Ludwig van Beethoven, Richard Goode - Beethoven: The Complete Sonatas
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Free Music Notes for Beethoven: The Complete Sonatas
Free Music Review: You could do worse...with John O'Connor
Hit: 2 Stars
Goode is almost as boring as Emmanuel Ax! These are flat, pedestrian readings of Beethoven with the revolutionary aspects removed. Goode plays in a monotone, dynamics and accents are minimized, there's nothing here to startle. This is for people who like their Beethoven over-easy, with a cup of decaf on the side.In this set the Moonlight's first movement loses all its fantasy and mystery, the Appassionata is nothing of the sort, the Waldstein is a matter of fact journey, and the late sonatas lose their ethereal, spiritual qualities. True lots of small details are observed that sometimes get glossed over in other sets, but the whole is more than the sum of the parts. And the whole here is, on the whole, dull.
I've been told repeatedly by his admirers that he's better live in front of an audience. I hope so. In the meantime, Gilels, Arrau, Richter, Schnabel, Fischer, Kovacevich (sometimes), Levy, and many others make these readings superfluous, though unfortuantely you have to buy the sonatas in pieces with some of the above because they all weren't completists. But it's worth the effort. The reviewer below me who said this is exactly what's wrong with the classical music industry of the 1990s has it spot on. With releases like this, no wonder classical has this reputation of being the music of gray-haired old ladies. People who are impressed by this set probably like John O'Connor's travesty on Telarc too.
Free Music Review: Passionate and Intelligent Playing
Hit: 5 Stars
Richard Goode has released a set here that is perhaps only equaled in interpretation by Schnabel. While he is passionate and emotional, he also brings intelligence and precision to the musical table. He has made his mark as a musician's musician, picking only those works to record which he feels are of the utmost importance to the repertoire. I love the fact that Goode is able to give us something this vital and heartfelt and yet never lose his head with raw emotion that is unshaped. This is my most treasured collection.Free Music Review: A Novice's Opinion
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the view of a novice who just loves Beethoven. I don't pretend to know the musical ins and outs of things, and frankly don't even understand what some reviewers are saying. My only qualification is that I love these Beethoven Sonatas better than about any other classical music, and I play a few of them myself as well. I also have bought a couple of other sets of the Beethoven Sonatas, so I have some basis for comparison. For my money, Richard Goode's set is the best, start to finish, that I have heard. I enjoy his clean, precise and effortless style. He doesn't not use excessive pedal, and the music is never mushy or indistinct. The dynamic variations and interpretations are always interesting--I never tire of hearing them. Goode's virtuosity on some passages is positively thrilling. The recording quality is excellent. If I had to keep just one set, this is my choice.Free Music Review: Shades of Schnabel
Hit: 5 Stars
Richard Goode is a consumate pianist and musician in the Schnabel/Serkin tradition. His playing is quite nuanced and seems to unfailingly evoke the spririt embodied in these works. His Pathetique is quite astonishing, and this leads to similarly high caliber performances in the middle sonatas. Although I've heard Goode's performance bettered in some of these works, especially the later sonatas, taken as a whole, this cycle is most impressive. Here you have a highly accomplished musician in the nuanced-Schnabel class, giving performances that rival or excel those of the most celebrated Beethoven interpreters past or present. The icing on the cake is the recording itself which is all digital and makes for a very realistic sounding piano. All in all, a class act. Highly recommended!Free Music Review: highly recommend
Hit: 5 Stars
Richard Goode has one of the smoothest and moving playing I've seen/heard. He gives it his all for each performance. The chopin album is also extermely excellent imho.