Beethoven - Sonata for piano No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 "Hammerklavier"

[@waggawaggaful]

I love how he throws his entire being into the performance and turns it into a psychedelic experience

[@norminvienna1046]

A crime, not a shame, to leave this incomplete

[@Daeiwg]

00:15：I. Allegro 10:02：II. Scherzo. Assai vivace - Presto - Tempo I 12:48：III. Adagio sostenuto. Appassionato e con molto sentimento 29:49：IV. Largo - Allegro risoluto. Fuga a tre voci, con alcune licenze

[@jbbevan]

I've been listening to various Hanmerklavier recordings for 60 years (old & contemporary) having started with John Ogdon back in the '60's. But this one is truly incredible. For me, Herr Levit is the most enlightened of Beethoven pianists these days. This is very special stuff. Revision: this recording cuts off the final moments of the 4th movement. It needs to be fixed.

[@שמעון-ק2ח]

All i can say is that this recording, is like a one-in-a-century recording. I didn't see this level to my mind, in all of levitt's Beethoven recordings. He is a genius in contrasts. At least here he is! His transition to the last movement is also dramatic, like it's a whole orchestra or concerto. Yes, it's snipped at the end.

[@gretareinarsson7461]

Levit is both a maverick and a visionary. One of the most exciting painist of our times.

[@reinhardlippert4363]

Unglaubliche auch Feinarchitektur + wie er mit dem Instrument verschmolzen ist! Die Werbung VIEL zu laut + an unpassendsten Momenten - das ist ein Verbrechen gegen die menschliche Seele + gehört gefängnisbestraft - Geldeinnahmen ja, Raubgier nein!!

[@reinhardlippert4363]

Auch der Abbruçh im letzten Satz VÖLLIG INDISKUTABEL - am falschem Ende gespart! Ausgerechnet bei dieser Hochspitzeninterpretation! Welcher Banause hat denn hier das Sagen?? [Ich beleidige nicht, sondern meine nur das Rechte.]

[@auerod]

Extraordinary. I like this even better than his studio recording. Levit's Hammerklavier is some of the most exciting keyboard playing I've ever seen or heard. I don't understand the KZbin search algorithm as this video is kind of buried.

[@vincenzodamore5317]

Exactly!!

[@Pogouldangeliwitz]

The KZbin algorithm is made to feed the ignoramuses. So it spews out all the Yujas and Khatias and Tiffanys and Bangs - and buries the Igors...

[@militaryandemergencyservic3286]

But he does not finish

[@kathrinbartholomewfuchsiii404]

@@Pogouldangeliwitz the virgin "wahhhhh these performers are bad why don't my favourites get more attention" vs the chad "I like this interpretation and I like this one as well, this one is not my style but I still respect the performer"

[@composerjalen]

@@kathrinbartholomewfuchsiii404 Based as fuck holy shit

[@andredelacerdasantos4439]

A very convincing interpretation. Not the cleanest out there, but you bring out the struggle in a very raw and intimate way. It's apparent that you let yourself be burdened by the weigh of this piece, which is very demanding both physically and psychologically. The result is a very touching and heartbreaking rendition. The way you let yourself feel each moment invites the listener to feel the same way. For a piece like this, it is extremely valuable, making your interpretation one of the best in human history.

[@andredelacerdasantos4439]

what??? where's the rest??

[@frankbroder9259]

Igor Levit is easily my favorite when it comes to Beethoven. His performances are powerful and rich with emotion. Each piece feels fresh and energized.

[@Johannludwigamadeus]

Hier ist jede - jede! - Note durchdacht wie auch durchempfunden. Ich habe nie eine bessere Interpretation des Adagios gehört. Zum Niederknieen schön.

[@stephanemetens9810]

Levit is undoubtedly one of the great interpreters of Beethoven. Thanks to his complete sonatas, he has acquired an absolute mastery of the structure of the works, integrating all the sonatas as few pianists can. In this way, everything is considered and thought through. This in no way prevents him from giving us a spontaneous interpretation of this splendid sonata, rich in sonority. For those who have not yet had the chance to listen to the complete sonatas, don't wait any longer: they are masterpieces of priceless beauty. We can only bow our heads in admiration of Mr Levit's remarkable work.

[@thepianocornertpc]

Other pianists who can do what you wrote: Alfred Brendel, Maurizio Pollini, Annie Fisher, Emil Gilels, Daniel Bairenbohm, Maria Ginzburg, Claudio Arrau, Wilhelm Kempf, Wilhelm Backhaus, Richard Goode, Lim, Arthur Schnabel etc.etc.

[@dustinrupert620]

I've decided that this (first movement, maybe the rest) is a historic recording. A few times in a century, there is a performance/recording, that is a one-time revelation. And i feel this is one. More often with more ancient recordings.

[@alvarogarciabarbosa3199]

Yuja Wang, Murray Perahia and this outstanding pianist play this difficult and extraordinare Hammer Klavier Sonata precisely with the real tempo Beethoven named for this enormous master piece. The way Andras Schiff says it must be played and exactly the way it sounds glorious...as it should.

[@maximilianb.8789]

schiff needs ~ 1,5-2 min longer for the first movement alone

[@takuhi2009]

Yuja Wang's interpretation is very, very different.

[@asafoetida5403]

It's just too fast. Composers intend their music to sound good.

[@waggawaggaful]

Valentina Lisitsa live recording of this is absolutely mesmerizing

[@richardsibbes5446]

Extremely fast.

[@r.i.p.volodya]

BRAVO, Igor Levit! Daring, unique moments, lovely moments and took Ludvig's marking seriously. I shall search out your recordings after this.

[@boonyboony100]

I heard him play this live in Berlin, actually before he was very well known, and - as you'd expect - he was incredible. He interpreted the architecture of this massive piece in a very great way. Probably was 2008. A true star, and indeed he just keeps improving.

[@taksim311]

Man sollte oben noch erwähnen, WER der Pianist ist. Es ist super! Endlich einer, der das Tempo des 1. Satzes ungefähr so schnell spielt, wie es von Beethoven geschrieben wurde.

[@pianoplaynight]

Igor Levit

[@MrKlemps]

What a SHAME this extraordinary performance, one that seems, at least in my 70-year experience of listening, to come closest to the impossibility Beethoven was trying for, has been left incomplete. It is considerably better, by the way, than his recording. Not surprising since it was recorded a few years later.

[@IanMatthewGray]

My sentiments exactly.

[@MrKlemps]

Marcelino Sanchez: I used to own the Dover LP of Beveridge Webster's great performance and was present for the live performance he gave at Juilliard as part of their Wednesday 1 O'clock concert series. Hearing so uncompromising a performance of a work so monumentally challenging was an indelible experience. Beveridge Webster, along with other unheralded Schnabel students like Claude Frank and Leonard Shure, were the pianists for the ages, or at least the middle of their last century, who taught us all to think seriously about, and engage more intensely with music and its presentation.

[@joaomagalhaesdocarmo212]

The name of this fantastic pianist is not mentioned. I had to check the commentaries to know who him is.

[@leonardrecker5377]

This might be the best recording out there! Simply amazing, i held my breath the entire time!

[@TheMonkeyV]

and you're still alive after 35 mins? THAT is simply amazing.

[@gerdlindlar1980]

yes the best one....the most profound and freeest

[@Kounios]

Almost as good as Schnabel.

[@MrInterestingthings]

Went from his fast Brahms 2 1st mov . and here he gives the incredible tempo Beethoven asked for seemingly rapt and spiritual aura of this music is always there ! Those Gb octaves before reprise of 1st subject really stand for something here ! A thinking musician not just another pianist ! Musically I feel like he charts the progress and movement of this music really making a trajectory we feel him ! 7:16 was never like this before ! I feel many of the smaller phrases weren't given their due but he achieves often the right piano color he seems to want the big line most of all .The Adagio is my favorite music of course. The scherzo felt right here the scale and tremolo felt out of place somehow (my fave moment in scherzo then the Bboctaves .Mighty music .

[@mirtacalcagno9260]

Impecable interpretación.Beethoven único para mí.Gracias!

[@rachgodf03]

I love Levit. I love pianists that bend the rules but in the right way. Levit does just that, this performance is so explosive and full of energy I love it!

[@שמעון-ק2ח]

The Hammerklavier is HIS PIECE. Some artists seem to have one piece that the way they play it is like a revealation from on high and an immortal recording is caught on tape, like Brahms hungarian dance #6 played by Jaques Thibaud. Plus one or two other things, yet not everything he played (as on youtubes) seems to me the same outstanding way.

[@minchunlin5535]

Extraordinary! 👍👍👍 This is the only version that interprete Hammerklavier to become a single piece Other version easily sounds putting many sections togather

[@martinschwehla4704]

Couldn"t let this happen, so let"s cut off the last section of the recording. And to add to the fun, let's hide who's playing here.

[@aristoteles2797]

great first movement! i am so happy to hear this tempo

[@cameronshapiro700]

Brilliant, the best recording of the work I’ve heard, besides perhaps Stephen moller and certainly myself

[@STEPHANM0ELLER]

Thank you for mentioning!

[@jeffparis2419]

Classique , Romantique, Contemporain , le Grand Beethoven dans cette Interprétation Remarquable, Merci 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@KaterinaStamatelos]

My most favourite performance of this masterpiece!

[@sungpo-yu4662]

It is a pity the video is incomplete. (There was a complete one but possibly deleted due to copyright issue) It is a great live performance, a bit different from Levit's audio recording. I hope his full Beethoven sonata cycle live performance video can be published in the future.

[@charmquark6366]

Some images or feelings can only be evoked by this very fast tempo as (if Beethoven's own metronome was well calibrated) Beethoven intended. Forget about tension-free technique and beautiful tone. This Hammerklavier has other intentions. It is all human, all its emotions, and life experienced.

[@Oisin-O]

This is the best Hammerlavier I have ever heard, mostly.

[@ricardotiemersma84]

Amazing! He does what he wants with Beethoven! This is the End of the World [as it is].

[@cristobalmaryan9896]

I agree. The interpretation is fresh and original. Beethoven like we've not heard it before.

[@georgesmelki1]

I initially put a 'Like' but then, on second thought, I removed it on charge of 'Hammerklavierus interruptus"😅! Furthermore, Levit follows Beethoven's metronome marking for the 1st movement as close as is humanly possible, but then, in the Adagio, he strays away completely! Instead of Beethoven's ♪=92, he plays at ♪=66 throughout...What was going through his mind??

[@dino5119]

Superb performance

[@robertosanpaolopianoforte]

Fantastic, the speed is the original one indicated by Beethoven. It’s very hard to keep the rhythm for all the sonata, expecially in the first movement

[@thegreatshift9160]

Masterful Adagio!! Incredible performance! I'll take the missing fugue for now, but please post it later on. I would love to hear his live performance.

[@thegreatshift9160]

@Marcelino Santos Could you try not drinking alcohol and posting on YT?

[@MrKlemps]

For those who believe in the Beethoven mm numbers as I do, you should want to listen to the performances of Peter Serkin and Beveridge Webster. Nobody, despite adhering to the markings for the quick movements, has dared to play the adagio at 92. Webster comes the closest at ca 84. Adagio at 92 makes perfect sense, though, if you hear the pulse in dotted quarters. Why these otherwise fastidious and wonderful musicians can't believe in 92 is very puzzling.

[@alessandrodimeo6570]

And what does mister Levit do? Can you easily tell?

[@MichaelAlexander1967]

Amazingly well done. Bravo!

[@yapsun3017]

Phenomenal performance ❤🎉

[@hansulrichbehner8026]

Where is the rest of the 4th movement? Why the video isn't complete? So it is impossible to mesure the exact speed of the first fugue and to hear if he really manages the prescripted speed of 144 Mälzel like HJ Lim does!

[@rogerhfisher]

Levit defies the limits of physical reality. He turns the piano -- the hammerklavier -- from the voice of a lonely poet into a glorious chorus, then from something orchestral into something celestial. He is the greatest pianist who has ever lived.

[@KaterinaStamatelos]

I totally agree with you!

[@musicfriendmc3227]

So do I

[@the_great_phoenix231]

best hammerklavier confimed

[@vladimirukrainian2268]

tempo is incorrect in any case it doesn't have to be the same all the time

[@tigerphantom354]

This song is rated 1000000/10

[@dustinrupert620]

I wish i could discuss this with he himself. At any rate, the dynamics are brilliant! e.g. the end of the 1st movement, i mean, when it is fading out. Like a string quartet.

[@remomazzetti8757]

Where's the rest of Finale? Why did you post an incomplete video?

[@НадеждаАфанасьева-и2н]

Наконец-то вычитала из комментариев имя исполнителя : это Игорь Левит !

[@mlau9991]

00’15“--> ：I. Allegro 10‘02”--> ：II. Scherzo. Assai vivace - Presto - Tempo I 12’48“--> ：III. Adagio sostenuto. Appassionato e con molto sentimento 29‘49”-->?：IV. Largo - Allegro risoluto. Fuga a tre voci, con alcune licenze

[@hailzgeoff]

What a shame the last part of the fugue is missing. Is there any chance of finding it for a re-post? This has the potential to be a reference performance - but we do need it to get to the end that Beethoven wrote!

[@erezsolomon3838]

Ashish Xiangyi Kumar has the complete performance of his on his channel with synchronised sheet music

[@xqf868]

@@erezsolomon3838 Ashish used the studio recording tho, i think

[@lucarossi7424]

Genius.

[@r.i.p.volodya]

AT LAST - my god - a pianist that tries to respect Beethoven's own metronome mark!!! Thank you so much! (unfortunately, I cannot see the pianist's name....)

[@akshsingh-wf6mv]

Its Igor levit

[@PeterHeeren1]

Halbe = 139!! Bravo

[@leot7]

Why does it cut off?

[@MrVincent537]

WHERE IS THE END OF THE SONATA???

[@radovanlorkovic3562]

It is only the tortured Beethoven, not the thankful for the friendship with Rudolf that is here speaking.

[@Ivan_1791]

28:40 Is he super nervous or is it that some kind of technique?

[@KaterinaStamatelos]

Most probably a release of intense nervous system tension....

[@WinrichNaujoks]

What do you mean?

[@Ivan_1791]

@@WinrichNaujoks He seems nervous, that's all.

[@potatopotato0715]

@@WinrichNaujoks he was talking about 29:40

[@PeterHeeren1]

Er nimmt Beethovens Metronomangabe ernst, eigentlich unspielbar 😀

[@ricardotiemersma84]

He plays his own interpretation, same level as Beethoven. This is the End of the World.

[@STEPHANM0ELLER]

It would be really nice to mention the pianist's name!

[@melkithierry9289]

Quel gâchis de couper la vidéo en plein milieu du dernier mouvement !!!!!! Et pourquoi ?!?!?! C'est une des plus magistrales interprétation de cette sonate stratosphérique !!!! Quel immense ARTISTE !!!

[@petrouchka2011]

29:39

[@brodycates8472]

Lol, even sokolov's playing cannot be compared. Absolute mastery, extraordinary speed and cleanness

[@salomonibrahim4040]

I don't think you realise the extent of genius of Sokolov's Hammerklavier. Don't get me wrong, Levit is an absolute genius but I think Sokolov's peformance is just as good at the very least.

[@brodycates8472]

@@salomonibrahim4040 what recording of his hammerklavier is your favorite? Because to me, the one i heard was not really anything special, many comments sharing a similar sentiment

[@salomonibrahim4040]

@@brodycates8472 It's just personal preferance but I prefer sokolovs tempi and clarity. And I don't know why people say that sokolovs interpretation is nothing special. Every interpretation of his is very special and musically the best you can get in my opinion. But maybe its the fanboy in me speaking haha

[@STEPHANM0ELLER]

@@salomonibrahim4040 Yes, when you play Sokolov's recording at speed rate 1.5 :-)!

[@JoseAPerez-nq9vu]

Unbelievable not to write down who the pianist is...

[@johnnyknight2157]

igor levit

[@irritablechef]

I could totally play that part at 7:08

[@Jack-hy1zq]

I'm appalled that the ending of the final movement was cut. A crime against Beethoven himself.

[@paolofranceschi6874]

👏👏👏

[@tigransargsyan3537]

14'11'' ?

[@chaikagome9725]

You're wasting your time watching this video. Because it ends in the middle of the 4th movement. Even if you notice it at the end, it's too late.

[@Michaelhendersonnovelist1]

For the love of God, the video stops before the end. Otherwise, a brilliant performance.

[@ricardotiemersma84]

And it is fucking cut!!! This is the End of the World [as we knew it].

[@vollmond5318]

Hervorragende technische Leistung. Aber warum so schnell? Da gehen viele interessante Details verloren. Schade drum.

[@radovanlorkovic3562]

Vielleicht auch für Levitt selbst ein einmaliges Erlebnis?

[@staffanolofsson8201]

Strange thought, Clássicos dos Clássicos, that you in the introduction never mention the pianists name, Igor Levit. This must be a great mistake, isn´t it? I think it is.

[@trinitarian100]

I'm not mad keen on the fugue either; but that seems a poor reason for cutting it off after two minutes.

[@barococo8090]

Magnifique interprétation ! Quelqu'un aurait le nom du pianiste ?

[@giovanni7391]

Igor Levit

[@radovanlorkovic3562]

Wieso steht nicht der Name des Interpreten? Ist es Igor Lewit?

[@katttttt]

Jup

[@militaryandemergencyservic3286]

Why did HE not FINISH????

[@beckerhanshermann8372]

Two recordings of Beethoven's should be known : the interpretations of Maurizio Pollini (CD and live Salzburg 1989) and that of Michael Korstick, which has reference character.

[@AB-jn1vc]

Who is the pianist?

[@pianoplaynight]

Igor Levit

[@tareqsaadeh2182]

What a journey, but it's a shame to cut it off like that!

[@erwannarbarz7718]

On reste sur sa fin...

[@marcojanssen4265]

I like this Interpretation but i think the first Movement is played to fast. The Part at Minute 20 is also to fast and to lout for me. The rest is wonderful.

[@최줄리아나]

괴물이다 한국에서 제발 이곡을 쳐주세요

[@OMEGALFA.]

Why is the pianist UNNAMED????????

[@chrisVes1]

Y en a qui s'extasient sur une captation qui coupe la fugue au tiers...

[@r.i.p.volodya]

Why does the piece cut off short before the end?! That's terrible, whoever downloaded this!!!

[@tetsuyaito2355]

なんで途中で終わってしまうの！

[@kaidwig6132]

🤦🏼😆🤦🏼😆🤦🏼😆🤦🏼😆🤦🏼

[@brynbstn]

Haha! They didn’t put the pianist’s name in the title or description… “idiots” - isn’t that favorite European description?

[@redeyejedi5449]

wtf... just cut him off like that

[@Alekos-Maniatis]

OK. This is a very difficult sonata. However, some notes are not in the right place. Andras Schiff is much more interesting.

[@potatopotato0715]

“To play a wrong note is insignificant. To play without passion is inexcusable” wrong notes don’t matter as long as long as it doesn’t interfere with the presentation, In this case it doesn’t

[@Alekos-Maniatis]

@@potatopotato0715 Ok, I agree with you, you are right. He also convinces me very much and plays this sonata "deep and wild". Very good.

[@GundulaRach]

Klingt alles irgendwie, wie ein Nervenbündel. Völlig neurotisch Beethoven. Wem soll sowas gefallen ...

[@marcojanssen4265]

Das ist doch ein Reiz von dem Werk. Finde ich. Das Drama.

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

Wie schade .... so sad .... such a wonderful technique producing so bad music. Typically our time. No emotion, no passion, only notes, notes, notes, and notes .... internet music, IA musicality. That means : so much efforts for nothing.