L'Héritage de Felix Weingartner Vol. 6 - Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major ("Hammerklavier") Op. 106 (orchestrated by Weingartner); Mödlinger Tänze (11) for 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 violin [Import]

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Felix Weingartner (Conductor), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Felix Weingartner
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (September 24, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Dante Records Lys (France)
• ASIN: B00000FDHI
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,003,064 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Mödlinger Tänze (11) for 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 violins & double bass, WoO 17

2. Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major ('Hammerklavier'), Op. 106: Allegro

3. Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major ('Hammerklavier'), Op. 106: Scherzo, Assai vivace

4. Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major ('Hammerklavier'), Op. 106: Adagio sostenuto, Appassionato e on molto sentimento

5. Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major ('Hammerklavier'), Op. 106: Largo, Allegro risoluto / Fuga

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Weingartner's Orchestration of the Hammerklavier Sonata, January 23, 2005

By 

Yari Ostovany "Opus125 Arts" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: L'Héritage de Felix Weingartner Vol. 6 - Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major ("Hammerklavier") Op. 106 (orchestrated by Weingartner); Mödlinger Tänze (11) for 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 violin (Audio CD)

The string orchestra versions of the late quartets of Beethoven cast a warm and rich spell on the listener mainly because they are not re-orchestrations which we are faced with, but an enlargement, a strengthening of the voices and the timbres already present in the work.

This insight into the beautifully mysterious and sublime late string quartets of Beethoven was first brought forth by Serge Koussevitzky and then by his prodigy Leonard Bernstein. Since then we have had recordings by Andre Previn and as of late, Murray Perahia.

Weingartner's orchestration of Beethoven's late piano sonata, the Hammerklavier is however a different story.

Weingartner's orchestration uses the same orchestral forces as in the 5th symphony which in itself is quite problematic since Beethoven's orchestrations can really never be second guessed, as brilliantly illustrated by Bernstein in his orchestral presentation and discussion of Beethoven's sketches to the first movement of the 5th symphony itself.

Another aspect is the sense of scale (not to be confused with size) having to do with internal sense of proportions and relationships.. Having had seen reproductions of paintings of Salvador Dali in art books, I was quite surprised when I saw the originals to find out that some of the canvases were very small in size. I expected them to be huge. They were in a way; they had an enormous inner scale despite their small size. It is the same with Beethoven's late piano sonatas in particular the Hammerklavier. The late quartets are intimate pieces that can benefit from the extra dimension that the enlargement of the orchestral forces bring. The Hammerklavier however is already "symphonic" in scale. A precious little stone with the soul of a mountain. How can we add to that?