Customer Reviews

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas [Box Set]

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

DG has gathered on this convenient 9 CD set, all the Beethoven Sonatas recorded for them by Emil Gilels in his later years. He died, in 1985, shortly before his 69th birthday, before he could complete the cycle. They were originally published as recorded, over more than a decade, between 1972 (Sonatas No.21 "Waldstein" and 28 op. 101 - Gilels was 55 then) and 1985 (three releases then: the two so-called "Electoral" Sonatas WoO 47/1 & 2, here on CD 1, paired with No.11 op 22; No.5 op. 10/1, No.10 op. 14/2 and 19 op. 49/1; and finally No. 31 op. 109 & 32 op. 110). Some of those originally released on LP were also previously reissued on CD, but in reshuffled couplings, sometimes even duplicating each other (as the 1972 Waldstein, the 1973 Appassionata and the 1974 "Les Adieux", Beethoven: Sonataen - Waldstein, Les Adieux, Appassionata, or the same Appassionata with the Pathétique from 1980 and # 31 from 1985 (haven't found an entry on this website, it is listed under ASIN B0002UJJCS on the European sister companies, part of the Penguin Rosette collection), or again the pairing of 27 from 1974, 28 from 1972, 30 & 31, Beethoven: Klaviersonaten Nos. 27, 28, 30 & 31 [Germany]). Some others from the LP era were reissued only in the previous box set collating all of these recordings (Beethoven: 29 Piano Sonatas / Gilels - not an entirely honest title, as there are 29 Sonatas there only by dint of including the two early sonatas without opus number) and never made it on individual CDs, at least on DG (some were licensed by Olympia) : No. 6 op. 10/2, 12 op. 26, 16 op. 31/1, 25 op. 79.

As the other reviewers have noted, the sound is uniformly good, and I don't hear any significant differences between the earlier and the later recordings - maybe slightly more vivid presence in these (and, over headphones, the occasional rumble of cars in the distance).

The liner notes contain only an interesting general presentation of Gilels and Beethoven, but no analyses or presentations of the sonatas themselves. I'm particularly happy to have the two (out of three) early and obscure "Electoral" Sonatas from 1783 - nothing to do with democracy, they were dedicated to the Kurfürst or Archbishop-Elector of Cologne Maximilian Francis von Habsburg-Lothringen: they were in fact Beethoven's first piano Sonatas and I find their Haydn-esque wit and Sturm-und-Drang atmosphere irresistible. The essay contained in the liner notes is also very imprecise about which Sonatas Gilels didn't live long enough to record: they are No. 1 op. 2/1, 9 op. 14/1, 22 op. 54, 24 op. 74 "A Thérèse" and the ultimate one, 32 op. 111. An irretrievable loss: there are no other recordings, studio or live, of any of these Sonatas in Gilels' discography (the website of the label DOREMI hosts a magnificent Gilels discography compiled by Ates Tanin, to which I am entirely indebted for this review).

For this reason only, this set obviously cannot be recommended as your only set of complete Beethoven Sonatas. As to the point of determining whether those we have are "the best" versions, it is a pretty senseless one, I think: ever since the advent of the recording process, there have been numerous complete recordings by the greatest giants of the piano in the 20th Century (starting with Schnabel, Backhaus and you name `em). And that's not mentioning those giants who have not recorded the complete cycle but only samples (Richter comes to mind, of course). Suffice to say that Gilels is one of these giants. No one seriously interested in the Beethoven Sonatas should fail to listen to him.

Yet beware: as I write, the demanded price on the present website seems abnormally high. It sells for significantly less on the European sister companies, and I personally bought my own set on the famous Internet auction site for less than 20 $, postage included.

Universal made my day when they finally released this set in the USA a few years ago. Indeed, I count this the most welcome box set from Deutsche Grammophon in the last 10 years!

DG intended to record all of the sonatas with Gilels, but he met with the fate of death before its completion. A little sad indeed, for every minute of the nine CDs in this collection keeps me on the edge of my seat. For years, I thought Pollini was the ultimate in the late sonatas (see Beethoven: Die Späten Klaviersonaten); then I heard Gilels in op. 101 and my jaw dropped. And the same goes for just about every other sonata in this collection when I compared it to my personal "reference" recording.

But, far and away the grand prize in this set is the Eroica Variations. Brendel's Vox recording (albeit in a trashy Murray Hill LP pressing) got me hooked first back in the mid 1970s. The Arrau release kept me going. And then I bought the Gilels recording in this box (at full price when it was issued in 1982 on CD) and rediscovered the work all over. Gilels plays with a dynamic range I've never found matched for the Eroica Variations, or any other solo piano work for that matter. And the recorded sound is absolutely amazing. Indeed, before the CD age, I recall playing many favorite LPs "to death", wearing them out with even the finest equipment (which wasn't "supposed" to happen with reasonably good turntables/styli). When the CD age dawned, every one thought the age of permanence was upon us. Well, I played the Gilels Eroica CD "to death", far more than with any LP. So much so that the CD truly became "worn out", and for myself the notion of CD permanence vanished.

Enough said.

Get this at any price. Warning though. You may get hooked and use up all of your vacation time listening to it, or even lose your job. Be prepared.

I think enough has been said about this set. I would just point out the AMAZING SOUND QUALITY and Gilels very convincing interpretations. The energy and control he has while performing Beethoven is out of this world. I would say buy it at any price because you will rediscover Beethoven's music through Gilels' music making. I would also highly recommed his complete Beethoven Piano Concertos recorded with George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra for EMI

Over the years I have listened to many interpretations of Beethoven's piano sonatas. His sonatas are both profound and technically demanding. Very few pianists can play them faultlessly. They call for i.a. flawless technique, great expressiveness of feeling, intelligence, passion and the ability to convey the peculiar soulful nobility embedded in much of Beethoven's music.

Gilels gets it all exactly right here or at least as right as any one man could ever be expected to interpret so many varied sonatas by this arguably greatest of composers. His playing of the last movement of the Tempest sonata is possibly the best piano performance I have ever heard. I have no words to describe it.

Moreover, the sound quality on these recordings is excellent. The piano sounds wonderful and accoustics are just right.

If you think that it matters that a few of the sonatas of the cycle are missing here (regretfully, Gilels died before he could complete the cycle, at age 69), then you should think again. It is far more rewarding to own this set than to buy an inferior version of all the sonatas.

I'd give this set six stars out of five if I could.

...so says the sticker on the front of the box. I agree wholeheartedly.

Rather than try to establish a specific set of criteria that my music MUST adhere to, a la the HIP movement, I try to cobble together a general idea of what performances should sound like based on what I know of the composer. I like my Beethoven to sound fiery and noble.

This set by Emil Gilels is exactly what I was looking for. His playing, accented by DG's outstanding sound engineering, walks the fine line between emotion and technique effortlessly and makes every piece is a joy to listen to. He can unleash a torrent of passionate music when necessary, but he isn't afraid to draw back and show Beethoven's subtler side. His absence of annoying mannerisms allows Beethoven's genius to shine through, almost as if you're listening to old Ludwig himself.

The only fault I can find is that this isn't a complete set. Sonatas 1, 9, 22, 24, and 32 are missing, but the quality of the others more than make up for that. Just compare the clips of Gilels playing the named sonatas to other performers and I think you'll see what I mean.

Having sat on stage at the end of the keyboard in downtown Chicago's Orchestra hall for Maestro Gilel's performance of Liszt's b minor and also having performed 8 of the Beethoven piano sonatas myself I can only say one thing about his recordings of the near complete Beethoven cycle. Simply splendid musicality coupled with supreme technical control. Along with his colleague and rival Sviatoslav Richter this musical masterpiece rates right along side of Richter's readings. This is a must have. One can listen to Gilels for 1 hr. after another and never cease to awe at his interpretations of Beethoven's sonatas. Every time one listens he or she becomes that much more well educated in listening to what I personally would define as one thing: BEETHOVEN'S VOICE! And yes my friends that is excitement at its GREATEST! The 'Appassionata" and "Hammerklavier" are beyond human perfection!

I like Gilels Waldstein probably better than any other pianist I've heard play it. I'm also fond of his playing of Sonata No. 3 (C major). This would be a wonderful addition to anyone's "Beethoven Sonatas" collection, even if it is not 'complete.'

As a huge Gilels and Beethoven fan I had to get this.
As with most others I am very saddened that the complete set wasn't recorded.
Especially Op.111
Listening to this set opens up a whole new world of Beethoven.
The rich warm sound of Gilels is an absolute joy to listen to and it has made me rediscover beautiful sections in many sonatas.

I found myself deeply moved by Op.10 No. 3 again for instance.
I think Gilels' Waldstein is the best I have ever heard and I love the fire of his Appassionata.
The CDs come in cardboard envelopes inside a cardboard box. So its budget, but that just makes it more affordable.
One of the sets you have to own.

I bought the Pollini set of late sonatas to compliment the set and it serves very well.

Recording the entire Beethoven Piano Sonatas is often considered as an ultimate challenge for any professional pianists. Many movements from Beethoven's sonatas are technically very challenging and musically even more. As a result, even if you listen same piece, the musical expressions and interpretations are totally different for each pianist. Emil Gilel's interpretation for Beethoven Piano Sonatas is regarded as the most powerful and charismatic ever even though he couldn't complete the entire cycle before he died. Listen his performances of No. 14 (Moonlight), No. 21 (Waldstein), No. 23 (Appassionata) for example. His recordings for those pieces are really passionate and mind-blowing yet very soft and emotional at some point. If you are looking are CD set for Beethoven Piano Sonatas, then I would highly recommend this for you.

Wow, it's got everything:

1. Clean, brilliant sound. Excellent engineering. I hate muffled sound and static. This CD delivers great sound.
2. Giles at his best!
3. Beethoven has come back from the grave through Emil and the fidelity of the recording process.

If I were going to spend eternity with only one 9-CD box set, this would be the one.

Bravo!!