is there a consensus on the best version of this?
― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Monday, 1 July 2019 01:14 (four years ago) link
Gilels and Arrau are pretty lauded. People argue about which Gilels but the late Deutsche Grammofon one is well-regarded.
― Quilter Ray (rushomancy), Monday, 1 July 2019 01:48 (four years ago) link
The Waldstein and Appassionata make natural siblings, both big formally explosive mid period masterpieces, but for me the Apps is far more performer-dependent - I have a hard time engaging with it unless the performance is absolutely stunning. The Waldstein has a magic which almost never fails and is the greater and more unfathomable piece imo. Appassionatas that nail it for me: Richter, Moravec, Arrau, Claude Frank, Ronald Brautigam.
― valet doberman (Jon not Jon), Friday, 5 July 2019 03:01 (four years ago) link
the Apps is far more performer-dependent
otm
I'm especially fond of Stephen Kovacevich's take.
― pomenitul, Friday, 5 July 2019 09:24 (four years ago) link
The EMI kovacevich? I like his Waldstein from that series but I can’t remember the appassionata
― valet doberman (Jon not Jon), Friday, 5 July 2019 14:06 (four years ago) link
Yep. I think he only recorded the Appassionata for EMI.
I haven't heard it in a long time but I seem to recall him getting Beethoven's controlled impetuousness just right.
― pomenitul, Friday, 5 July 2019 14:11 (four years ago) link