Garrick Ohlsson: Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Vol. 2

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Garrick Ohlsson (piano) (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Garrick Ohlsson (piano)
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (July 1, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bridge Records, Inc.
• ASIN: B000GDH8XI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #97,421 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Bridge Records is pleased to be releasing the second of a series of Garrick Ohlsson Beethoven Sonata discs as part of its new Garrick Ohlsson Edition. Beethoven Sonatas, Vol. 2 includes an early sonata, and two of Beethoven’s finest later sonatas. The C-minor Sonata, Op. 111 was Beethoven’s last piano sonata, and as annotator Harris Goldsmith writes, it is a composition that presents “stormy elements tempered by an Olympian reserve.” The popular Op. 81A Sonata “Lebewohl” was to have been a memento of the composer’s emotions when his pupil and loyal friend, Archduke Rudolphe, was forced to flee Austria in May of 1809 as the French besieged Vienna. The sonata was completed the following year, after the royal family was able to return. The Op. 2, No. 2 Sonata was dedicated to Beethoven’s teacher, Josef Haydn, and was composed in 1795-96. Though it is an early work, it is hardly an immature one, bearing many of the developmental procedures that distinguished Beethoven’s art from that of his contemporaries. Garrick Ohlsson’s readings are full of the virtuosity and passion that have marked his live performances of these works. This release coincides with the pianist's Complete Beethoven Sonata cycles at the Tanglewood and Ravinia Festivals this summer. Garrick Ohlsson is widely regarded as one of the great virtuosi currently performing on the international concert stage. With an active repertoire of more than 80 concertos, a full schedule of solo recitals and chamber music engagements, Mr. Ohlsson's brilliant music making has graced the world's concert halls ever since he won the 1970 Chopin International Piano Competition. These Garrick Ohlsson CDs are also available on Bridge: Music of Charles Wuorinen; BRIDGE 9008 Bach: Goldberg Variations; Handel: Suite No. 2; BRIDGE 9193 Beethoven Sonatas, Vol. 1: Op. 7, Op. 78, Op. 101; BRIDGE 9198

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Ohlsson plays Beethoven like Beethoven would like it played..., September 23, 2010

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forwardintothepast "MBB" (Madison, WI USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Garrick Ohlsson: Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

Other reviewers, both on Amazon and elsewhere, describe GO's playing is such glowing terms that you have to shield your eyes from the fiery glow coming off the prose. GO can and does make great music, but this sort of hyperbole does not inform the potential purchaser/listener of any details as to what the CD sounds like, or any details about the actual playing. Here goes...
The recordings in this series are generally a bit dry sounding, close-miked, without much ambience. This took a little getting used to, as most modern piano recordings have a considerable sonic cushioning, usually from a large hall. GO's playing is very straight-forward, clear, clean and precise, which is certainly not to say that he is lacking in poetry or artistry in the Romantic sense. It is just that he takes a general approach that is very similar to Artur Rubenstein, in that his playing could be described as "healthy" as Daniel Barenboim says in the video Art of Piano, a worthwhile addition to any piano fans' video collection, available on Amazon, of course.
He makes the music present itself, which is such a great complement to the composers. Simple passages or difficult ones come and go with equal aplomb and dispatch. These three sonatas are described elsewhere, so I will not duplicate that information here.
Mr Ohlsson's repertoire is probably the largest since Rubenstein, and this vast knowledge and background can be heard in his treating these Beethoven pieces with both the respect they have earned, as well as the perspective that there is a lot of other music out there, which GO also knows and respects. The recording is worth having, but remember, it is just great music, not nectar from the gods, or new revelations from on high, just an artist doing what artists are supposed to do, that being to share their talents and experience with the world.
88melter