I think uchida s strong credentials as a mozart player are behind the success of this cd. Mitsuko uchida, ludwig van beethoven beethoven sonatas, opp. The hammerklavier, beethoven s longest and most difficult piano sonata occupied him for the latter half of 1817 and for most of the following year. Why is beethovens hammerklavier sonata considered very. She specializes in the keyboard music of mozart, beethoven and schubert, while also performing a repertory that includes works by berg, schoenberg, debussy and messiaen. Beethoven sonata op 106 hammerklavier part 5 mov 4 valentina lisitsa by valentinalisitsa. His deafness had pushed his music making from a physical to a more mental exercise and here is where the hammerklavier was born it was conceptual art from the beginning. Neither an opera nor an oratorio, this unique workcertainly unique to berlioz, but also to the canon of dramatic choral musicis, to coin a phrase that defines little, placidly holy. Beethoven piano sonatas chicago symphony orchestra. Mitsuko uchida has remarked that this variation, to a modern ear, has a striking resemblance to. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Beethoven s own instrument was the piano, and in his improvisations which made him the darling of the viennese salons he merged virtuosity and unbridled expression.
This 1741 masterpiece by js bach was composed for the twomanual harpsichord, but that has never. Dedicated to the composers most influential patron, archduke rudolph of austria no last name needed, beethoven works through several of his recent fixations. I have always had misgivings about uchida s beethoven, having heard her play the last three sonatas live and been disappointed. Scores at the international music score library project imslp. Like arrau and serkin, uchida takes beethovens overly optimistic metronome marking for the hammerklaviers first movement with a grain of salt, while serving up comparable intensity and polyphonic acumen, helped by one of the most potent left hands in the business. Napoleons defeats at moscow in 1812, at the battle of vittoria in 18, and at waterloo in 1814 unleashed a flood of patriotism and hope in vienna that found its parallel in beethoven s heroic music and. It has fascinated me for many years, and i keep discovering new subtelties each time i hear it. Mitsuko uchida is admired throughout the whole world for performances marked by a rare degree of intellectual acuity and profound musical insight. For some listeners, mitsuko uchida s recordings of beethoven s piano concertos with kurt sanderling conducting either the royal concertgebouw orchestra or the symphonieorchester des bayerischen rundfunks will be the epitome of aesthetic pleasure. What i most admire about uchida s playing is the combination of detail and almost reckless attack when needs be. Beethoven edition is the clearest, most reliable one imaginable. Since her first recordings in the mid80s, uchida s pianistic mastery has always been. Beethoven the piano sonatas is my playlist in which i invite you to share with me some of the greatest piano sonatas in history.
Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. View entire discussion 10 comments more posts from the. For beethoven sonatas, dover is a good choice, unless youd prefer henle urtext, which is at least 2x or 3x the price of this. Mitsuko uchida wont be the first name most people think of in the context of beethoven s piano sonatas, but on this album she makes a compelling case. A new philips classics recording by pianist mitsuko uchida of two famous beethoven sonatas is this weeks entrant to the billboard classical chart, debuting at no. Dynamic range and gradation are given the most careful attention and her rhythmic sense in the syncopations of the opening of the hammerklavier is ideal. For others, her performances will be instantly forgettable. This, of course, is the beethoven piano sonata best suited to being orchestrated. The sonata is dedicated to his patron and pupil the archduke rudolph of austria. If you look at online message boards, youll often find very experienced pianists ranking the 32 sonatas in order of difficulty. Jun 28, 2017 the metronome markings cant be depended upon as bettina mentions above. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. May 10, 2016 rudolf serkin was 67 when he performed beethovens colossal hammerklavier sonata at carnegie hall on the very day of that composers bicentennial. Like arrau and serkin, uchida takes beethoven s overly optimistic metronome marking for the hammerklavier s first movement with a grain of salt, while serving up comparable intensity and polyphonic acumen, helped by one of the most potent left hands in the business.
One of beethovens greatest testaments, the hammerklavier. Since her first recordings in the mid80s, uchida s pianistic mastery has always been amply evident. Setting the new standard the beethoven piano sonatas. The three late works that are included come to a generous total running time of an hour and seven minutes, and each is played with precision and great thoughtfulness. The hammerklavier sonata, composed 18178, is by some way the most demanding work in the keyboard repertoire, both for the pianist and for listeners. That very first note, your left hand has to leap about a foot and a half up the keyboard and perfectly land a chord with quite a lot of force very quickly. Namely the popular ones, waldstein, appassionata, tempest, etc. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Assai vivace adagio sostenuto largoallegro risoluto this performance is made possible by a generous gift from richard and mary l. Its hard to pin down mitsuko uchida s performances of beethoven s a major sonata, op.
From our creation and publication history of beethoven s 28th piano sonata, op. After years of studying the original manuscripts, working sketches and editions published during the beethoven s lifetime, and having edited the new henle urtext edition of the complete beethoven piano sonatas, perahia records two sonatas for the first time in his career, op. In the 19th century, this work was regarded as almost unplayable. Ashkenazy rerecorded them both the hammerklavier for his complete beethoven sonata cycle and the waldstein as a digital remake for a separate cd. Aug 28, 2018 my favourite piano sonata is definitely his number 29, op. He is wellknown as the the father of the pianoforte. There is hardly a better way to approach ludwig van beethoven than through his piano concertos. Is it normal to find beethovens hammerklavier sonata difficult.
Does anyone have any recommended recordings of the late great beethoven piano sonatas. Uchida for the late sonatas, but i dont have clear favorites for the others. A panoramic survey of beethovens hammerklavier sonata, op. Composition and performance basilio fernandez morante, charles davis notes, volume 71, number 2, december 2014, pp. For the benefit of all pianists learning this work, we present to you a concise and easy to use analysis of beethovens piano sonata no. Wilhelm walter friedrich kempff 25 november 1895 23 may 1991 was a german pianist and composer. Because our mp3s have no drm, you can play it on any device that supports mp3, even on your ipod. Besides, modern grands have a markedly longer potential sustain time compared to the broadwood that beethoven composed the hammerklavier on which allows for slower temposlonger playing time. Provided to youtube by universal music group beethoven. Of course, theres no debating her sparkling tone or dazzling technique. Mozart is a garden, schubert is a forest in light and shade, but beethoven is a mountain range, said the great austrian pianist artur schnabel.
Beethovens last sonatas at carnegie hall the new york times. She has thought her way into every last note and pause, but the result is not in the least as it can easily be with uchida overwrought or mannered. The two sonatas featured on this release charted unprecedented paths of sonority and virtuosity, although the musical and pianistic aims radically differ. In our series on building a classical library, andrew clements selects the definitive recording beethoven s hammerklavier. Beethovens own instrument was the piano, and in his improvisations which made him the darling of the viennese salons he merged virtuosity and unbridled expression. Beethoven intended it to be difficult, and said so. Jonathan biss concludes his nineyear, ninevolume exploration of beethoven s piano sonatas with a recording for our times, one that asks profound questions about mankinds fragile existence. Special mention should be made of the proficiency of uchida s trilling and her ability to engender a sense of calm luminosity in. The triptych of sonatas he completed a few years later were the last of his 32 works in.
This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title hammerklavier. I recommend buying both volumes of ludwig van beethoven complete piano sonatas. Hearing her recent recordings, however, has made me change my mind. Mitsuko uchida uchida is, simply, uchida an elegant, deeply musical interpreter who strikes an inspired balance of head and heart in. Beethoven was known to demand bigger and better pianos. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features.
October 1, 2019 the auis community celebrated the 200th birthday of bithoveens hammerklavier sonata. Everything about it is on a gigantic scale, and its supreme stature is unassailable. Recommendations for beethoven piano sonata recordings. Ludwig van beethoven complete piano sonatas volume 1. Napoleons defeats at moscow in 1812, at the battle of vittoria in 18, and at waterloo in 1814 unleashed a flood of patriotism and hope in vienna that found its parallel in beethovens heroic music and crusty.
In his late works, for instance in the hammerklavier sonata, beet. Between late 18 and late 1815, beethoven experienced a surge of popularity unlike any other in his lifetime. Although his repertoire included bach, mozart, chopin, schumann, liszt and brahms, kempff was particularly well known for his interpretations of the music of ludwig van beethoven and franz schubert, recording the complete sonatas of both composers. Legend, difficulty, and the gift of a broadwood piano. Uchida encompasses the wildness of beethoven s invention without overemphasis.
Featuring this recorded performance by valentina lisitsa. If this is the beginning of a series of beethoven sonatas, starting with the last three is rather daring, as these works, with the socalled hammerklavier sonata, are as difficult and inscrutable as beethoven gets. This sonata is published in 1816, during a period of difficulty and reduced output by the composer. My favourite piano sonata is definitely his number 29, op. I would avoid the schirmer editions, as they butcher the markings. Mp3 is a digital audio format without digital rights management drm technology. Murray perahia takes a majestic approach to beethoven. By 1818, when beethoven composed the mighty hammerklavier piano sonata, he was almost completely deaf. Customers and visitors can download classical music in high quality flac or mp3 and find out more about classical music. Mitsuko uchida is the first pianist i have heard who rises to every one of its challenges, producing an interpretation which is as profound as it is technically impeccable. Bachs welltempered clavier as the new testament follows the old. Uchidas new recording of beethovens piano sonata no.
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