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Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 8, 14, 21 & 23 / Wilhem Kempff | 
 enlarge | Creators: Ludwig Van Beethoven, Wilhelm Kempff
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
Buy Used: $3.90
You Save: $8.08 (67%)
New (40) Used (27) from $3.90
Rating:  13 reviews
Sales Rank: 52577
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 447404
UPC: 028944740424
EAN: 0028944740424
ASIN: B000001GQ1
Release Date: January 23, 1996
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | 1. Grave - Allegro di moto e con brio | | • | 2. Adagio cantabile | | • | 3. Rondo. Allegro | | • | 1. Adagio sostenuto - attacca: | | • | 2. Allegretto - attacca: | | • | 3. Presto agitato | | • | 1. Allegro con brio | | • | 2. Introduzione. Adagio molto - attacca: | | • | 3. Rondo. Allegretto moderato | | • | 1. Allegro assai | | • | 2. Andante con moto - attacca: | | • | 3. Allegro, ma non troppo - Presto |
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| Customer Reviews:
 Special! July 22, 2008
M. Valerio (Norway)
I am no expert of beethoven's piano sonatas. I like the perfomance, even though there are others that I think I like better (Fisher, Solomon). However the sound isn't that great, it's lacking something, and I don't know what it is...I would still recommend this cd, because of the performance!
 well... October 2, 2007
J. White (Houston, TX United States)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I'm in the process of trying to build a better collection of classical recordings that I've had over the past few years. So, I dumped a bunch of my crap "budget" recordings and started consulting a guide by NPR. Upon the recommendation of that book, I went out and purchased this Kempff recording of Beethoven's sonatas, and I must say that I'm rather disappointed.
I don't pretend to be an expert on the intricacies of Beethoven's piano music (or anyone else's music for that matter), but these performances just seem sloppy to me in several places (particularly the Waldstein Rondo and Appassionata Allegro assai). There is too much fumbling over the faster passages to make the purchase of this CD worthwhile.
I'm already thinking to myself that I'm going to have to do less listening to others' opinions and start just trusting my own instincts. Frankly speaking, 3 stars was probably a bit generous, but I'm just a novice at this whole music review thing.
Middling December 1, 2006
Madrok
3 out of 7 found this review helpful
These performances are classic. To modern ears, Kempff has a delicate hand, and very good sense of dynamics. Lots of contrast. OTOH, some of the fast playing is a little muddled technically, the notes not quite clear and the pace hard to define, for example in the fast sections of Moonlight and Waldstein. These are very early recordings. Perhaps people weren't used to trying for technical perfection. And his flexibility with pace is a little too radical for my liking. Lots of parts seem too fast or too slow to me. Overly severe slowing and speeding in some cases.
Oh, and the recording quality is good...for the early 60s. That would not be a reason to avoid this disc.
 I recommend unreservedly December 15, 2005
A. Chapman
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
This review is probably useless but I will not allow this wonderful disc to continue its 3 and a half star rating. Sound is fine. Performances immense but in a rather understated way which rewards repeated listening as more dynamic readings will not. I feel Beethoven sonatas need clarity and transparency for maximum enjoyment. i doubt if anyone would have the nerve to suggest this is not achieved by Kempff. I could draw comparison with that other master of understatement Solomon as his Beethoven is so transparent and I recommend his Testament recordings. Kempff is no Kovacevich and vice versa but I feel one can get rather fed up with K as K stamps his own personality on such works which leads to pretty impressive listening at first but I find it is Kempff I tend to go back to. Perhaps therefore purchasers should be warned to persevere if finding the disc seems disappointing on initial listening.
For the Waldstein and Moonlight June 9, 2004
Stephen G Bowden (NC School of the Arts)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
This CD deserves five stars for the Moonlight and Waldstein sonatas. These are the only two on the CD I listen to. I will agree that the Appassionata is not necessarily robust enough, and, having learned the Pathetique, it is not to my liking either.But, before listening to Kempff's Moonlight recording, I had not especially liked the piece, especially the second and third movements. As I have heard all of the Beethoven sonatas, and most numerous times, this Moonlight recording brought to my attention the previously hidden beauty and "coolness" (in the second and third movements). It vaulted the piece up to about #6 on my list of Beethoven sonatas. The Waldstein Sonata's first and third movements immediately caught my attention. Although I play the first movement faster than Kempff, it is nevertheless exceptional in my ears. The second movement is wonderful in its own right, but I am not particularly fond of it as a work, not at all Kempff's fault. As for the third movement. I am at a loss for words. Beethoven certainly helped out any pianist who plays this by making it one of this three or four best. This piece is absolutely delicious and Kempff makes it even moreso. The detached triplets at the 7:57 mark make me literally jump in the air and pump my fists. These are, quite simply, the best Beethoven recordings I own, easily topping Van Cliburn's and Arrau's were a very close second. I have yet to obtain a Schnabel recording of these pieces.
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