Beethoven: Complete Sonatas & Variations [Hybrid SACD] [Hybrid SACD - DSD, Import]

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Dejan Lazic (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Dejan Lazic
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (September 13, 2005)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD, Import
• Label: Channel Classics Nl
• ASIN: B0007Z47YI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #203,860 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Adagio Sostenuto-

2. Allegro

3. Rondo: Allegro Vivace

4. Twelve Variations In F Major Op.66/Ein Madchen Oder Weibchen

5. Twelve Variations In F Major Op.66/Ein Madchen Oder Weibchen

6. Twelve Variations In F Major Op.66/Ein Madchen Oder Weibchen

7. Twelve Variations In F Major Op.66/Ein Madchen Oder Weibchen

8. Twelve Variations In F Major Op.66/Ein Madchen Oder Weibchen

9. Twelve Variations In F Major Op.66/Ein Madchen Oder Weibchen

10. Twelve Variations In F Major Op.66/Ein Madchen Oder Weibchen

See all 32 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Allegro Man Non Tanto

2. Scherzo: Allegro Molto

3. Adagio Cantabile-

4. Allegro Vivace

5. Andante-

6. Vivace

7. Adagio-

8. Allegro Vivace

9. Allegro Con Brio

10. Adagio Con Molto Sentimento D'Affetto

See all 19 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Artistry - Fantastic Sound, January 4, 2006

By 

Larry Bouchard (Prospect, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beethoven: Complete Sonatas & Variations [Hybrid SACD] (Audio CD)

In the interest of continuing my SACD collection, I spend some time on Amazon buying well reviewed discs. These Beethoven Sonatas and Variations perf by Wispelwey and Lazie had no reviews, but since this was the only SACD with this repertoire, I did the blind buy. Boy, I'm glad I did.

First of all the sound!

The engineering on this one is just as good as it gets. This replaces "The Marriage of Figarro" by Jacobs as the most amazing sounding SACD in my collection, which speaks volumes. Incredible dynamics, richness, spaciousness (even though I only have a 2 channel setup - would love to hear multichannel), all audiophile accolades apply. Even the CD Redbook version sounded fantastic through my iPod. The richness and sparkle made the Pod sound strikingly deeper and richer, and just more real than any other material I have.

If you're looking for a reference SACD to amaze friends and family - look no further.

Second the Performance

The was where I had my biggest concern, given artists I wasn't familiar with and no reviews on Amazon. The performance flirts with greatness. Extremely nuanced and expressive yet driven and energetic. I can't recall ever hearing two artists mesh so perfectly together and speak so much with one voice over so much complex fare - this really amazed me. They went from driven and extroverted to hushed and soulful on a dime - and the playing in general had more of the passion and soulfulness I associate with the eras of the 50's and 60's. The technique and recording brilliance however was definitely state of the art.

The only possible negative on the performance (and not for me) is the absolutely sublime phrasing. The usual Beethoven angst isn't on display here, it's more leave you on a clould sublime ala Mozart. Of the various pieces I have other recordings of though, like with Mutter, Kahn etc, there wasn't a tremdous amount of pathos either. Probably just the nature of these more parlour like Sonatas - in which case criticism doesn't apply. And in any case I find these performances so much more compelling than those of Sophie-Ann or Kahn that I also own.

Sorry for gushing on so much, but getting such a shockingly good performance and recording on a blind buy was something I had to sound off about - especially with no other reviews on this yet. Just buy this, from my POV I can't even imagine better.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Caution: Audible electric buzz on recording, May 29, 2010

By 

Carsten Knoch (Toronto, ON Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven: Complete Sonatas & Variations [Hybrid SACD] (Audio CD)

While the playing is certainly excellent and spirited, there's unfortunately an annoying electric buzz on this recording - caused maybe by a fluorescent light or something else present in the room while it was being recorded. It's quite audible using headphones (and I've checked this on several different pieces of equipment, initially thinking it was my iPod or something had gone wrong when I added my CD to iTunes). Unfortunately, it's there. Buyer beware - you may find that you don't hear it on your stereo, in a room acoustic, but on headphones you'll hear it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great playing by any standard, February 1, 2009

By 

Pure Francis - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Complete Sonatas & Variations [Hybrid SACD] (Audio CD)

These works have been well served on disc, from the classic Rostropovich/Richter to the recent Schiff/Fellner (both on Philips). This set certainly belongs among the great ones, and it offers sonics of breathtaking naturalness and realism. Pieter Wispelwey and Dejan Lazic work exceptionally well together. Two strong-willed artists, everything that they do serves the music, not least in the three sets of variations, which are chock-full of personality and clear delight in Beethoven's early compositional virtuosity.