
Preludes, Book I: La fille au cheveux de lin
Preludes, Book I: La serenade interrompue
Preludes, Book I: La cathedrale engloutie
Preludes, Book I: La danse de Puck
Preludes, Book I: Ministrels
Preludes, Book II: Brouillards
Preludes, Book II: Feuilles mortes
Preludes, Book II: La Puerta del Vino
Preludes, Book II: Les Fees sont d'exquises danseuses
Preludes, Book II: Bruyeres
Preludes, Book II: General Lavine - eccentric
Preludes, Book II: La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune
Preludes, Book II: Ondine
Preludes, Book II: Hommage a Samuel Pickwick Esq., P.P.M.P.C.
Preludes, Book II: Canope
Preludes, Book II: Les tierces alternees
Preludes, Book II: Feux d'artifice
Estampes: Pagodes
Estampes: Soiree dans Grenade
Estampes: Jardins sous la pluie

Tracks:

Piano Sonata In C Minor, KV 457: Molto allergo
Piano Sonata In C Minor, KV 457: Adagio
Piano Sonata In C Minor, KV 457: Allegro assai
Piano Sonata In C, Op.53 'Waldstein': Allegro con brio
Piano Sonata In C, Op.53 'Waldstein': Introduzione: Adagio molto -
Piano Sonata In C, Op.53 'Waldstein': Rondo: Allegretto moderato
Piano Sonata In F Minor, Op.57'Appassionata': Allegro assai
Piano Sonata In F Minor, Op.57'Appassionata': Andante con moto
Piano Sonata In F Minor, Op.57'Appassionata': Allegro ma non troppo
Gaspard de la nuit: Ondine
Gaspard de la nuit: Le gibet
Gaspard de la nuit: Scarbo

Amazon.com

Born in France to German parents in 1895, Walter Gieseking grew up in the south of France and retained a lifelong affinity for the music of Debussy and Ravel. He had a stupendous technique and perhaps the keenest understanding of sonority of any pianist ever: he was unrivalled in the use of the pedals and his ability to convey a full tone in the softest dynamics. All this made him an ideal interpreter of the music of Debussy, whose two books of preludes and Estampes are the main offering here. Gieseking explored Debussy's sound-world as thoroughly as anyone has ever done, with flamboyance and a pianistic naturalness that seems to have been lost to subsequent generations. In these wonderfully evocative and organic readings from 1936-39, he produces a truly fantastic tissue of sound that fully justifies Debussy's admonition that his music should be played "as though the piano had no hammers."

Gieseking's rendition of Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit, recorded in 1937 and 1938, is equally striking and astute. His Mozart suffers a bit from the kind of music-box treatment that was typical of the time, and from articulation that's a bit slapdash. His Beethoven, by contrast, is intensely focused and dazzling. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Is an Enchanting Thing.......2006-01-13

The best introduction I can imagine to the artistry of Walter Gieseking (1895 -- 1956) is the following unforgettable opening stanza by the American poet Marianne Moore:

"The Mind is an Enchanting Thing

is an enchanted thing
like the glaze on a
katydid-wing
subdivided by sun
till the nettings are legion.
Like Gieseking playing Scarlatti;"

Althought there is no Scarlatti on the CD I am discussing, Ms. Moore's poetry captures, as little else can, the quirky, shimmering and prismatic character of Gieseking's pianism. This is a two-CD set in the ambitious "Great Pianists of the 20th Century Series" issued about five years ago. Unfortunately, many CDs in this retrospective are already becoming difficult to find.

The enchanted character of Gieseking's playing is nowhere better shown than in his performances of Debussy. It is fitting that Debussy be included in a 20th Century retrospective because he is almost surely the greatest composer of that century for the piano -- certainly his works have been accepted into the repertory to a far greater and universal degree than the piano compositions of any other 20th Century composer.

Gieseking's performance of Debussy's two books of Preludes, composed in 1910 and 1913, is justly renowned,and it forms the centerpiece of this collection. The 24 Preludes show Debussy at the height of his powers in writing for the piano in his own inimitable voice. Unlike much music of the past century, the Preludes can be enjoyed by most listeners at a very basic level but also reward detailed musical study. The Preludes are full of unusual harmonies, shifts of tempo and melody, long glissandos, arpeggios, and trills, and wry humor. Each of the Preludes has a name, but they shouldn't be regarded as programmatic. Debussy placed the title for each work at the end, rather than at the beginning, so that the listener and the performer could respond for themselves. These works are much more introspective -- capturing moods and responses -- in character than they are tone-paintings of objects. I have heard the Preludes performed live both in selections of three or four, the approach Debussy himself preferred, and in their entirety, as Gieseking does here. The Preludes demand great contol of phrasing, texture, volume, and pedalling. There is no better introduction to these works that Gieseking's on this compilation. Debussy is known for his use of the whole-tone scale, but his compositions generally shift in and out of various types of scales and modes. Those listeners wanting to hear a piece almost entirely written in the whole-tone scale might start with "Voiles", the second prelude in Book I. In addition to the Preludes, this CD includes Gieseking's performance of a slightly earlier work of Debussy's, the three-movement "Estampes" which is full of color.

I find the piano music of Ravel more externally focused than that of Debussy. Gieseking performs Ravel's most famous solo composition, "Gaspard de la Nuit" with the virtuosity and flamboyance it demands. Gaspard is a setting of three romantic, diabolical poems by Aloysius Bertrand. The opening movement describes a water-sprite named Odine and can instructively be compared with Debussy's "Odine" Prelude in Book II. The second movement describes a hanged man swinging back and forth on the rope while the third notoriously difficult movement describes a menacing, evil spirit named Scarbo.

It is sometimes forgotten that Gieseking was a renowned performer of Beethoven and Mozart. He performed the Beethoven sonata cycle as a young man and recorded the Mozart sonatas in their entirety. His performance of Beethoven's Waldstein sonata on this CD is electrifying. Gieseking takes the outer movements at high speed (a more than appropriate approach for the opening movement, a debatable approach for the finale); and this works well for the vigorous, confident, and forward-moving character of this heroic sonata. He does less well with the "Appassionata" sonata primarily because, as do many pianists, he disregards Beethoven's markings in the finale and takes the movement at great speed. Gieseking gives a romantic reading to Mozart's C-minor sonata, K.457, which I find works best in the lyrical second movement. One of the great virtues of this "Great Pianists" series is the opportunity it affords to hear different performance styles of inexhaustible works of music.

We don't have "Gieseking playing Scarlatti" here, but this CD shows the creative power of the human mind celebrated by Debussy, Ravel, Mozart, and Beethoven and by the poem of Marianne Moore.

Robin Friedman

Fantastic pianist but poor Beethoven recordings........2001-08-20

Walter Gieseking (1895-1956) was one of the most gifted and unusual pianists of his time (or any time, for that matter). He was playing the piano at 4, made his debut a few years later and, at 15, played a six-concert series of the complete Beethoven sonatas. Blessed with absolute pitch, natural skills at the keyboard and one of the most frightening sight-reading gifts of the century (shaming even Horowitz, Richter or Saint-Saens), he was recognized early on as a remarkable musician. He studied under Karl Leimer, who passed on his visualization technique to Gieseking. This technique, which involved memorization by reading the score and imagining the physical aspects of playing before actually executing the music at the piano, helped Gieseking (who already had perhaps the most formidable memory in 20th century pianism) to practice relatively little. Gieseking was a supreme colorist, whose unparalleled pedal technique was ideally suited to Debussy and Ravel, the composers with whom he is most often associated. He was also, until the advent of Artur Schnabel, widely acknowledged as the finest Mozart pianist of the era. Gieseking's final years were clouded by his pandering to the Nazis, and his wife was killed in a bus accident (in which he was also grievously injured) shortly before his death in London. Whenever Gieseking is mentioned, you always hear that he lost his magic after the war, and this is, unfortunately, true. While his playing retained its finish and technical mastery, the incandescence and sparkle that was Gieseking at his finest were gone forever, and he seemed to be merely going through the pianistic motions. Fortunately, he made many fine recordings before the war, and these are included here.

Even today, Gieseking is the mark by which all other Debussy players measure themselves. The reasons for this are evident in his 1939 recording of the "Preludes." With a dynamic control and mesmerizing sonority that is beyond description, Gieseking lures the listener into Debussy's world. His recording of Ravel's "Gaspard de la Nuit" is equally dazzling, perhaps unrivalled with the exception of Michelangeli's rendition. The Mozart is elegant in execution and shows a player with unique insight and identification with the music. My one reservation, however, is the inclusion of the two Beethoven sonatas. Gieseking was never a particularly distinguished Beethovenist, and these are eccentric interpretations to say the least (the "Appasionata" is played at such a breakneck tempo it seems as if the pianist had to pee). Perhaps more Mozart should have been included instead of the Beethoven; either way, I have to give this set only four stars because of this misstep.

Landmark recordings by a master.......2000-06-22

One of the smartest things Philips did in preparing its Great Pianists of the Century series was to devote a 2-CD set to pre-World War II recordings by Walter Gieseking. These earlier renditions of Debussy's two books of Preludes are both tautly organized and drenched in atmosphere; no one since (including Gieseking himself after the war) has matched him. "Demonic possession" is the phrase that comes to mind while listening to Ravel's "Gaspard de la Nuit", the opening section of which was recorded when Ravel was still alive. Gieseking doesn't worry a whole lot about wrong notes in Beethoven's "Appassionata" Sonata, as if something is compelling him forward. The sound isn't bad for the Thirties and the playing burns right through it.

Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Selections from the definitive collection [Sampler]

Average customer rating:

Tantalizing preview of good things to come
RE: Glenn Gould
Missing no one except Katia Skanavi
Forget Somebody?
Unparalled Excellence (Mark G. Davis)

Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Selections from the definitive collection [Sampler]
Andrei Gavrilov , Walter Gieseking , Emil Grigoryevich Gilels , and Friedrich Gulda
Manufacturer: Polygram Records Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Andrei Gavrilov
Martha Argerich

ASIN: B00000DI3I
Release Date: 1998-12-28

Tracks:

Waltz In G Flat, Op. 70 No. 1
Predule In B Flat Minor, Op. 28 No. 16
'Paganini' Variations, Op. 35, Book 1: Variations 13 & 14
Transcendental Etude No. 5 In B Flat 'Feux follets' (excerpt)
Etude In G Sharp Minor, Op. 25 No. 2
'Annees de pelerinage' II: Sonetto 47 del petrarca
Etude In C, Op. 23 No. 2 'Staccato' (excerpt)
Sonata In D, Hob. XVI: 42 (Finale)
Suite No. 2 'Silhouettes: Coquette
Pieces de Clavecin: Le rappel des oiseaux
Mazurka In D, Op. 33 No. 2
The Months: Song Of The Lark
'Preludes', Book I: La fille aux cheveux de lin
Impromptu No. 4 In F Minor, D. 935 (excerpt)
Etude In G Flat, Op. 25 No. 9 'Butterfly'
Intermezzo, Op. 4 No. 6
Ich ruf zu dir (Chorale-Prelude)
Sonata In C, K. 330 (finale) (excerpt)
Waltz In D Flat, Op. 70 No. 3
Standchen
Nocturne In E Flat, Op. 55 No. 2
Romeo And Juliet: Dance Of The Girls With Lilies
'Preludes,' Book I: Minstrels
Prelude In B Minor
'Paganini' Etude No. 5: La chasse
Carnaval: Chopin & Estrella
Suite Bergamasque: Passepied
French Suite No. 6 In E, BWV 817a: Bourree
Sonata In B Flat, D. 960 (Scherzo)
Jesu, Joy Of Mans Desiring
La jongleuse
Valse oubliee No. 1
Etude In F, Op. 10 No. 8

Tracks:

'Iberia,' Book I (excerpt): Evocation
Hungarian Dance No. 1 In G Minor
Fantasies, Op. 116: Intermezzo In E
Etude Op. 2 No. 3
Lyrical Pieces, Op. 43: To The Spring
Intermezzo In C, Op. 119 No. 3
El Pelele (excerpt)
Etude In G Sharp Minor, Op. 26 No. 6 'Double-thirds'
Waltz In C Sharp, Op. 39 No. 6
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: Gluckes genug
Tarantelle, Op. 43
'Preludes,' Book II: General Lavine - eccentric
Concert Etude No. 2 In F Minor 'La leggierezza (excerpt)
Mazurka In F Minor, Op. 63 No. 2
Paganini Etude No. 3 'La campanella' (excerpt)
Minuet In G (excerpt)
Sonata In A, K. 212
French Suite No. 2, BWV 813: Courante
The Sleeping Beauty: Gavotte & Le canari qui chante
Berceuse, Op. 57
The Man I Love (excerpt) - Andre Previn
Etude-Tableau In C, Op. 33 No. 2
Prelude In G Sharp Minor, Op. 32 No. 12
Waltz In D Flat, Op. 64 No. 1' Minute'
Moment Musical In F Minor, D. 780 No. 5
'Diabelli' Variations, Op. 120 No. 8 (Poco vivace)
Sonata No. 3 In F Sharp Minor, Op. 23 (2nd movement)
'Annees de pelerinage' I: Au bord d'une source
Partita No. 1 In B Flat, BWV 825 (Prelude)
'Etudes,' Book I: Etude No. 6
Nobody But You
Sonata In F, K. 107
Embraceable You
'Diabelli' Variations, Op. 120 No. 8 (Poco vivace)
'Preludes', Book I: La danse de Puck

Amazon.com

Philips' 100-volume Great Pianists of the 20th Century series is one of the most ambitious projects ever put together by a record company. For all the debate that will surely ensue over who was chosen and who was passed over, it's obvious that careful, loving attention has gone into the selection of content for the happy 72 to be admitted to this special pantheon (certain especially significant pianists are allotted two or even three volumes, such as Vladimir Horowitz). Each of the handsomely designed, sepia-tinted volumes--adorned with a black and white photo--contains two CDs and a thoughtful essay on the artist in question. Prospective buyers should be aware that this sampler volume offers only short vignettes (averaging between two and three minutes), along with a thumbnail sketch, for each pianist. Still, it's a smorgasbord of morsels that allow you to taste some of the major trends in philosophy and approach to the instrument throughout the century (and reaching well back into the 19th), and the overlap of repertory permits some fascinating quick comparisons as style and technique have evolved. Delve into some of the artists in the series--say Alfred Brendel or Martha Argerich--and trace in greater depth the piano's identity crisis. Is it, for example, a resonantly string-like instrument ideal for pastel shadings or a steely, percussive machine meant to express the hardness of the 20th century? There are countless discoveries to be made here, both for the connoisseur and for anyone taking the first step into getting acquainted with great keyboard artistry. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Tantalizing preview of good things to come.......2003-01-07

This is an introductory 2-CD set to introduce a very grand series of CD's featuring the 20th Century's greatest pianists.
As a sampler, there are some incredible jewels here, for example Nikita Magaloff's sparkling Chopin Tarantelle and Paganini Etude No.3: 'La Campanella' played excitingly by John Ogdon. There is even an early recording of Paderewski playing (predictably) Paderewski.

This sampler seems a bit of a Euro-centric, but the editors wisely chose to include Earl Wild doing Gershwin and Roslyn Tureck doing Bach. I ended up purchasing the Andre Watts volume from this series, and wondered what it would be like to own the whole shootin' match. I saw the entire CD series on display in a top notch music store in Germany--it was overwhelming to see the line of brown covers stretching impressively across an entire wall. The sampler is a good way to have a taste of this ambitious series of the giants of piano in the 20th Century. I listen to it often with great enjoyment.

RE: Glenn Gould.......2001-05-23

RE: Those of you who complained/rejoiced about Gould's abscence: he is not on the sampler, true, I believe for... purposes or something along those lines. Rudolf Serkin is also not included, but both are among the "greatest pianists of the 20th Century" set.

Missing no one except Katia Skanavi.......2001-04-19

I was pleased after reading the list of performers to see that Gould's machine-gun jiffy-pop piano "playing" is not included. I would like to hear more of Skanavi tho.

Forget Somebody?.......2000-09-21

Although I understand that it must have been very diffiult to decide which pianists got put in the collection, let alone a two-disc sampler, I still feel that any anthology of the piano (other than one highlighting the romantic era)should contain at least one piece by Gould, yet this one doesn't. Gould has been almost unanimously hailed as one of the most influential artist of the twentieth century, yet he is not included on this disc. Other than that, a great buy.

Unparalled Excellence (Mark G. Davis).......1999-08-01

If you only purchase one classical piano cd in your entire life, this one should be it. All the masters, at their very best on it.

Tracks:

Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: I. Thema
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: II. Var I (Etude I)
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: III. Var II (Etude II)
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: IV. Etude III
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: V. Var III (Etude IV)
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: VI. Var IV (Etude V)
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: VII. Var V (Etude VI)
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: VIII. Var VI (Etude VII)
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: IX. Var VII (Etude VIII)
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: X. Etude IX
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: XI. Var VIII (Etude X)
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: XII. Var IX (Etude XI)
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: XIII. Finale (Etude XII)
Waldscenen, Op.82: I. Entrance
Waldscenen, Op.82: II. Hunter on the Watch
Waldscenen, Op.82: III. Solitary Flowers
Waldscenen, Op.82: IV. Haunted Spot
Waldscenen, Op.82: V. Pleasant Landscape
Waldscenen, Op.82: VI. Roadside Inn
Waldscenen, Op.82: VII. The Prophet Bird
Waldscenen, Op.82: VIII. Hunting Song
Waldscenen, Op.82: IX. Farewell
3 Romances, Op.28: I. Allegro, molto marcato
3 Romances, Op.28: II. Semplice
Son No.1 in f#, Op.11 (Grosse Son): I. Intro. Un poco Adagio/Allegro vivace
Son No.1 in f#, Op.11 (Grosse Son): II. Aria
Son No.1 in f#, Op.11 (Grosse Son): III. Scherzo ed Intermezzo. Allegrissimo/piu Allegro
Son No.1 in f#, Op.11 (Grosse Son): IV. Finale. Allegro un poco maestoso/Presto/piu Allegro

Amazon.com

Walter Gieseking was like a musical water faucet. You turned the knob, and out came the complete standard piano repertoire. When he was inspired, or truly engaged in a work, he was one of the foremost pianists of the 20th century. There are moments in this 1951 German Radio broadcast (the Sonata dates from wartime) that brush with genius, but the results sound like a great pianist either sightreading or playing without having practiced. One can understand errors made in the heat of passion and risk taking, such as the unbridled, messy, and absolutely thrilling Schumann First Sonata. But the casual mistakes in the Etudes Symphoniques stick out like sore thumbs. Gieseking archivists, however, will welcome these greatly improved transfers from a previous M&A issue. --Jed Distler

Average customer rating:

Chopin Solo Piano, Vol 1

Chopin: Solo Piano, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Andante
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ecossaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Barcarolles | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Chopin: Solo Piano, Vol. 2
Frédéric Chopin: Piano Works
Alfred Cortot: The Master Classes
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas (Complete) [Box Set]

ASIN: B00019EYNO
Release Date: 2004-04-20

Customer Reviews:

Chopin Solo Piano, Vol 1.......2007-01-04

I like this album! It opened new worlds for me, of great Chopin interpreters of long, long ago. I bought both volumes of the album by mistake, hoping to get a full album of Alexandre Brailovski's keyboard work. But I'm very pleased with the music. It should be noted I am not a musician of any kind and have a somewhat limited background in classical music. But a friend who is both a professional musician and quite knowledgeable in these matters says the recordings of these artists of bygone days are, well, priceless!!

Average customer rating:

If you enjoy the sound of static, buy this!!
Full Price for a Boxset of Mono Records That Comes in 8
Cool, but profound.
Mozart at his best

Mozart: Complete Solo Piano Works

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Minuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Caprices | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier
Beethoven: 29 Piano Sonatas / Gilels
Alfred Cortot: The Master Classes
Debussy: The Complete Works For Piano
Liszt: Piano Works

ASIN: B000002S26
Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

Menuette & Trio In G Major, KV1
Menuette In F Major, KV2
Allegro In B Flat Major, KV3
Menuette In F Major, KV4
Menuette In F Major, KV5
8 Variations In G Major. KV24
7 Variationen In D Major, uber Willem van Nassau, KV25
6 Variationen In F Major, uber ein Allegretto, KV54
Menuette In D Major, KV94
6 Variations In G Major 'Mio caro Adone', KV180
12 Variations In C major 'Menuette von J. CH. Fischer, KV179
Klaviersonate Nr. 1 In C major, KV279: I. Allegro
Klaviersonate Nr. 1 In C major, KV279: II. Andante
Klaviersonate Nr. 1 In C major, KV 279: III. Allegro
Klaviersonate Nr. 2 In F Major, KV280: I. Allegro assai
Klaviersonate Nr. 2 In F Major, KV280: II. Adagio
Klaviersonate Nr. 2 In F Major, KV280: III. Presto
Klaviersonate No. 3 In B Flat Major, KV 281: 1. Allegro
Klaviersonate No. 3 In B Flat Major KV 281: II. Andante amoroso
Klaviersonate No. 3 In B Flat Major KV 281: III. Rondo (allegro)

Tracks:

Klaviersonate Nr. 4 In E Flat Major, KV 282: I. Adagio
Klaviersonate Nr. 4 In E Flat Major, KV 282: II. Minuetto I & II
Klaviersonate Nr. 4 In E Flat Major, KV 282: III. Allegro
Klaviersonate Nr. 5 In G Major, KV 283: I. Allegro
Klaviersonate Nr. 5 In G Major, KV 283: II. Andante
Klaviersonate Nr. 5 In G Major, KV 283: III. Presto
Sonatensatz (Allegro) In G Minor, KV 312
Klaviersonate Nr. 6 In D Major, K284: I. Allegro
Klaviersonate Nr. 6 In D Major, K284: II. Rondo & Polonaise (Andante)
Klaviersonate Nr. 6 In D Major, K284: III. Tema Con Variazioni
Klaviersonate Nr. 7 In C Major, K309: I. Allegro con spirito
Klaviersonate Nr. 7 In C Major, K309: II. Andante un poco Adagio
Klaviersonate Nr. 7 In C Major, K309: III. Rondo (Allegretto grazioso)

Tracks:

Klaviersonate Nr. 9 In D Major, KV 311: I. Allegro con spirto
Klaviersonate Nr. 9 In D Major, KV 311: II. Adante con espressione
Klaviersonate Nr. 9 In D Major, KV 311: III. Rondo (Allegro)
Klaviersonate Nr. 8 In A Minor, KV 310: I. Allegro maestoso
Klaviersonate Nr. 8 In A Minor, KV 310: II. Andante cantibile con espressione
Klaviersonate Nr. 8 In A Minor, KV 310: III. Presto
12 Variations In E Flat Major uber 'Je suis Lindor,' KV 354
Capriccio In C Major KV 395
12 Variations In C Major, uber 'Ah, ous dirai-je Maman,' KV 265
Klaviersonate Nr. 10 In C Major, KV 330: I. Allegro Moderato
Klaviersonate Nr. 10 In C Major, KV 330: II. Andante Cantabile
Klaviersonate Nr. 10 In C Major, KV 330: III. Allegretto

Tracks:

Klaviersonate Nr. 11 In A Major, K.331: I. Tema (Adante graziosa)
Klaviersonate Nr. 11 In A Major, K.331: II. Minuetto
Klaviersonate Nr. 11 In A Major, K.331: III. Alla turca (Allegretto)
Klaviersonate Nr. 12 In F Major, K.332: I. Allegro
Klaviersonate Nr. 12 In F Major, K.332: II. Adagio
Klaviersonate Nr. 12 In F Major, K.332: III. Allegro assai
12 Variationen In E Flat Major uber 'La belle Francoise,' K 353
9 Variationen In C Major uber 'Lison dormait,' KV 264
Klaviersonate Nr. 13 In B Flat Major, K.333: I. Allegro
Klaviersonate Nr. 13 In B Flat Major, K.333: II. Adante cantabile
Klaviersonate Nr. 13 In B Flat Major, K.333: III. Allegretto grazioso

Tracks:

8 Menuette Mit Trios, KV 315 A
8 Variationen In F Major uber den Marsch aus 'Les Mariages samnites'
Sonatensatz (Allegro) In B Flat Major, KV 400
Fantasie mit einer Fuge In C Major KV 394
Fuge In G Minor , KV 401
Fantasie In C Minor KV 396
Fantasie D Minor, KV 397
Suite In C Major, KV 399: Ouverture - Allegro - Allemande - Courante - Sarabande
6 Variationen In F Major uber 'Salve tu, Domine,' KV 398

Tracks:

Kliener Trauermarsch In C Minor, KV 453a
8 Variationen In A Major uber 'Come un' agnello,' KV 460
10 Variationen In G Major uber 'Unser dummer Pobel meint,' KV 455
Fantasie In C Minor , KV 475
Klaviersonate Nr. 14 In C Minor, KV 457: I. Allegro
Klaviersonate Nr. 14 In C Minor, KV 457: II. Adagio
Klaviersonate Nr. 14 In C Minor, KV 457: III. Molto allegro
Samtliche Klavierwerke: Rondo In D Major, KV485
Sonatensatz & Menuett In B Flat Major, KV 498a: Allegro
Sonatensatz & Menuett In B Flat Major, KV 498a: Menuette (Allegretto)
12 Variationen In B Flat Major uber ein Allegretto, KV 500

Tracks:

6 deutsche Tanze mit Trios, KV 509
Rondo In A Minor, KV 511
Klaviersonate Nr. 18 F Major, KV533: I. Allegro
Klaviersonate Nr. 18 F Major, KV533: II. Andante
Rondo In F Major, KV 494
Adagio In B Minor, K 540
Klaviersonate Nr. 15 In C Major, KV 545: I. Allegro
Klaviersonate Nr. 15 In C Major, KV 545: II. Andante
Klaviersonate Nr. 15 In C Major, KV 545: III. Rondo (Allegretto)
Klaviersonate Nr. 19 In F Major, KV 547a: I. Allegro
Klaviersonate Nr. 19 In F Major, KV 547a: II. Rondo (Allegretto)

Tracks:

Klaviersonate Nr. 16 In B Flat Major, KV 570: I. Allegro
Klaviersonate Nr. 16 In B Flat Major, KV 570: II. Adagio
Klaviersonate Nr. 16 In B Flat Major, KV 570: III. Allegretto
9 Variationen In D Major uber ein Menuett von Duport, KV 573
Eine Kleine Gigue In G Major, K. 574
Klaviersonate Nr. 17 In D Major, KV 576: I. Allegro
Klaviersonate Nr. 17 In D Major, KV 576: II. Adagio
Klaviersonate Nr. 17 In D Major, KV 576: III. Allegretto
Adantino In E Flat Major, KV 236
Menuette In D Major, KV 355
Adagio In C Major, KV 356
8 Variationen In F Major uber 'Ein Weib ist das herrlischste Ding,' KV 613
Rondo In F Major, KV 616

Customer Reviews:

If you enjoy the sound of static, buy this!!.......2006-10-17

The sound quality is so poor in this recording that it is difficult at best to enjoy. I suppose if you play your music at extremely low volume, or are used to listening on a poor quality stereo (think victrola sound), then maybe you could get past the static noise. Quite a shame, considering what a masterfully performed, complete set this makes.

Full Price for a Boxset of Mono Records That Comes in 8.......2005-12-15

There is an Amazon.com review (on Annie Fischer's Complete Beethoven Sonatas) which says Geiseking's Mozart are all "faceless and anonymous". As I don't really know when I will finish listening to them all, I am really in no position to say one way or the other.

After having heard more than half of them, my first impression is, his playing is very disciplined, yet with a lot of grace and style. But contrary to what one may expect, Geiseking could also be surprisingly slow in tempo at times. Yes, he could be poetic too, but he hardly swings. His 511, for instance, could perhaps be a little more poetic. His left hand, perhaps rightly so for Mozart, never thunders. But when the drama of the music requires so, it could be very explosive. Otherwise, his left hand is always at least one step down if not two, be it harmonic or polyphonic...

I don't refer to Geiseking's Mozart that often as I like his Songs Without Words better, and I like his Debussy even more. His Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 is one of the best that one could expect. Finally on the recording. For recording of the 50's with such a label concerning an artist of his stature, I'm afraid the sound quality is somewhat below expectation. All in all, I expect the price of these historic recordings to come down a bit for the benefit of all Mozart lovers.

Cool, but profound........2003-01-03

While his piano sonatas and variation works are often recorded, I tend to have the most fun in playing the lesser known works that often give the most direct view on Mozart's genius. Looking through the catalogue I had little doubt that Gieseking's collection would give me the most bang for the buck (check out the German Amazon site) and good old Walter did not disappoint.

In old mono recordings that are noisy, lack soundstage, yet sound surprisingly well, Gieseking offers us an almost complete edition of all Mozart's works for solo piano. His style that can best be described as clear, cool and very precise, approaches Mozart from a decidedly non-romantic, non-neurotic perspective. In short: a perfect Uchida antidote.

Giesekings tempos in the Sonatas tend to be at the high side, but his exemplary technique -what a left hand!- prevents the interpretations from ever sounding stressed. Although I can pick some instances where a little more involvement could have paid off, e.g. in the small funeral march KV 453a or in the c-minor Fantasie KV 396, one of Goulds rare Mozart miracles, the playing throughout is exemplary.

All those who claim that Gieseking would be too cold only need to listen to this version of the great a-minor sonata KV310. While it clearly stays within the boundaries of classicism it is on par with Lipatti's version in delivering a direct and profound dramatic statement.

This classic has been in the catalogue for 50 years and for many more to come. I hope that more of Gieseking's Bach performances will find their way to the cd, since the clarity and drive that his Mozart interpretations exude must have resulted in some great Bach.

Mozart at his best.......2000-06-17

These interpretations of Mozart have been part of my library since I was 14, back in the 70's. Originally issued by Angel in the mid 50's, they were rereleased on Seraphim, which was then the budget label for Angel.

Listening to these recordings, one cannot help but notice the attention Gieseking gives to the steady timing. He does not take the liberties that other pianists have been known to take with some music of this era.