Customer Reviews

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1 (Moonlight, Pathetique, Appassionata)

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

 

 

John O'Conor is a lyrical pianist who plays with beautiful tone. He is not so aggressive as some other pianists and has made a beautiful recording of Beethoven piano sonatas. He keeps strict tempo. It is a wonderful introduction to Beethoven and John O'Conor. He has also recorded all of the sonatas in a complete set. But this single CD is a good introduction and not so expensive as the whole set.

It's a classical music truism that when a composer's body of work is so vast and wide-ranging as is Beethoven's for solo piano, those works with sobriquets such as his Pathétique, Moonlight, and Appassionata sonatas are usually the most popular. What I've found to be a false truism, however, is that the most well-known names on the largest labels present the most compelling recorded performances; here's a case in point. Irish pianist John O'Conor is not nearly as well-known as justly famous Beethoven heavyweights such as Artur Schnabel, Wilhelm Kempff, Alfred Brendel, and Claudio Arrau; but his early '90s performances for the Cleveland-based Telarc label are of such all-encompassing understanding, technical adeptness, and sensitivity that vaunted reputations become immaterial. I've had this recording since it was first released and have never been compelled to search for another. Telarc's digital recording is exquisitely transparent as O'Conor elicits the most beautifully burnished sound from his Hamburg Steinway. What's more, these recordings are now budget-priced.

I'm just an amateur pianist, but O'Conor is the most flawless I've ever heard on the Appasionata, particularly the 3rd movement. He also does well with expression, but Vladimir Ashkenazy is much more exciting in that sense.

This CD is only 4 different Beethoven pieces, but each is performed three different ways.. it's weird. I end up having to skip around or change out the CD all the time.

Here are the most beautiful Bethoveen sonatas, except the No.9. Listening to this Cd is like being transported to a dream world.