Wilhelm Kempff: Great Pianists of the 20th Century

This CD from Philips Great Pianists of the 20th Century is the second of a 3 part view of Wilhelm Kempff, as chosen by Alfred Brendel, who admired Kempff.

I would have to agree that Michael Steinberg, whose comments appear in the accompanying booklet, that Kempff is particularly simple (I would add sober) in all these interpretations.

I, and now I am sure I am being shallow as my opinion contradicts Brendel's, did not like this CD. CD-2 I do not foresee me listening to, and CD-1 I am sure I can find more pleasurable (at least to my ear and experience) versions.

Regardless, this CD comes quite recommended elsewhere.

CD 1 Franz Schubert Piano Sonata in Am, D845 Moderato Andante, poco mosso Scherzo, Allegro vivace Rondo, Allegro vivace Beethoven Piano Sonata in Em, Op.90 Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorgetragen Mozart Piano Concerto #23 in A, KV 488 Ferdinand Leitner/Bamberger Symphoniker Allegro Adagio Allegro assai

CD 2 Franz Liszt Deux Légendes Saint François d'Assise: la prédication aux oiseaux Saint François de Paule marchant sur les flots Années de pèlerinage Première année: Suisse excerpts (7, 2, 4) Deuxième année: Italie excerpts (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) JS Bach + Kempff Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 Jesus bleibet meine Freude (from BWV 147) Wachet auf! ruft uns die Stimme (from BWV 140)

J.S. Bach: Die Sonaten für Viola Da Gamba und Cembalo

I have to concur with a couple of the reviews in the Amazon page, in that this CD irks me. Like a dozen mosquitoes swarming around an ear for an hour.
I can only say that I bought this CD as a recommendation based on the very talented performers, with the added plus of the sound of original instruments:

• Jordi Savall, viole de gambe
• Pellegrino Zanetti, Venise 1550 (sonata 1)
• (à sept cordes) Barak Norman, London 1697 (sonata 2,3)
• (altus) Andreas Doerffel, Klingenthal 1757 (sonata 4)
• Ton Koopman, Clavecin
• Christian Zell, Hamburg 1737 (property of Museo de la Música, Instituo de Cultura de Barcelona)

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Trio Sonata	C	BWV 529 / BC J5		based on the Sonate V for organ in C major
Sonata for viola da gamba & keyboard #1	G	BWV 1027
Sonata for viola da gamba & keyboard #2	D	BWV 1028
Sonata for viola da gamba & keyboard #3	Gb	BWV 1029

Brautigan: Mozart Complete Piano Sonatas

This CD set is amazing. Ronald Brautigan plays each note with such respect. Every note, every phrase. With this quality, it seems that the pianoforte's weaknesses are actually strengths. The phrasing is so superb, it is almost like listening to your lover whispering your favorite love-poem.

Beautiful technique, softness, and intention. This expands on what one could expect from Mozart works, and certainly raises the bar for new recordings.
A BIS recording on a 1992 (Paul McNulty) replica of a 1795 fortepiano by Anton Gabriel Walter.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Piano Sonata No. 1	in C major	K. 279 (K. 189d)
Piano Sonata No. 2	in F major	K. 280 (K. 189e)
Piano Sonata No. 3	in B flat major	K. 281 (K.189f)
Piano Sonata No. 4	in E flat major	K. 282 (K. 189g)
Piano Sonata No. 5	in G major	K. 283 (K. 189h)
Piano Sonata No. 6	in D major	K. 284 (K. 205b)
Piano Sonata No. 7	in C major	K. 309 (K. 284b)
Piano Sonata No. 9	in D major	K. 311 (K. 284c)
Piano Sonata No. 8	in A minor	K. 310 (K. 300d)
Piano Sonata No. 10	in C major	K. 330 (K. 300h)
Piano Sonata No. 11	in A major	K. 331 (K. 300i)		"Alla Turca"
Piano Sonata No. 12	in F major	K. 332 (K. 300k)
Piano Sonata No. 13	in B flat major	K. 333 (K. 315c)
Fantasia for piano	in C minor	K. 475
Piano Sonata No. 14	in C minor	K. 457
Piano Sonata	F	K.533/494
Piano Sonata No. 15	C	K.545		"Sonata semplice"
Piano Sonata No. 16	Bb	K.570
Piano Sonata No. 17	D	K.576		"Trumpet", "Hunt"

Chopin+Pollini: 12 études op.25

What a delicious CD. It flows glowing. Soft, virtuous, precise.
This is CD #7 in the Maurizio Pollini edition box set.

See this post on Pollini's interpretation of Brahms to see another superb recording.

Deutsche Grammophon page.

Maurizio Pollini, Fréderic Chopin (1810-1849). Deutsche Grammophon 1972(études), 1985(sonata), 1991(Berceuse). 

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
12 Études		op.25		Ab: Allegro sostenuto Fm: Presto F: Allegro Am: Agitato Em: Vivace G#m: Allegro C#m: Lento Db: Vivace Gb: Allegro assai Bm: Allegro con fuoco Am: Lento - Allegro con brio Cm: Molto allegro con fuoco
Piano Sonata no.2	Bbm	op.35		Grave - Doppio movimento Scherzo Marche funèbre. Lento-attacca Finale. Presto
Berceuse	Db	op.57

Brahms: Sonatas for Cello & Piano (Op. 38,99,108)

Beautiful 1991 Sony Classical recording of Yo-Yo Ma (cello) and Emanuel Ax (piano). This CD is full with so many emotions and states. From competing lines, to quiet listening of the other instrument, to merging melody and support, all three sonatas are beautiful and interesting.
I particularly enjoy the Allegro vivace of the Sonata in F, and the ending of its last movement (allegro molto)
Noteworthy about this CD is that it holds Yo-yo- Ma's early recordings, which are known to be of more sensibility than later recordings.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Sonata for Cello and Piano	Em	Op.38
Sonata for Cello and Piano	F	Op.99
Sonata for Violin and Piano	Dm	Op.108		originally for violin, here for the Cello

Beethoven: The Cello Sonatas

Pau Casals hums through the profound and rich Cello Sonatas in the 1993 recording with Rudolf Serkin. A super bit mapping CD from Sony Classical, The Cello Sonatas: complete edition. This 2CD cannot be missed !!
Amazing.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Disc 1
Sonata no.1	F	Op.5 no.1		recorded 1953
Sonata no.2	Gm	Op.5 no.2		recorded 1951
Sonata no.4	C	Op.102 no.1		recorded 1953
Disc 2
Sonata no.3	A	Op.69		recorded 1953
Sonata no.5	D	Op.102 no.2		recorded 1953
7 Variations on "Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen"		WoO 46		from Mozart's "Die Zauberflöte", recorded 1951
12 Variations on "Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen"		WoO 66		from Mozart's "Die Zauberflöte", recorded 1951

Beethoven: The Complete Violin Sonatas Vol.II

These are beautiful. In Deutsche Grammophon's edition, the 1970 recording by Yehudi Menuhin and Wilhelm Kempff is superb.


I have listened to this many times, and I still cannot come up with something intelligent to comment on them. My experience is only one, and I cannot decompose it into aspects. Thank God for this!

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Disc 1
Sonata for Piano and Violin	A	op.30 no.1
Sonata for Piano and Violin	Cm	op.30 no.2
Rondo for Piano and Violin	G	op. 30 no.3
Disc 2
Sonata for Piano and Violin	A	op.47		Kreutzer
Sonata for Piano and Violin	G	op.96

Bach: Violin Sonatas and Trio Sonatas

Sonata in Eminor BWV 1023 starts with a meditative, suggestive Prelude, worth noting.
The Sonata in G BWV 1021 shows a Bach more to what I had learned to expect, nice interweaving with the Basso continuo.
The ending of the Adagio from the Trio Sonata in G BWV 1039, couldn't but remind me of soul attempt to a new age Bach... confirming nihil novum sub sole.
Lively well rounded Trio Sonata in G, BWV 1038, especially the Vivace.

Bach: Violin Sonatas

Bach violin sonatas are nice, perpetuum mobile. BWV 1017-1019 (CD I-21) are graceful but not demanding too much virtuosism from the soloist, in this case Luis Otavio Santos (baroque violin) and Pieter-Jan Belder (harpsichord).

Bach: Violin Sonatas

This was the time for Violin Sonatas 1, 2, 3 (BWV 1014-1016). Pieter-Jan Belder plays beautifully the harpsichord, with a nice interpretation of Luis Otavio Santos playing the baroque violin. As with baroque strings, the instrument has a clearly different tuning, according to modern standards. Added to the usual screechy string sound of this kind of instruments, the atmosphere is well captured in this recording, Brilliant CD I-20.
The distinctive profound keyboard work of Bach is well additioned by the joyful violin, giving a light-hearted hue to the work, yet still inviting to reflection.