Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Vol. 4
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Ludwig van Beethoven
Label: Denon
Magazine Review Date: 9/1990
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 63
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: CO-74653
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| Sonata for Piano No. 21, 'Waldstein' |
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Bruno-Leonardo Gelber, Piano Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer |
| Sonata for Piano No. 27 |
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Bruno-Leonardo Gelber, Piano Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer |
| Sonata for Piano No. 32 |
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Bruno-Leonardo Gelber, Piano Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer |
Author:
Bruno-Leonardo Gelber has many of the qualifications for a fine Beethoven pianist; the trouble is, he is too keen to put them on display. Thus the chorale-like second subject of the Waldstein Sonata is soulfully expressive, but all the inflections are rather blatant, and the organic relationship to the rest of the movement is broken (the repeat offers a carbon copy of these same inflexions, itself a disturbing feature). Again, the sensitivity of the adagio molto is too overt, and the excessive displays of temperament in the finale turn Beethoven's bursts of energy into temper tantrums. The recording is rich and forward, but the piano is not uniformly well in tune (of all notes, the magical treble G which ushers in and punctuates the finale is particularly bad). For a more distinguished realization of a similar approach, notwithstanding some ponderous and unrhythmical moments, there is Barenboim on DG. John O'Conor on Telarc/Conifer takes a refreshingly unmannered view, while Lupu (a superb bargain on mid-price Decca, and my own personal favourite) and Gilels (DG) offer the best of both worlds.
It would be a shame if Gelber's Op. 90 were to pass into oblivion though, because there he shows greater restraint, and the Schubertian gait in the second movement is nicely realized. I would question only the impatient growth of the first movement development section and the lack of suspense which negates the intended effect of the attacca between movements. Ashkenazy on Decca leans towards portentousness in the first movement but for the most part surpasses Gelber in subtlety and breadth of conception, as he does in theWaldstein.
The Sonata, Op. 111 is a notoriously difficult one to pace. Here, Gelber once again tends to over-characterize detail at the expense of momentum, and his first movement is also prone to over-pedalling. Like so many others he ignores Beethoven's explicitl'istesso tempo markings between Vars. 1, 2 and 3 in the arietta and he responds hardly at all to the transcendent flights of the later stages. Above all, it is frustrating to hear so many sensitively conceived nuances too drastically applied—much of Gelber's playing would be transformed if he could concentrate on the lines of communication between Beethoven and himself, rather than between himself and a putative audience. For a single-disc version of Op. 111 I don't think you can do better than Pollini (DG).'
It would be a shame if Gelber's Op. 90 were to pass into oblivion though, because there he shows greater restraint, and the Schubertian gait in the second movement is nicely realized. I would question only the impatient growth of the first movement development section and the lack of suspense which negates the intended effect of the attacca between movements. Ashkenazy on Decca leans towards portentousness in the first movement but for the most part surpasses Gelber in subtlety and breadth of conception, as he does in the
The Sonata, Op. 111 is a notoriously difficult one to pace. Here, Gelber once again tends to over-characterize detail at the expense of momentum, and his first movement is also prone to over-pedalling. Like so many others he ignores Beethoven's explicit
Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Vol. 4
Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music.
Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £8.75 / month
Subscribe
Gramophone Full Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £11.00 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.