Rudolf Serkin: Beethoven Opus 110

[gperkins151]

Have you heard both of Rudolf Serkin's Op. 110's?

One is from 1960 (part of the 3CD set), the other is from 1971 (part of the French 5CD set.)

I hear the 1960 is better and just wanted to get your opinions.

[Lance]

Have you heard both of Rudolf Serkin's Op. 110's?

One is from 1960 (part of the 3CD set), the other is from 1971 (part of the French 5CD set.)

I hear the 1960 is better and just wanted to get your opinions.

George:

I haven't heard either recording in a while. I'll check out both as soon as possible - give a listen - and report back. Serkin was one of the great ones in especially Beethoven and Schubert so it will be a pleasure to hear them again.

[gperkins151]

Have you heard both of Rudolf Serkin's Op. 110's?

One is from 1960 (part of the 3CD set), the other is from 1971 (part of the French 5CD set.)

I hear the 1960 is better and just wanted to get your opinions.

George:

I haven't heard either recording in a while. I'll check out both as soon as possible - give a listen - and report back. Serkin was one of the great ones in especially Beethoven and Schubert so it will be a pleasure to hear them again.

I appreciate that Lance.

[val]

There is a 3rd version, with the Sonatas opus 109 and 111, one of the last recordings of Serkin.

The version of the opus 109 is superbe, but I wouldn't recommend the other two. Slow, they show the master too old.

For the opus 110, Schnabel, Backhaus, Solomon, Brendel (VOX), Annie Fischer an the sublime Friedrich Gulda are the best to me.

[gperkins151]

There is a 3rd version, with the Sonatas opus 109 and 111, one of the last recordings of Serkin.

The version of the opus 109 is superbe, but I wouldn't recommend the other two. Slow, they show the master too old.

For the opus 110, Schnabel, Backhaus, Solomon, Brendel (VOX), Annie Fischer an the sublime Friedrich Gulda are the best to me.

Thanks Val. I didn't mention the DG because of poor reviews.

I finally heard the Serkin 1960 Op. 110. Its incredible, with a powerful, authoritative second movement. The tenderness is there too, this surprised me a bit. I didn't know Serkin had it in him.

I rate it alongside my other two faves, Annie Fischer and Kempff (mono).

[gperkins151]

Heard the Op. 110 fro 1971 last night. My goodness, it can't hold a candle to the earlier version. It is much less refined and less emotionally involved. From a technical standpoint it isn't as strong as the 1960.

From the 4 other later performances I have compared to earlier ones, it seems that with Serkin, the earlier the recording, the better.

[gperkins151]

Have you heard both of Rudolf Serkin's Op. 110's?

One is from 1960 (part of the 3CD set), the other is from 1971 (part of the French 5CD set.)

I hear the 1960 is better and just wanted to get your opinions.

George:

I haven't heard either recording in a while. I'll check out both as soon as possible - give a listen - and report back. Serkin was one of the great ones in especially Beethoven and Schubert so it will be a pleasure to hear them again.

Lance, did you get the Serkin 2CD set of Beethoven sonatas on Music and Arts? If you didn't, be warned, the sound leaves a lot to be desired. The piano sound is artificial and the recordings are overfiltered IMO. On top of that, the first three tracks (moonlight) have an intermittent high-pitched noise throughout. Its possible that mine is defective, so I'd appreciate any comments from others who own this one.

EDIT: Mine is not defective, as I have confirmed the same issue with two other sources.

[gperkins151]

Have you heard both of Rudolf Serkin's Op. 110's?

One is from 1960 (part of the 3CD set), the other is from 1971 (part of the French 5CD set.)

I hear the 1960 is better and just wanted to get your opinions.

George:

I haven't heard either recording in a while. I'll check out both as soon as possible - give a listen - and report back. Serkin was one of the great ones in especially Beethoven and Schubert so it will be a pleasure to hear them again.

Hey Lance?