Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 32 - Alfred Brendel

[@krazdomino4882]

This is powerful, when I was young I didn’t appreciate him as much, but now I am older. This guy is amazing!

[@JonDunnmusician]

Best of best

[@alfredlamotte9844]

This is not just a musical recording, it's a movie. The extraordinary chronicle of the pain and beauty of genius.

[@salt_cots]

How marvellous to have the whole sonata on one "film". I find this an incredibly moving performance - no surprise since although I enjoy many pianists playing Beethoven, it is to Alfred Brendel that I always return.

[@jamesnicol3831]

brendel is ludwig when playing

[@bambalam9170]

The syncopation of the second movement is divine. My favourite of Beethoven's piano sonatas, beautifully realised by Herr Brendel.

[@Mrsjuniify]

Powerful and strong , dramatic interpretation with excellent contrasts and dynamics. Passionate and emotional. What an achievement and magnificent performance of Alfred Brendel.

[@jeffdawson2786]

Brendel was my first PS32, and he will always be my favorite.

[@acwatercolors]

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO POST THIS ! This is the best interpretation ever, Alfred B. plays the same as his records, what a pianist! The 2nd mouvement is just miraculous. My favorite piece of Beethoven for sure. Thanks again

[@AlvinHDavernport]

omg, I’m so glad you posted this. Brendel is my favorite Op. 111 interpreter - and there are some other truly amazing interpreters out there. The word “transcendental” inevitably comes up every time this precious piece is discussed, but Brendel truly takes it to the mesospheric heights that, I have to imagine, only Beethoven’s mind could reach. (And I certainly think he has better recordings than this!) He proposes a very personal, almost histrionic first movement; I’m sure some find it off-putting, but I find its volatility to juxtapose beautifully with the superlative gem that is Brendel’s Arietta. It’s so nimble and weightless. It’s lively and jazzy where appropriate, and then it’s so preciously still and delicate that you can’t help but suspend your breath, for fear of disturbing its frail, ethereal beauty. We are truly lucky that a gifted, gifted man like Brendel was able to dig into Beethoven’s mind and extract this precious slice of heaven for us.

[@wat5513]

3 years later i read this. Thanks fella Brendel listener. Ok, I'll listen Op. 111 that you mentioned.

[@romanleonG]

This is by far the best piece of music ever written

[@amber40494]

Hes got a formidable technique and strength. Always musical, energetic and exciting!!

[@StrictlyClassicalMusic]

Very, very interesting! Thanks for sharing!

[@rubengonzalezcastro8665]

For me the best interpreter of beethoven and schubert. Glorious. Making the most difficult that each note is important in music and reaches the soul. Rubén:)

[@ZohairABS]

I can’t agree more!

[@francoziliani7631]

Un'interpretazione di una bellezza e profondità sconvolgenti. Brendel emozionante lascia stupefatti per la sua maestria tecnica e la sua poesia

[@peilin4796]

浩浩乎如凭虚御风，而不知其所止，飘飘乎如遗世独立，羽化而登仙

[@gabrielruiz4113]

Qué absoluta maravilla. Es impresionante su ejecución.

[@autumnleaves2766]

I came here from Sviatoslav Richter's incredible performance of this great Beethoven piano sonata, the one from Moscow in 1975. Alfred Brendel is brilliant here too, of course he was one of the best at Beethoven. My sister heard him live a number of times, but I never managed it. Alfred Brendel is fluent in German, English and French and has written in all three languages, from music criticism to poetry. A highly intellectual Austrian gentleman who has lived in Britain since the mid 1970s. My sister remembered him once getting annoyed when some audience members clapped between movements, that would break his concentration. He retired from performing in 2008 but has been a mentor for Kit Armstrong amongst others. He is now 93 and still in reasonably good health as far as I know.

[@wolfgangklofat594]

Enjoy to read Your comment comparing this Brendel opus 111 with Richter´s performance in Moscow Conservatorium Hall 1975 (it wss in reverence to his (and Gilels´!) teacher Heinrich Neuhaus. We should avoid to say this or that one is better than... - because Beethovens composition is so endlessly full of characters that only one interptetation could reveal it.

[@autumnleaves2766]

@@wolfgangklofat594 I love both the Richter and the Brendel performances, but then it is an immense piece of music. I like all the Beethoven piano sonatas, especially the later ones. Richter even taps his foot at one point. As a dedicated amateur jazz pianist myself, I could relate to that. The music must be so hard to play this well. From what I've read, Franz Liszt was the first to perform the Hammerklavier sonata op 106 in public, presumably because it was too difficult for anyone else, or indeed the pianos of Beethoven's day. It appears that Beethoven watched the 11 year old Liszt play in about 1822, when the great Ludwig wouldn't have been able to hear much at all. The syncopated section in the final movement of opus 111 is like jazz a hundred years before it developed in New Orleans.

[@wolfgangklofat594]

@@autumnleaves2766 It is very interesting to read Your views and observations - thank You very much! - Do You know the old BBC studio record of opus 111 by Cutner Solomon? It also has very deep expression of the late Beethoven.

[@JonDunnmusician]

The master

[@TJFNYC212]

17:41 and ff is transcendental ...

[@andreaskraft8818]

thank you

[@milobianca4720]

Erano dei cannoni anche questi vecchi musicisti

[@FranciscoArvizuH]

Fuerte, vital, poderosa y cargada con fuerte acento juvenil. Alfred Brendel, un grande. Nunca le tuvo miedo a esta partitura y aquí es notorio. En el top... y en grabaciones solamente la DECCA de Benedetti Michelangeli se acercaría.

[@ГалинаБельская-л9х]

Какое проникновение на глубины Бетховена, где уже и тайн не осталось. Браво, великий маэстро!! С вами и радость, и падение, и взлет и необыкновенное счастье обретения глубины и высоты. Планеты мало. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@dennistognan3791]

That second movement has a little hint of boogie-woogie in the middle

[@AmyAmy-er8bp]

very good play

[@giorgiogiachi7688]

Miracoloso!

[@aleksandarbrzic8351]

There are many, many great interpretations of Beethoven´s sonatas, but sometimes I feel Brendel is the only one ever who GOT IT and understood what was this all about...

[@jamesnicol3831]

Heart warming aural glimpse into the future

[@nikolaikrinets5136]

Гениальный пианист!

[@jamesnicol3831]

the immortal diabelli variations is underlying this also immortal piano treasure

[@claudioparrella183]

è vero

[@claudioparrella183]

Grande

[@paolofranceschi6874]

Bravissimo

[@pierrejacquart3494]

Beethoven a inventé le jazz 😉

[@jamesnicol3831]

yes just listen to monk

[@denizovecoglu6759]

It is not a jazz but simple variation. That is it. 2nd. movement has 4 variations. Please do not make this assumption.

[@bambalam9170]

@@denizovecoglu6759 perhaps he means that the syncopation of the second movement is in a way prefigurative of jazz

[@highpeaksphil]

Bravo

[@ГалинаБельская-л9х]

Очарование игры. Божественные руки Альфреда Бренделя, сколько в них неземного полета и постижения гения Бетховена

[@salt_cots]

Does anyone know where inTokyo and when this performance was?

[@almila4kauwu779]

İdk

[@dietmarfalke1099]

this piece is so difficult to play. it is impossible to play it as good as the music is....

[@jeanlehmann595]

A. Schnabel said something like that about Schubert

[@marcgrunert1082]

Brendel éternel

[@USEER-bxleo]

7:38

[@maexxtex4924]

U might be older but he was always amazing.

[@伊木喜一]

この曲はみんな三連音符【運命】という妄想に捉われすぎ。

[@Robert...Schrey]

Brendel‘s Beethoven sonatas are too light and too ironic.