Beethoven: Sonaten - Pathétique & Mondschein

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Emil Gilels (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Emil Gilels
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001G4E
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,223 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous !, July 14, 1999

By 

Avram (Someone, Somewhere, in Summertime) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Sonaten - Pathétique & Mondschein (Audio CD)

Gilels set of Beethoven Piano Sonatas is the pinnacle of artistry, musicality, pianism and, above all humanism ! This particular recording is my favourite ! Tempos are generally slightly slower then these days but no force or momentum is lacking. Highly inspired grand performances ! Profoundly moving and soul touching ! Yes, I admit, I like Gilels most of them all, especially in Beethoven's Sonatas. No other pianist could make me laugh and bring me to tears so honestly !

This is just one disc of his cycle for Deutsche Grammophon and all of them are so authoritative, so deeply felt that they reall are "must" for any Beethoven lover ! Feeling that Gilels provokes highly exceed my knowledge of English language. He should be heard and felt ! No words could really describe his awsome artistry !

Marvelous release, this one ! Not to be missed !!!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful Performance of Revolutionary Sonatas, August 8, 2003

By 

A. Michaelson "A. Michaelson" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Sonaten - Pathétique & Mondschein (Audio CD)

Gilels never ceases to amaze when it comes to performing Beethoven. The most difficult aspect of playing Beethoven is making sure that the music is passionate but not overdone. From experience and conversation with other pianists, I've learned that everybody loves to hear great Beethoven performances, but the difficulties in playing the music of this great composer make performers yearn to play something else, say Chopin instead. Too often a performer will use too much rubato, which leads to rushing, when playing Beethoven. Gilels is one of the few who DOESN'T rush yet manages to maintain that propulsive, driving force that is such and integral aspect of Beethoven's music. His technique is flawless as well. The finale of the Moonlight Sonata usually has one of two problems, the bass line is played far too loudly or the right hand arpeggios are smeared so much that they sound as if they are all grace notes. Gilels, on this recording, manages to avoid both of these flaws one hears in so many other performances, yet he still manages to play it presto con fuoco, as marked. Gilels gives these three sonatas (the Pathetique, the Moonlight and the Quasi una fantasia) the most impassioned and technically precise stereo studio performance I've ever heard. This is just a moving, passionate, and just plain fun album. I recommend it whole-heartedly.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, November 5, 2005

By 

Student "wrdstudent" (TAMPA, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Sonaten - Pathétique & Mondschein (Audio CD)

Instead of rushing through the sonatas as countless performers do, Emil Grigoryevich Gilels takes times to make music. He adheres to the required speed but does not exceed the speed limit which in the process makes so many recordings sound like robotic technical exercises.

Mr. Gilels' playing touches the heart, and that is what music is supposed to do.

Excellent sounding CD. In a word: wonderful.