Having been totally sold on Kempff’s 1960s DGG stereo recordings of
the Beethoven sonatas as a teenager I’ve admired them ever since. I
have to admit that I didn’t know that he had previously issued a mono
set in the 1950s. Regis has done us a huge favour by reissuing this cycle at
a ridiculously low bargain price with very good documentation and presented
in a sturdy box. The 9 CDs are also laid out in order of composition
starting with Sonatas 1 to 3 on CD1 and finishing with 30 to 32 on CD9. This
enables the listener - if he or she so wishes - to listen to
Beethoven’s developing genius as he put this monumental cycle of
sonatas down on paper.
The sound quality is variable from disc to disc as you would expect
from a mono cycle recorded over a six year period. None of the recordings
can be described as sounding particularly glamorous but to be fair the
engineering never gets in the way of some remarkable musicianship. The piano
sound is thin, recessed and light at the bottom end. The top can sound a bit
clangy on occasion and in places there is a curious electronic feel to the
upper register. There are also patches of wavering pitch. Putting this into
context the early Brendel Vox bargain cycle, now in the Brilliant Classics
catalogue, offers somewhat better (but also thin) stereo sound. This Kempff
mono cycle will not be purchased by hi-fi buffs. However, for Beethoven
lovers with an interest in great music-making, this set needs to be snapped
up despite the sonic flaws. Even if you have three or four cycles on your
shelves, please add this one as a supplement.
Having thoroughly enjoyed this Regis set, it’s abundantly
clear that Kempff was very consistent in his Beethoven interpretations over
the years. Nothing from his stereo cycle is markedly different to what he
has to offer in these tapes from the 1950s. For anyone coming fresh to
Kempff there needs to be a word or two of warning. He isn’t
everybody’s cup of tea. I personally love his cultured playing but
there’s certainly a nod towards Mozart and Schubert in everything he
does. This style is perfect, in my opinion, for the sonatinas and early
sonatas but I can also enjoy the “bigger” works such as the
Appassionata played in this manner. Others can’t and they find
his playing to be severely underpowered and unemotional. It’s
analogous to some conductors being masters in the even numbered Beethoven
symphonies but maybe lacking thrust and drive in 3, 5 and 7. I accept
exactly where the Kempff critics are coming from and understand their point
of view. If you are expecting barnstorming, earth-shattering Beethoven then
you really should stay away. If that’s what you are looking for then
stick with Barenboim or maybe Ashkenazy.
So what exactly does Kempff offer in Beethoven? Well, to start with,
every note is in place. The clarity and precision of his playing is second
to none. This is obvious from the outset in his performances of the
“easy” sonatas nos. 1 to 3 on the first CD. They may be easy -
to professional pianists, that is - but the level of articulation on show
here is a joy. This same quality can be heard in the later sonatas. Others
may hammer out the last movement of the
Moonlight with panache and
gusto but Kempff keeps everything firmly in control. The arpeggios and runs
are immaculate. There’s never any sense of panic or being out of
control. Another quality Kempff brings to the music is a sense of calmness
and serenity in the slow movements. Some listeners just hear a coolness and
a lack of passion that they find off-putting. This is very subjective but I
don’t subscribe to this at all. What I hear is a thoughtful pianist
who puts the music first and simply plays it in a way that communicates
readily with his audience. There’s no playing to the gallery or
hot-headed pianism. In its place there is a clear-headed sense of purity and
a fastidious honesty to the printed text. Beethoven is the star, not the
pianist.
There are a few bargain versions around. The much underrated, consistent
Jando cycle on Naxos is good value and sonically superior to Kempff. I still
have a soft spot for the previously mentioned Brendel/Brilliant Classics set
and also for John Lill (also on Brilliant Classics) but there’s an
easy answer when it comes to choice. There isn’t a pianist who holds
all the answers. Buy two or three cycles including one by Kempff just to
experience a different approach. You can either go for the higher-priced,
better sounding DGG stereo or this bargain Regis mono. You really
can’t go far wrong with either of them.
John Whitmore
Masterwork Index:
Beethoven piano
sonatas
