I'm lingering a little longer on early Beethoven. The temptation is there, of course, to dive again into the vast universe of his symphonies, sonatas and quartets. But I won't do that, for now. There is a lot more to discover in the stack of LPs - now counting more than 200 units - that has gone through Johan's KM cleaning treatment.
Yesterday and today I listened to a Decca LP issued at the occasion Beethoven's bicentennial anniversary in 1970 (SX 21187-M). It brings together a mixed collection of early 'masterpieces', and that includes his first piano sonata (op. 2 nr. 1), his first symphony (op. 21), the song 'Adelaide' and a movement from the Septet, op. 20. Two pleasant discoveries here. Monteux offers a buoyant and muscular reading of the First with the Vienna Philarmonic. Whilst the recording goes back to 1961, it sounds thoroughly modern with its lithe, fiery tempos and its overall clarity of line. I only wish the vinyl was in better shape. Definitely worthwhile to look for a replacement copy. There is a nice and informative tribute to Monteux here.
The other surprise was the sonata, played by Wilhelm Backhaus. I've always been intrigued by the Backhaus' Beethoven ever since a friend in his Zürich apartment put on a CD with one his piano concerto recordings (that's about 15 years ago). But I never came round to digging deeper into it. Despite a rather inflexible reading, the sonata pulled me in. There is something really authoritative in the playing. It simply commands attention. Backhaus may be grumpy and introvert but he is not aloof. There is also genuine warmth and openness. It's this curious mixture which makes for compelling listening. Meanwhile I ordered the complete LP set of Beethoven sonatas on eBay.
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