Customer Reviews

Beethoven: Complete Works for Cello & Piano

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With the incomprehensible number of recordings of Beethoven's Symphonies, Piano Sonatas, Piano Concertos, String Quartets, etc., etc., it is a joy when a recording emerges that so convincingly stands out above the rest. This release of the five Sonatas for Cello and Piano and the three sets of Variations (in other words, the "complete works for cello and piano"), with Cooke (cello) and Watkins (piano) is musically and technically, absolutely breathtaking (yes, I get goosebumps while listening to this). If you already have other versions of these works, you owe it to yourself to hear this recording. If you don't have this repertoire in your collection, this is the one to get. You won't be disappointed - neither would Beethoven!

With the incomprehensible number of recordings of Beethoven's Symphonies, Piano Sonatas, Piano Concertos, String Quartets, etc., etc., it is a joy when a recording emerges that so convincingly stands out above the rest. This release of the five Sonatas for Cello and Piano and the three sets of Variations (in other words, the "complete works for cello and piano"), with Cooke (cello) and Watkins (piano) is musically and technically, absolutely breathtaking (yes, I get goosebumps while listening to this). If you already have other versions of these works, you owe it to yourself to hear this recording. If you don't have this repertoire in your collection, this is the one to get. You won't be disappointed - neither would Beethoven!

There are dozens of recordings of these work, many of which have considerable merit. This is not one of them. The playing is competent, but the cellist's tone is unattractive, and the performances strike me as dutiful and dull - no fire, no drama, no wit, no fun.

If you want great performances of these works, try Perenyi/Ranki, Perenyi/Schiff, Maisky/Argerich (Maisky's playing is only fair, but Argerich is fantastic, and the pianist is probably more important, particularly in the early works), Wispelwey/Lazic, Tortelier/Heidsieck or even the Casals/Serkin (despite Casals advanced age and resultant technical issues, no one could make music like he did). And if you want HIP, try Hakkila/Kartunnen on Warner, if it's still available - they play this music like their hair is on fire.

I'm probably forgetting something great. Fournier's first recordings with Schnabel are great, although the sound is limited; unfortunately, his later recordings with Gulda and Kempff aren't nearly as lively.