Customer Reviews

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas (Complete) [Box Set]

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This is a reissue of the famous 1967 Amadeo Beethoven sonata cycle recorded by Friedrich Gulda. In my opinion it ranks right up there with the best ever recorded (my favorites are Annie Fischer and the 50's Kempff cycle). It has been an alsolute delight to pour through these recordings, which I have read about for a long time but never before heard. Gulda has it all---vision, technique, power and sensitivity, and the ability to organize the vast structures of the larger sonatas. I urge every Beethoven lover to consider purchasing this set, which, at a bargain price, will give immense rewards. The recording is first rate--- sounds just like listening to the pianist in your living room. Gulda may have been a strange character, but only a great musician can successfully negotiate the entire Beethoven sonata cycle. Thanks to Brilliant for making these wonderful recordings available again.

Gulda's Beethoven cycle is the best I've ever heard, aside from Schnabel's. And in some ways, it is even better. First, Gulda's technique is better than any I have ever heard, sailing through the most difficult passages with audible ease. Of course such facility would be meaningless, if not in the service of the music, which is the second point. Gulda is totally unselfconscious, so that I do not hear his "interpretation," but only the meaning of the music. Everything is there: dynamic control second to none, fantastic range of color and touch, perfectly judged tempi, and superbly intelligent phrasing. The result is that the counterpoint is clarified as never before, and also the long-term structural thrust of each movement and of the whole sonata. Third, the sound is (to me) excellent--utterly clear and present without annoying reverberation, "bite," or mushiness. Finally, the price is lower than any other set of comparable quality, and the whole set is nicely packaged in a box of nine cardboard sleeves.

I am comparing Gulda's set to several others I have heard over the years (from memory--not a/b listening). The most recent is the Kovacevich, with which it has shares several features. Both use generally faster tempi, of course in the fast movements but markedly in the slower ones, including the adagios. If Romanticism in the slow movements is what you seek, neither Gulda nor Kovacevich will do: try Kuerti (slower than whom I have never heard). But Gulda is slightly faster even than Kovacevich. Goode, Roberts, and Frank, though very good in many respects, all seem clunky by comparison. Kempff, possessing great beauty of tone and color along with compelling authority, is too uniform in tempi and lacks "fire." I have not heard Brendel in years, so I make no comments there. Nor do I know Arrau's or Pollini's or Gilel's work, the latter two not having finished cycles. Solomon is in good but limited mono sound and also incomplete, though he too plays with great technique and power. Returning to Kovacevich, whose (along with Gulda's) is the most "modern" complete performance I know, I hear him struggle more with the music, so there is an insuperable self-consciousness with Kovacevich, whereas Gulda's facility allows the music to be heard without impediment. In sum, though there is great passion in his playing, Gulda plays the cycle as the final word in classicism, rather than Romanticism, which I find totally convincing.

The only other set that can compete with Gulda's, to my ears, is Schnabel's, which I know in the Dante incarnation. There are thrills and depths there that set a standard for insight and communication never matched by any other pianist. Even the wrong notes and rushed fences sound right from him. But of course the sound, while great in its own way, is mono and very old. And Schnabel's pure technique (unimportant in itself) is far surpassed by Gulda's. They are like antipodes. Schnabel is the best "old style" interpretation, Gulda the best "new style." I would not be without either one now.

Never thought I'd catch myself recommending a single big box of Beethoven piano sonatas but here it is. Problem is this doesn't seem to be available in the US and the hope is that it's not some licensing foolishness that's preventing that. This should be in every one's collection--especially at the price Brilliant usually charges.

First, the sound is incredible! 1967--who'd have guessed? Hands down, this has to be one of the clearest, warmest, and most natural-sounding solo piano recordings ever produced. Gulda avoids pedal here so the piano has a sightly "period" sound to it, without the raucousness. Nice move.

Second, as another reviewer points out, these interpretations have the same kind of spontaneity and depth-of-understanding that's traditionally ascribed to the legendary Schnabel recordings. Frankly, I was more than a little stunned. I remembered that Gulda was equally fascinated by jazz and I think his experience in that realm helps him here.

This is not self-conscious playing--what bothers me about too many modern sets (Goode comes immediately to mind)--and it's far more fiery, when it needs to be, than Kempff, who perhaps is a bit too reverent. Gulda actually trumps Schnabel by hitting all the right notes all the time. ALL the time. At the other end he avoids the steely perfection of playing of Richter and Gilels who sometimes miss the forest for the trees. Gulda's control and use of dynamics and rubato is breathtaking without, incredibly, being showy or distorting. It's Beethoven you seem to be hearing, not some superstar pianist wrestling him to the ground.

What surprised me most about this set was Gulda's ability to show mastery of the lightest and heaviest sonatas, and everything in between. As I worked my way through the set, I was so pleased with what I was hearing that I anticipated disappointment with those demanding late sonatas. Not so. This contains a marvelous "Hammerklavier" that reminds me of a dazzling one that Egon Petri (student of Busoni, who owned the "Hammerklavier" for years) recorded many years ago. The opus 111 is not as ethereal as some (Arrau takes the prize, I'd say, on that) but it's played in such a way that it sounds like the natural next-in-line of a long series piano works by a master. The tendency--much as it's appreciated--is to milk it for all the metaphysics imaginable which might be reading too much into the composer's intentions. Beethoven didn't necessarily know it was going to be his last sonata.

Overall, I'm flabbergasted this set isn't better known.

This recording might be one of the greatest achievements in 20th-century music altogether. While absolutely legendary (and thought to be the best complete recording of the Beethoven Sonatas) in Europe, it is unfortunately quite unknown in Northamerica. Now that it is available, you should get it.

Recording a complete set of these Sonatas is one of the most demanding exercises for a pianist. Of course, none of the Beethoven Sonatas compare with the technical difficulty of Liszt, Alkan, Godowsky, Rachmaninov or Albeniz, but when it comes to interpretation, they are way more sensitive and difficult. Thats certainly a reason why all the young pianists become famous with the romantics/late-romantics, while they start with Beethoven only when matured.

When you master a complete set of these Sonatas like Gulda does, you become a legend (by the way: he was also Martha Argerichs teacher). He plays all the Sonatas equally well, no matter how easy or difficult. Of course, his approach is more on the agressive side. A lot of the Sonatas are played in two thirds of the time of most of the other recordings, but at the same Gulda plays them incredibly clear and with a very elegant and soft tone. No unnecessary romanticism there.

There is only one case where I think the recording is less than perfect: The first movement of "Waldstein", which is played too fast. Otherwise its a superb recording, a must have for any piano fan.

This fine set is a reissue of the 1967 Amadeo set (NOT his 1954-58 Decca set, which has also been recently reissued). It had been reissued on CD by Philips, but has not been available in a long time. The performances are very exciting, bold, and muscular. Just the way Beethoven's playing was often described by his contemporaries. The recording quality is good, though the piano is a bit more closely recorded than I like. Of course, there are many approaches to playing Beethoven. Gulda's playing might be too aggressive for some listeners, and some of his tempi are very fast. Richard Goode's fine recordings on Nonesuch are more subtle, and make a nice contrast to this Gulda version. At less than 30 USD, this Brilliant Classics reissue is an amazing bargain. Some other budget-priced versions I enjoy are Claude Frank's set on Music and Arts (a reissue of the classic RCA set from 1970); and Daniel Barenboim's DG set - which is often slower and more ruminative. I've often felt there can be no such thing as a 'best' Beethoven Sonatas set. The music is too varied and complex to allow just one vision. I enjoy hearing different perspectives - especially when they don't break the bank. I've heard Annie Fischer and Alfred Brendel's latest set. I like them both, but I can't spend $150 on a set, especially when there are good ones in the $30-$40 range.

I try to keep a tally, and there have been about 68 complete recordings of the 32 Sonatas made - most of them are on CD! So you have plenty of choice - and you need more than one set.

Recently I bought this box out of curiosity. The box was extremely cheap (around $35) and I was not very familiar yet with the art of Friedrich Gulda. It turned out to be THE surprise of the year for me! I cannot believe how I, who love the Beethoven sonatas so much, missed this box for so many years! It offers simply superb Beethoven playing. Gulda's tempi are, in general, rather fast, but without any concession to clarity. The slower movements are real treasures too, beautifully played.
If you are looking for a complete set of the sonatas, I can really advice this box. You get all the sonatas, wonderfully played, with good sound quality, at a great price.
Well, just buy it. Don't be like me and live without it for too many years. You found this review, so you found this box, so you don't have any excuse!
Enjoy!

As an admirer of Wilhelm Kempff, I judged the performances of Beethoven Sonata Cycle after both of Kempff's integrals. I own many recordings of this music on vinyls and used to own the famous Gilels' (incomplete) cycle. I grabed this complete recording rather by chance - and I suddenly realised that I did not listen to Beethoven systematically for years. Gulda's is the right "masculine" Beethoven. Compared to Kempff - you feel this percussion-like aspect of Sonatas at every right place. Gulda doesn't know ANY technical obstacles. The sound is wonderful. But on the top of it - there is his straightforward and yet deeply spiritual interpretation. The best Beethoven ever...

First, I apologize if my english sounds a bit strange to your ears but I'm just a poor french Beethoven's music lover.
Friedrich Gulda is simply amazing. His 1967 readings of the sonatas are perfectly balanced between the 18th and 19th century, he makes us feel how this music is either modern, romantic and deeply baroque. By choosing quick tempi and with an utmost sense of rythm, Gulda is always right; the entire cycle takes your soul and you just want to listen to it again. For sure, you must listen to other cycles to make your own culture but Gulda is a must. The Appassionata is my favorite sonata; in this opus 57, Gulda's playing is fantastic, makes you dance, cry and dance again; the Andante con moto sounds like a spiritual to my ears, with a deeply-hearted swing.
Friedrich Gulda left us eight years ago, I miss his mind, his love for man and music. His vision of the 32 sonatas is glorious; listen to it again and again; it makes life better, simply better.

Read all the reviews and weigh and evaluate them. Then, just buy it. This is one of the great recordings of the 20th Century and Beethoven fans should not be without it. Others like Solomon (especially) and Brendel, Kempff, et al have their merits and may be better on some specific sonatas, but the Gulda complete set has too much to offer to be discounted in any way. The low price only adds to their appeal. I owned these on vinyl years ago and am so glad to see them so well transfered to CD.

Gulda speilt Beethoven is the name of this box set which contains the complete beethoven sonatas recorded in 1968 along with the 5 concertos 1971-1973 all in one box with magnificent sound and clarity. Gulda is spectacular.