Customer Reviews

Beethoven: Moonlight, Pathetique & Appassionata Piano Sonatas, Opp. 13, 27:2, 57

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have listened to this recording in awe since I first heard the original on LP in 1983. I have heard many pianists play these pieces, but I have hear few renditions as sincere, austere, emotionally rich, and technically secure as this one.

Serkin's rendition of the Presto Agitato of the Moonlight Sonata, track 3, is one of the few most superb technical and musical accomplishments I have ever heard. He manages to capture an intermittent lightning storm in sound, and do it better than anyone else I have ever heard. Every time I hear it, it makes me shiver. I have heard Horowitz, Dubravka Tomsic, Marta Argerich, Ashkenazy, Arrau, Brendel, Berezovsky, Stephen Hough, Hamelin, and manyother great pianists. They, too, can achieve this effect, but it is something that is achieved intermittently. It is never insured. Its not something you pull out of a hat. It is true inspiration. True inspiration on track 3. Buy it.

Both the Pathetique and the Appassionata are interpreted with unique style. How often does a pianist these days leave you with a lasting vision of the piece that is different from the vision presented by every other pianist? Not often. Serkin had personality, and it shows. Listen to the way he phrases, pedals, and voices. This recording is wonderful. I highly recommend it for someone who wants to learn something about *true* interpretation, and what you can add beyond what is written on the score.

I read the reviews which questioned the quality of these recordings. Quite frankly, I don't think I have ever disagreed more with someones critique of a performance. The review that questions Serkins technique in arrpegios etc., is completely off the wall. In fact the opposite can be said. These renditions are perhaps the most perfect technically of any ever rendered. The punishing difficulty of the 3rd movement of the Moonlight is played with complete "risk". There is no holding back so as to keep from making a mistake. Instead he really goes for it, particularly in the final measures which are so often unclear by other pianists. As to the one who wrote that Serkin has no sense of rhythm or meter, he is nuts. Serkin has a broad sense of tempo and rubato. He is a master of playing with time pulling it in and out just as Jascha Heifetz was. By no means does Serkins account of the Appasionata leave you feeling like there is no set meter. Again, the contrary is the truth. This is the most perfect rendition of the Appasionata on record without a doubt. The "passion" is so very, very intense particularly in the final movement. The coda is especially perfect in its tempo, technical execution, and risk taking. So often, in other recordings, I hear wrong notes hit during the final measures of this piece. I understand as a pianist that these measures are extremely difficult in particular because the right hands fast notes are so exposed up in the silver area of the piano. Serkin is completely secure in thses notes. Not a wrong note is to be heard and he plays with such a strong confident tone. It is truely hair raising. I highly recomend this CD to anyone who wishes to hear top notch piano playing.

I must take the strongest exception to the review written by Ray Liikanen. Because he personally prefers Barenboim's recording is no reason to leave a one star review. This is one of the finest recordings of these three sonatas in existance, in both technical and interpretive respects. The Appassionata in particular is outstanding, the final coda will leave you breathless; Serkin's expressiveness, power, and technical mastery are second to none. The production of the recording itself my have what some perceive to be flaws, such as the occasionaly audible creak of the bench as Serkin moves, but I find these very human and charming, and far preferable to the sterile pefection of music that sounds as if it were recorded in a vacuum. Serkin also takes exactly the right amount of artistic license with the music, never indulging in excessive histrionics, yet instilling sublime emotion into every note. This recording has the feel of a masterwork: Commanding and confident, yet beautiful and intimate. No praise is too high for Serkin.

My Dad bought me this recording when I took up playing the piano a couple of years ago. As a nine year old, I loved Beethoven's music so much that I got the sheet music of the Pathetique, and am learning to play the first movement, even though my hands can't quite reach a full octive easily. As Dad says: "what has Beethoven got that can grab the soul of today's youth, even with all the distractions of the 21 century?" Listen and find out!

The reviewer who dislikes Serkin's awkward rhythm in the Appassionata finale has a point, but the rest of this disc is simply unbeatable. I have never heard a more perfect Pathetique, and the Moonlight goes wonderfully from somber to electrifying (the Moonlight finale is one of the fastest and certainly the best ever). And the rhythms in the first two sonatas have pinpoint accuracy. If your looking for the best Appassionata, Richter is hard to beat. But Serkin does a fine job with it, even if the finale is less that perfect. Otherwise, this disc is a steal.

serkin's technique is very strong. the piano sounds great, he has an understanding and feel for these pieces, and he uses the perfect amount of rubato (not much, but a little) for these early/middle period beethoven sonatas, which is important to maintain that constant forward momentum he achieves. lots of clarity in this performance, always driving.
three great performances of three great sonatas, i highly recommend this cd, especially to anyone who is just getting acquainted with the beethoven piano sonatas.

Serkin's classic rendition of these Beethoven masterpieces is an artistic triumph! Buy two copies of this CD and give one to a friend! I have listened to this music for many years (no, I didn't buy it at Amazon), literally hundreds of times, and it never loses its' appeal. Buy it, by all means!

Each of us will have their favourite in these trio of Beethovan's sonatas. However, Serkin is in the same class as Schnabel, Arrau, Gilels. Especially compelling is the Appasionata, taken at a fast speed, but wonderfully humane in the slow movement. Essential purchase !

Rudolph Serkin's Beethoven sonatas are different and interesting, but there are many, many versions of the popular Beethoven sonatas that are different and interesting. Better (more mainstream?) performers to start with might include Wilhelm Kempff, Emil Gilels, or possibly Schnabel. Richard Goode and Stephen Kovacevich have performed well in more modern recordings (though Kovacevich's cycle has a clinker or two as well.) Solomon's versions of the late Sonatas should not be missed if you acquire "the bug", and one could (and should) also dip into individual sonatas by Arrau, Brendel and others. (Certain of Svatislav Richter's performances available on Praga and Revalation should also not be missed.) In short, Rudolph Serkin's vision of these works may make his Beethoven less a place to start than one of many places to end up.

For the 3 most familiar piano sonatas, this CD is well worth the money and the sound is not bad considering when it was recorded. Mr Serkin is more than adequate here.