Schnabel plays Beethoven, 5 [Box set]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Seth Winner's expert remastering reveals a wider range of color, inflection, and expression to Artur Schnabel's late Beethoven than one divines from EMI's earlier, plummier transfers. While the great pianist's fingers occasionally derail in the Hammerklavier's outer movements, or Op. 101's treacherous march and fugue movements, his fusion of architecture and passion elsewhere verges on the clairvoyant. His cloudy, bone-chilling trills in the finales of Op. 109 and 111, once heard, will stick forever in your inner ear. --Jed Distler

Tracks:

Sonata No. 28 in A, op. 101: Allegretto, ma non troppo
Sonata No. 28 in A, op. 101: Vivace alla Marcia
Sonata No. 28 in A, op. 101: Adagio, ma non troppo, con affetto
Sonata No. 28 in A, op. 101: Allegro
Sonata No. 29 In B Flat 'Hammerklavier,' Op. 106: Allegro
Sonata No. 29 In B Flat 'Hammerklavier,' Op. 106: Scherzo. Assai vivace
Sonata No. 29 In B Flat 'Hammerklavier,' Op. 106: Adagio sostenuto
Sonata No. 29 In B Flat 'Hammerklavier,' Op. 106: Largo. Allegro risoluto

Tracks:

Sonata No. 30 In E, Op. 109: Vivace, ma non troppo
Sonata No. 30 In E, Op. 109: Prestissimo
Sonata No. 30 In E, Op. 109: Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo
Sonata No. 31 In A Flat, Op. 110: Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
Sonata No. 31 In A Flat, Op. 110: Allegro molto
Sonata No. 31 In A Flat, Op. 110: Adagio, ma non troppo. Fuga.
Sonata No. 32 In C Minor, Op. 111: Maestoso. Allegro con brio ed appassionato.
Sonata No. 32 In C Minor, Op. 111: Arietta. Adagio molto semplice e cantabile

Tracks:

Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Vivace
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 1 : Alla Marcia maestoso
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 2 : Poco allegro
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 3 : L'istesso tempo
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 4 : Un poco piu vivace
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 5 : Allegro vivace
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 6 : Allegro ma non troppo e serioso
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 7 : Un poco piu allegro
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 8 : Poco vivace
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 9 : Allegro pesante e risoluto
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 10 : Presto
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 11 : Allegretto
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 12 : Un poco piu moto
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 13 : Vivace
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 14 : Grave e maestoso
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 15 : Presto scherzando
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 16 : Allegro
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 17 : (not marked)
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 18 : Poco moderato
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 19 : Presto
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 20 : Andante
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 21 : Allegro con brio
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 22 : Allegro molto alla 'Notte e giorno faticar'
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 23 : Allegro assai
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 24 : Fughetta. Andante
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 25 : Allegro
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 26 : Piacerole
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 27 : Vivace
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 28 : Allegro
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 29 : Adagio, ma non troppo
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 30 : Andante, sempre cantabile
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 31 : Largo, molto espressivo
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 32 : Fuga. Allegro
Diabelli Variations, op. 120: Variation 33 : Tempo di Minuetto moderato
Bagatelles, Op. 126: No. 1 In G : Andante con moto
Bagatelles, Op. 126: No. 2 In G Minor : Allegro
Bagatelles, Op. 126: No. 3 In E Flat : Andante
Bagatelles, Op. 126: No. 4 In B Minor : Presto
Bagatelles, Op. 126: No. 5 In G : Quasi allegretto
Bagatelles, Op. 126: No. 6 In E Flat : Presto

Amazon.com

Seth Winner's expert remastering reveals a wider range of color, inflection, and expression to Artur Schnabel's late Beethoven than one divines from EMI's earlier, plummier transfers. While the great pianist's fingers occasionally derail in the Hammerklavier's outer movements, or Op. 101's treacherous march and fugue movements, his fusion of architecture and passion elsewhere verges on the clairvoyant. His cloudy, bone-chilling trills in the finales of Op. 109 and 111, once heard, will stick forever in your inner ear. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Definitive reissue of the definitive performances.......2005-12-19

I've heard many reissues of these performances --- the Seraphim LPs, the EMI and Naxos CDs. Without question the Pearl series far exceeds the others in its fresh sound. The Pearl series sounds unfiltered --- it has the greatest surface noise, but for the first time you can actually hear the sparkle and vibrancy of Schnabel's piano --- almost like a modern recording with a lot of noise. That sparkle gives the music a psychoacoustic aliveness that is profoundly important to the emotional impact. The engineering of the new Naxos series puts the musician behind a veil of 70 years. The Pearl series brings Schanbel into your room now. The mind can filter out the surface noise and hear the vibrancy present. Perhaps someday computers will be able to do this for us (perhaps they already can---listen to the Sony reissue of Louis Armstrong's Hot 5 and 7s). As to the performances --- I've focus on the sound, because the performances are simply essential to any lover of Beethoven; when I sit down and close my eyes and listen, Schnabel more than any interpreter evokes a stream of images, moments, characters, feelings, and indescribable stories that inhabit Beethoven's musical world. It's not simply that I like Schnabel's performances. I like many other pianists' performances. But Schnabel opens the gates of the imagination.

The way Beethoven himself would have played it.......2005-08-30

When I hear Schnabel play Beethoven's sonatas I can't help feeling that this is the way Beethoven himself would have played them. The fiery impetuosity and ethereal vision and resolute courage and defiance imbue these interpretations. Schnabel has come down from the fiery bush to reveal to us the spirit of Beethoven (as it were). In any case, if you want to really understand and feel Beethoven, there is no other in my opinion than the great Schnabel: he is the measure by which all who have so far come after him should be measured. And these Pearl recordings are the best I've heard so far. It sounds the truest to the actual performance. The others I've heard (from EMI) are good but seem to have more distortion in the actual piano sounds due to filtering out the noise. But I do recommend the "Waldstein" recording by Schnabel from the EMI Great Recordings series. Others don't even come close; when you've heard this one, the others will seem but feeble attempts of mere earthlings.

Not merely historic, but definitive!.......2002-01-20

Generally, we think of "historic" reissues as something for the specialist, as an interesting glimpse of musical practices and conceptions from the past. This is not the case here. Artur Schnabel, like the conductor Wilhelm Furtwaengler, continues to live as a supreme Beethoven interpreter, in this case, of the piano music. This final volume, contaning the works of the composer's last period, provides the strongest evidence of such supremacy. No matter what other recording of the Beethoven Sonatas you may fancy, this final Volume is a must for everyone. It will probably make you want to ge the entire set and discard whatever version you have now. I have had versions of some of the individual sonatas by other pianists, but now I only own Schnabel's.
I first heard these performances in the wretched EMI LP transfers back in the Sixties. They were thin-sounding and muffled; hearing the earlier Victor LPs was an amazing experience and showed me how variable transfers of 78 RPM material can be. I wound up discarding the EMI's and getting all of the Victor LPs. I am happy to say that the Pearl transfers are if anything even clearer and more impactful in sound. It really is like playing good 78 copies in mint condition.
The performance of the "Hammerklavier" Sonata is undoubtedly the most controversial one in this volume, if not in the entire series. Particularly, the headlong pacing in the First Movement has come in for criticism. Having lived with this performance for several decades, I am convinced that this is the way it should sound. One must not forget that the "Hammerklavier" was written in a period of extreme emotional stress for Beethoven; given his manic-depressive tendencies, it should not be surprising that these should spill over into his compositions. Schnabel's is the only rendition which fully explores the manic qualities of the First and Final Movements, and the deep depression of the Adagio (this is surely the most despairing movement that Beethoven ever wrote). Other performances just don't cut the mustard.

Artur Schnabel Plays Beethoven/ Piano Concerto No.5

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Artur Schnabel Plays Beethoven/ Piano Concerto No.5

Manufacturer: Arabesque
ProductGroup: Classical
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000JJI67G

Product Description

1-2.concerto no.5 in e flat major op.73 3.polonaise in c major op.89 4.andante in f major op.170

DONALD ISLER Plays Piano Works of SCHNABEL and BEETHOVEN

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DONALD ISLER Plays Piano Works of SCHNABEL and BEETHOVEN

Manufacturer: Kasp
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000009MG3
Release Date: 2001-02-12

Tracks:

Son No.5 in c, Op.10 No.1: Molto Allegro E Con Brio
Son No.5 in c, Op.10 No.1: Adagio Molto
Son No.5 in c, Op.10 No.1: Finale: Prestissimo
Son No.30 in E, Op.109: Vivace Ma Non Troppo
Son No.30 in E, Op.109: Prestissimo
Son No.30 in E, Op.109: Andante Molto Cantabile Ed Espressivo
Seven Pieces: Largo
Seven Pieces: Allegretto
Seven Pieces: Andantino
Seven Pieces: Agitato, Vivace
Seven Pieces: Lento
Seven Pieces: Vivace
Seven Pieces: Con Moto
Dance Ste: Foxtrot
Dance Ste: First Rest/Wooing
Dance Ste: Waltz/Feelings
Dance Ste: Second Rest/Relating Atmospherically
Dance Ste: Towards Tomorrow/Affirmation

Album Description

Pianist Donald Isler gave a recital in tribute to Artur Schnabel at New York's Symphony Space some years ago. The program included two Schnabel compositions - the Seven Pieces of 1947, and the US premiere of the Dance Suite of 1921. The first recording of the Dance Suite, presented here, stems from that time.

The Seven Pieces, considered by many to be Schnabel's finest work for piano solo, were originally recorded by Helen Schnabel on an LP long out of print. The present recording is the only version currently available.

The two Beethoven Sonatas on this recording are a part of the core repertoire Schnabel performed, recorded, and taught to such effect that that his successors are still to some degree in his debt.

Tracks:

Rondo In A, WoO 49.
Sonata No.2 In F Minor, Op.2 No.1: Allegro
Sonata No.2 In F Minor, Op.2 No.1: Adagio
Sonata No.2 In F Minor, Op.2 No.1: Menuetto
Sonata No.2 In F Minor, Op.2 No.1: Prestissimo
Sonata No.2 In A , Op.2 No.2: Allegro vivace
Sonata No.2 In A , Op.2 No.2: Largo appassionato
Sonata No.2 In A , Op.2 No.2: Scherzo
Sonata No.2 In A , Op.2 No.2: Rondo. Grazioso
Sonata No.3 In C, Op.2 No.3: Allegro con brio
Sonata No.3 In C, Op.2 No.3: Adagio
Sonata No.3 In C, Op.2 No.3: Scherzo
Sonata No.3 In C, Op.2 No.3: Allegro assai
Rondo a capriccio in G

Tracks:

Sonata No.19 In G Minor, Op.49 No.1: Andante
Sonata No.19 In G Minor, Op.49 No.1: Rondo. Allegro
Sonata No.20 In G, Op.49 No.2: Allegro ma non troppo
Sonata No.20 In G, Op.49 No.2: Tempo di minuetto
Sonata No.4 In E Flat, Op.7: Allegro molto e con brio
Sonata No.4 In E Flat, Op.7: Largo con gran espressione
Sonata No.4 In E Flat, Op.7: Allegro
Sonata No.4 In E Flat, Op.7: Rondo. Poco Allegretto e grazioso
Sonata No.5 In C minor, Op.10: Allegro molto e con brio
Sonata No.5 In C minor, Op.10: Adagio molto
Sonata No.5 In C minor, Op.10: Finale. Prestissimo
Sonata No.6 In F, Op. 10 No.2: Allegro
Sonata No.6 In F, Op. 10 No.2: Allegretto
Sonata No.6 In F, Op. 10 No.2: Presto

Customer Reviews:

one of the greatest.......2003-03-15

if you're one of those who likes to "let the music speak for itself", or rather, let the "score" speak for itself, maybe schnabel is not your choice. there's definately a lot of individualism in schnabel, mostly to bring out what's probably the major weights in the music. yes, there's definately a finger slips here and there (i've never heard schnabel being praised for his technics), but it is definately just a micro-microscopic price paid for one of the greatest beethoven interpretations there is.

the transfer job is done by Winner, probably the best you can get. unlike ALL the other transfers, Winner did his best to preserve the original sound, so it doesn't sound muffled or over-pedaled. however, buyers should be warned that it also comes with a lot of surface noises from the original LP.

if you find the price unreasonable, may i suggest the same complete schnabel's beethoven sonatas on Dante, with a slightly inferior transfer, but a lower price. to date, there's also a incomplete set still being released by naxos, probably the closest to the pearl set, recording-wise (transfer by obert-thorn), but at only half the price.

regards,
aly o salmon

Expressionless.......2002-08-18

I was very dissapointed with Schnabel's playing of the first sonata, opus 2 number 1. His fingers can clearly fly, but the expression was limited, particularly in the stunning opening theme which passed by too quickly. He is admired for his 'accuracy' and 'innovation' but i just don't think he sounds interesting. Soloman Cutner's Beethoven is much much better.

Schnabel is still champion!.......2002-03-11

The more I hear of Schnabel's Beethoven, the less I desire to hear other pianists in this literature. I know that this is a narrow-minded attitude, but I have never heard any other pianist who could approach this kind of vital and profound music-making. Much has been said about Schnabel's supremacy in the late Sonatas, but his mastery of these early works is also supreme. He brings to these works a sparkle and restless vitality in the fast movements that makes the music come alive as no one else can. And he has the courage to respect the extreme slow tempi of the slow movements. The Rondo a capricio "Rage over a Lost Penny" is breathtaking in its drive, yet all the charm and wit of the piece is there. The sound of these transfers is the best yet - avoid the EMI or other issues. If you have another set of the Sonatas, sell it; once you hear Schnabel, no one else will do.

Average customer rating:

Definitive reissue of the definitive performances
Schnabel is king!

Schnabel Plays Beethoven, Vol. III

Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000WOY
Release Date: 1994-11-29

Tracks:

Sonata No. 14 In C# Minor, Op. 27 No. 2: Adagio sostenuto
Sonata No. 14 In C# Minor, Op. 27 No. 2: Allegretto
Sonata No. 14 In C# Minor, Op. 27 No. 2: Presto agitato
Sonata No. 15 In D, Op. 28: Allegro
Sonata No. 15 In D, Op. 28: Andante
Sonata No. 15 In D, Op. 28: Scherzo
Sonata No. 15 In D, Op. 28: Rondo
Sonata No. 16 In G, Op. 31 No. 1: Allegro vivace
Sonata No. 16 In G, Op. 31 No. 1: Adagio grazioso
Sonata No. 16 In G, Op. 31 No. 1: Rondo. Allegretto.
Six Variations On An Original Theme In F, Op. 34: Tema : Adagio. Cantabile.
Six Variations On An Original Theme In F, Op. 34: Variation I
Six Variations On An Original Theme In F, Op. 34: Variation II. Allegro, ma non troppo.
Six Variations On An Original Theme In F, Op. 34: Variation III : Allegretto
Six Variations On An Original Theme In F, Op. 34: Variation IV : Tempo di Minuetto
Six Variations On An Original Theme In F, Op. 34: Variation V : Marcia. Allegretto
Six Variations On An Original Theme In F, Op. 34: Variation VI : Allegretto

Tracks:

Sonata No. 17 In D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2: Largo. Allegro
Sonata No. 17 In D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2: Adagio
Sonata No. 17 In D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2: Allegretto
Sonata No. 18 In E-Flat, Op. 31 No. 3: Allegro
Sonata No. 18 In E-Flat, Op. 31 No. 3: Scherzo. Allegretto vivace
Sonata No. 18 In E-Flat, Op. 31 No. 3: Menuetto. Moderato e grazioso
Sonata No. 18 In E-Flat, Op. 31 No. 3: Presto con fuoco
Bagatelles, Op. 33: No.1 In E-Flat
Bagatelles, Op. 33: No. 2 In C
Bagatelles, Op. 33: No. 3 In F
Bagatelles, Op. 33: No. 4 In A
Bagatelles, Op. 33: No. 5 In C
Bagatelles, Op. 33: No. 6 In D
Bagatelles, Op. 33: No. 7 In A-Flat

Customer Reviews:

Definitive reissue of the definitive performances.......2005-12-19

Schnabel is king!.......2005-10-21

Anyone who has read my other reviews of the Schnable Beethoven series will know how I react to this kind of exalted music-making. So just forget other versions and get the complete Schnabel Beethoven recordings, already!

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Arthur Schnabel plays Beethoven

Manufacturer: Dante
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000G405
Release Date: 1998-12-01

Schnabel plays the Beethoven Piano Concertos

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The Pearl is preferable

Schnabel plays the Beethoven Piano Concertos

Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000WNO
Release Date: 1995-02-03

Tracks:

Con No.1 in C, Op.15: Allegro Con Brio
Con No.1 in C, Op.15: Largo
Con No.1 in C, Op.15: Rondo
Fur Elise
Con No.2 in B, Op.19: Allegro Con Brio
Con No.2 in B, Op.19: Adagio
Con No.2 in B, Op.19: Rondo
Bagatelle Op.126 No.4 in b

Tracks:

Con No.3 in c, Op.37: Allegro Con Brio
Con No.3 in c, Op.37: Largo
Con No.3 in c, Op.37: Rondo
Rondo in C, Op.51 No.1
Con No.4 in G, Op.58: Allegro Moderato
Con No.4 in G, Op.58: Adante Con Moto
Con No.4 in G, Op.58: Rondo

Tracks:

Con No.5 in E 'Emperor', Op.73: Allegro
Con No.5 in E 'Emperor', Op.73: Adagio Un Poco Mosso
Con No.5 in E 'Emperor', Op.73: Rondo
Con No.4 in G, Op.58: Allegro Moderato
Con No.4 in G, Op.58: Andante Con Moto
Con No.4 in G, Op.58: Rondo

Customer Reviews:

The Pearl is preferable.......2002-02-08

Naxos recently reissued the first four Concerti in these performances; hopefully, the "Emperor" Concerto will soon follow. Nevertheless, the Pearl issue has somewhat superior sound. The Naxos, while boasting very good reproduction of the piano, has moments of rather thin and strident orchestral sound. The Pearl is smoother, richer in body, and more open in sound. What the Naxos does have going for it is its incredibly inexpensive price; the Pearl is more than twice the price per disc. Still, for those playing these discs on wide-range equipment, I'd suggest the Pearl as preferable.
As for the performances themselves, they are so well known that they need no be discussed in any depth here. it is sufficient to say that Schnabel remains the most probing and passionate of Beethoven pianists. Forget about modern hi-fi and stereo; listen to this set and get hooked for life!

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