Not part of the main course right now, but here are two recent upgrades and the only 10s I've found for performance quality for these masterpieces:
Though I'll probably do a survey of these at some point so as to double check and see if these still take the crown, these have held for years to that top, singular spot so you can't go wrong them. The Arrau for instance, is the gold standard for the Liszt sonata, one of the most incredible recordings of all time in all of Classical music, it's been the "reference recording" for a majority of critics, astute listeners since 1970 (Argerich probably the closest competition). The Fleisher though very well regarded isn't nearly so well known for its work as Arrau is for the Liszt, but nevertheless very very special, very nuanced and profound, inimitable.
Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-flat Major - Franz Schubert (1828) 8.4/10 to 8.7/10
Beethoven's Tempest, upcoming rating and survey...
I've never rated this work (to my recollection) even though I have of course been familiar with it for many years in accordance with all his others...
So this is both an attempt to finally assign a rating but also to survey its recordings properly and organize it by "echelons/bests", which I've also never done, even though I've heard many different recordings (again, just never bothered to organize and rank them...)
I'm just going to start from scratch on this one because I have virtually no notes on its various recordings (if any, very old) other than Richard Goode's is among the most perfect and reliable and probably the best place to start to get a firm, polished, extremely well played, grip on it.
Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor "The Tempest" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1801 - 1802) Not Rated to 7.5/10
The Arrau for instance, is the gold standard for the Liszt sonata, one of the most incredible recordings of all time in all of Classical music, it's been the "reference recording" for a majority of critics, astute listeners since 1970 (Argerich probably the closest competition). The Fleisher though very well regarded isn't nearly so well known for its work as Arrau is for the Liszt, but nevertheless very very special, very nuanced and profound, inimitable.
I find his dynamic control astounding - for example, how the rage of 8:13 builds and builds, then sinks down in a heavy flurry of low notes as if ready to succumb to despair only to emerge on the other side impossibly tender, almost "lighter-than-air", as if each note is floating, with the impeccable timing providing the sense of it as one continuous sweeping gesture. In my opinion not just the most virtuosic performance of the piece I've heard but the most agreeable as well.
I find his dynamic control astounding - for example, how the rage of 8:13 builds and builds, then sinks down in a heavy flurry of low notes as if ready to succumb to despair only to emerge on the other side impossibly tender, almost "lighter-than-air", as if each note is floating, with the impeccable timing providing the sense of it as one continuous sweeping gesture. In my opinion not just the most virtuosic performance of the piece I've heard but the most agreeable as well.
Thanks geologist, I haven't heard that one yet! I play tested it for a few minutes just to get a sense of it, and my instant reaction is that his dynamic control is -- YES -- astounding, which is among his greatest qualities, and this could for sure lend it to becoming one of my top selections, assuming he plays as well as he seems to all the way through and grasps and conveys the emotional weight of it all. The difficult thing to beat with Arrau is he is probably the greatest "architect" in piano history and even "per key" the greatest "colorist" or lyricist (also Brendel, Kempff, Rubinstein ... also Schnabel in Beethoven, Schubert, at least ... off top of head, there are others to consider, these are heavyweights) -- the variegated striking of keys, phrasing, and the "meaning" or "emotion" his fingers convey by their touch or strike or a series of them. His phrasing to bring out the emotional development and epihany of a work... So, yes, it is certainly possible to be more virtuoustic, technically commanding, have more incisive control (as in Zimerman, among the supreme examples of those attributes) but when Arrau is peaking there also, like in this Sonata -- when that happens -- he is close to unbeatable imo. His finger tone and the impression his hands make upon the piano, a meaningful and deep sound, the "impelling of thought" this brings about in his hands over others, is usually "more" lyrical than others, like it actually sounds like his work has more "content" and more emotional progression has been made, a vaster impression made, a more panoramic picture painted -- the expounding of deep profundity while at the same time visceral, powerful, highly emotional, electric -- in ideal balance, here especially which may even be his very greatest recorded performance of anything including his Beethoven ...And so in comparison to others whether here or in other peak renditions, even though all the same notes are being played (again, also, each strike also tends to be "fuller" and deeper impression his fingers tend to make on the keys than most and the deeper baritone sound his make ... if you watch him he often thrusts his whole upper body into the wider armed strikes ... or pushes his fingers from the lower part of a key up into it's back end fully to strike a more complete impression ... for instance... plus his hands are just really strong...), its yet as if he has added or expounded further on the same work without any loss of power/impact (this does not mean that Arrau doesn't sometimes "over think/over expound" his works beyond this balance; he can sometimes and as he slowed down some in his later period or even just sometimes over-thought an interpretation here or there, after peaking around the period of 1960-1970 in this ideal pianistic balance of power/insight).
Try comparing with that in mind and see if you agree between them, I'll check out Zimerman's too... I am excited that you brought this to my attention and I'll check it out for sure as I do like Zimerman quite a bit. His Schubert 20, for instance, would probably make my top 3 or so for that work, which is really saying something as that one is pretty hotly contested. He is sometimes a bit too much of a "micro-manager" (so much command and control and so assertively, calculatedly doing *this* that the sense of being "swept up into the work" and some suspense, or tension, or "creating in that very moment", can be lost, and in this aspect, Arrau and certain other greats were supreme masters; the sense of struggle and coming through it -- very key to many Beethoven sonatas and the Liszt sonata in my opinion. I recommend to anyone keeping this facet in mind, and the others above, when revisiting the Arrau as well ... or many of my top choices on the Beethoven posts, particularly as he progresses and leans more instrospectively, idiosyncratically, more reflective, poetic and emotively swept away and towards the Romantic and late period out of the Classical period. This will help understand why I may rank, for example, Ernst Levy's Beethoven 30 above, for example, Uchida's, which may be the most "flawless" and "legato" ever recorded -- otherwise one might wonder why the Uchida isn't the "10" between them as it is so "flawless" and what else could a 10 mean??? ... Levy's is quite a bit more dynamic in impression (a vast multitude of emotions and insights are brought forth), quite a bit more singular in tones and color and character, more of all the above facets, is the simple answer, even though I also like Uchida's very much, it's just not on that extra extra special echelon that goes beyond perfect technique and phrasing everything with only crystalline tone like Uchida does with such "Mozartian" beauty on the 30th (again, not knocking this rendition, it is on my own list of favorites, just explaining -- or maybe failing to -- the difference!).
Okay, tangent over. Yes I'll check out Zimerman, thank you! I would love to include it here, hoping to add it to my selections _________________ Best Classical Best Films Best Paintings
Last edited by AfterHours on 09/14/2025 15:52; edited 4 times in total
In the meantime I went ahead and put my top selections for the Liszt B minor sonata with the Arrau (above post), with Zimerman's TBD. I'll add links too, assuming they're available. _________________ Best Classical Best Films Best Paintings
Beethoven, Piano Sonata 31 "Best Recorded Performances" Survey...
Among Beethoven's final triumvirate of profound sonatas (30-32) nearing the end of his life, which capped his late period, poetic and lyrical introspection and wish for spiritual transcendence.
Arrau's 1960 rendition has long been the absolute pinnacle in my eyes, the only "10". But so amazing is this performance that it's also been quite a long time since I went back through many of the other best recordings or tried discovering some new ones. The discovery of, for instance, Levy's 30th (previous page survey of Beethoven's 30th) has been a boon of inspiration that, although I almost never find a "10" to replace one already rated as such, I nevertheless am perfectly willing to either find out Arrau was somehow topped on this one at some point (however improbable it seems after revisiting it a couple times recently) and/or filling in more of the 9.5+'s, 9.5's, etc, always a thrill. Plus, even where a 10 has been listed, this never means it is all you should be listening to. It just means it's the most extraordinary and special of all, but other interpretations are absolutely recommended to check out. Anything 9 and above is very superior compared to most, and has something brilliant to say, has something special to offer in the multitude of ways a Classical work can usually be performed.
NOTE: Starting new surveys like this does not necessarily mean I've stopped working on previous ones (prior posts, pages). These may still be being updated as I go...
Here's the 10 (again, for years, against all competition, including his own)
OVERVIEW AND RUNNING LOG - BEETHOVEN - 32 PIANO SONATAS - BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF EACH
This is simply the overview of all of them in one place (or those I choose to revisit; may or may not revisit all 32) and will only feature my top selection of each, whereas any surveys of individual sonatas will be separately posted and will typically feature several of the top recordings to check out
(NOTE: no guarantees I'll follow through with this for all 32 during this round of listening...)
Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor (1795)
Piano Sonata No. 2 in A major (1795)
Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major (1795)
Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-flat major "Grand Sonata" (1797)
Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor (1798)
Piano Sonata No. 6 in F major (1798)
Piano Sonata No. 7 in D major (1798)
Piano Sonata No. 9 in E major (1799)
Piano Sonata No. 10 in G major (1799)
Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-flat major (1800)
Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-flat major (1801)
Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-flat major "Quasi una fantasia" (1801) / 7.1/10 Claudio Arrau, 1970 / Performance: 9.5+? (Hadn't listened to this in years, so no recent comparisons to determine which are the very best ... regardless, this one is among my favorites (and might be my #1) -- either way you can't go wrong with it, it is extraordinary... but keep an eye on this selection in case I decide to update with a different recording) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUZuUcHFK0k&list=RDGUZuUcHFK0k&start_radio=1
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor "Quasi una fantasia" (aka, "Moonlight") (1801) / 7.6/10 Annie Fischer, 1977-78 / Performance: 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPsS-b-sCb0
Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major "Pastoral" (1801)
Piano Sonata No. 16 in G major (1802)
Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat major "The Hunt" (1802)
Piano Sonata No. 19 in G minor (composed 1795–6, published 1805)
Piano Sonata No. 20 in G major (composed 1795–6, published 1805)
9.7/10: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor "Choral" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1824) ...potentially 9.8/10, under renewed consideration...
8.9/10: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor - Ludwig van Beethoven (1822) 8.7/10 to 8.9/10
8.9/10: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor - Ludwig van Beethoven (1808) ...may be 8.8 instead, even though it did not lower in quality for me (just may make an adjustment relative to others)
8.8/10: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major "Eroica" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1804)
8.7/10: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor "Appassionata" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1805) 8.4/10 to 8.7/10
8.5/10: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1820) 8.3/10 to 8.5/10
8.4/10: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major "Hammerklavier" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1818) 8.3/10 to 8.4/10
???/10: Symphony No. 7 in A Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1812) ...rating undecided, but will be upgraded...
8.0/10: Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major "Kreutzer" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1803) 7.5/10 to 8.0/10
7.9/10: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor "Pathetique" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1798) 7.6/10 to 7.7/10; 7.7/10 to 7.9/10
7.9/10: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1821) 7.6/10 to 7.7/10; 7.7/10 to 7.8/10; 7.8/10 to 7.9/10 7.9/10: Piano Trio No. 7 in B-flat Major "Archduke" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1811)7.6/10 to 7.9/10
7.7/10: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major "Emperor" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1811) 7.6/10 to 7.7/10 7.6/10: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1806)7.5/10 to 7.6/10
7.6/10: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major "Waldstein" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1804) 7.5/10 to 7.6/10
7.6/10: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor "Quasi una fantasia" (aka, "Moonlight") - Ludwig van Beethoven (1801) 7.5/10 to 7.6/10
7.5/10: Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor "The Tempest" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1801 - 1802) Not Rated to 7.5/10 7.5/10: Piano Trio in D major "Ghost" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1809)
7.5/10: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major "Les adieux" (1810) Not Rated to 7.5/10
7.1/10: Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-flat major "Quasi una fantasia" (1801) Not Rated to 7.1/10 _________________ Best Classical Best Films Best Paintings
Last edited by AfterHours on 22 hours ago; edited 5 times in total
Classical Music - Most Recent Additional Ratings/Rankings updates
(not including the recent Beethoven ones -- see post specific to Beethoven ratings for those)
Piano Quintet in G Minor - Dmitri Shostakovich (1940)8.4/10 to 8.5/10 Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor - Dmitri Shostakovich (1944)8.1/10 to 8.4/10
Fratres (for Violin and Piano) - Arvo Part (1977) 7.2/10 to 8.1/10
Tabula Rasa - Arvo Part (1977) 7.7/10 to 8.0/10 Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1785)7.8/10 to 7.9/10 Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1785)7.7/10 to 7.9/10
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major "Emperor" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1811) 7.6/10 to 7.7/10
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1875) 7.5/10 to 7.7/10
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor - Sergei Rachmaninoff (1901) 7.5/10 to 7.7/10
Quartet for the End of Time - Olivier Messiaen (1941) 7.9/10 to 8.1/10; 8.1/10 to 7.7/10
Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1786) 7.5/10 to 7.6/10 _________________ Best Classical Best Films Best Paintings
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
