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I only now, at age 65, have discovered Wilhelm Kempff's masterful recording of the entire Beethoven Sonata Cycle, which interestingly he recorded also when he was in his mid-60s. This is the third and final time he recorded the complete cycle. The sound quality of these Deutsche-Grammophon recordings is magnificent, the piano is wonderful and a delight to listen to in this virtuoso's capable hands.
Kempff knows how to change moods according to Beethoven's explosive temperament. He can switch from tender sensitivity to brilliancy without breaking the continuity.
Another nice feature of this recording is that he recorded all the repeats. These were not just copy-and-paste inserted repeats. Rather, he makes subtle changes on the repeats which illuminate the music.
I was brought up on the Artur Schnabel recordings of the Beethoven Piano Sonatas. I was told that Schnabel played as Beethoven would have. The problem I have come to have with Schnabel's interpretations is his tendency to rush passages and blur passages with excessive rubato. I honestly don't believe Beethoven, with all his impetuosity as a composer, would have played his own music with such distortions. Kempff is much steadier in tempo, yet he achieves real heights of feeling appropriate to this great oeuvre.
I have heard it said that Kempff's tempi were "slow". I do not find this to be the case at all. The fast-paced movements move right along at a fine clip. He has all the dexterity needed to bring off Beethoven at his most dramatic, with delicacy or bravura as the context dictates.
Poetry combined with brilliancy, a wonderful combination and Kempff has it all.
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