KEMPFF plays BEETHOVEN Sonata No 23 Op.57 Appassionata COMPLETE (1960)

STEREO STUDIO RECORDING MAY 1960 (NOT FROM THE 1964/1965 COMPLETE SET)

[@4gilbert7]

Wilhelm Kempff is a pianist that will be listened to long time after his death (1991) because he can be considered as the very antidote to "fashionable performance" that plagues our contemporary musical practice. I wouldn't even dare to say that he is "better than ...." His style, definitely, doesn't invite me to look for such comparative conclusions. When he was teaching, he wasn't insisting that a student had to play like himself. But he would encourage him/her to try differently.

[@jeffsmith1798]

Thanks for your comment. A great pianist as well as teacher who encourages the student to find his or her own voice and helps them to do that must be a great teacher.

[@lars9168]

i bet you, I'm 19, I'll listen to him in the deathbed

[@eddiebeato5546]

I can only listen to Wilhelm Kempff but with reverence, admiration and adoration...one is bound to admit that he is among the finest pianists who ever lived. His technique was pellucid like a lake reflecting the skies and clouds above, but beneath the fleeting ripples of joy and shudder of thrills..unfathomable depths!

[@bachianm2375]

Beautifully said. I wholeheartedly agree.

[@randykern1842]

His lyricism in Beethoven is unmatched. Sublime

[@LandOfJuncoville]

"If keep listening to it, I will never finish my homework." haha

[@888Marco]

Did you ever finish that homework?

[@autumngirl951]

Marc Lemand 😃😄

[@LaurentLaborde]

@@888Marco i was going to ask ... :D

[@mariakaczmarek4769]

I've got the same problem

[@hlodovvig]

​@@888Marcoit was a reference to the Lenin's quote.

[@keithhulks7049]

Having read all the comments published below I see no reason to change my mind. I still regard Kempff as one of the great Beethoven interpreters.

[@PartySpock]

This was a pianist who understood ,Beethoven. Great great Pianist

[@mairaleikarte43]

And you understand that he understands Beethoven, which means you're awesome!🤣🕉️❤️

[@ugurresulcan270]

Wilhelm Kempff best person who plays Beethoven's Music . Stunning and Marvellous

[@racine1685]

Wilhelm Backhaus?

[@horatiodreamt]

@@racine1685 Him too.

[@hugogosset9123]

@@racine1685 Wilhelm…………… Furtwängler ((with Werner Thärichen, among others))

[@user-sw2ck1xl2t]

마음을 진정시키고 싶을때 찾게되는 베토벤. 위대하고 천재인 베토벤. 마음의 평화가 오네요. 오늘은 태풍으로 인해 비가 오락가락하는 날. 창밖으로 비가 왕창내리네요. 한강위로 쫙쫙! 베토벤 곡을 듣고 있음 행복을 느낌.

[@user-vl8gn1kf8e]

So vividly alive but still calmly furious,exactly as the passion should be revealed.

[@lars9168]

Kempff = Legend

[@terryp3034]

Even better than Gould. Better than Brendel. Amazing combination of power and lyricism. Kempff is in complete command of the keyboard. Flawless!

[@carloscarballo7495]

what you say is true ... he is the most complete pianist. Maria Tipo is also very good.

[@ryanchiang2509]

Gould's Beethoven is often far too unconventional for my taste

[@stephenhall3515]

Gould? He only ever played Gould.........

[@tacizettinkocabulluk]

Comparing Kempff with g*uld? Lol😂😂

[@fazec0ld802]

Sorry that your replies got infiltrated by neckbeard Gould haters 😭

[@carloscarballo7495]

Wilhelm Kempff is the pianist to have as a reference for piano works in general.

[@arturozeballos1]

Que pianista impresionante, por dónde se lo mire. Sus versiones están cargadas de maestría, refinamiento, un toque o touche maravillosos que lo destaca del resto de los pianistas, un fraseo extremadamente pulcro y meticuloso. Grande WILHELM, contigo nací a esta Música cuando escuche esta sonata allá por 1973 a mis 10 años.

[@MusicalMaryFly]

arturo zeballos great judgement ! Agree (Y)

[@mehmetiksel3081]

Beethoven is the only composer who from the first note in a piece, advances in the knowledge of the last. Like a great storyteller or orator, he brings in many protagonists in "quotes" It is drama in a language we all seem to understand well: that of great music. Kempff plays with a unique intuition of the transitions and silences which punctuate the score. As Bolet once wisely remarked : A composer spends a few weeks or months on a work, then is on to something else. We interpreters live with it for decades. It may sound presumptuous but one can say we know the works better than the composer himself. In the case of Kempff this is true of hundreds of works. It is a secondary form of genius. The other thing we must be clear about : We are each time speaking not of Beethoven but of a specific work he gave birth to, and which, in many ways, has had a greater life and career than the unwashed titan we would have dreaded to meet.

[@raoultak]

I wish to believe that Kempff's rendition of the Appassionata is closest to Beethovens concept of interpretation. It sounds so natural...so like Beethoven.

[@leonardoiglesias2394]

Beethoven played it always faster and the phrasing was quiet different also.

[@alanleoneldavid1787]

@@leonardoiglesias2394 so you have like 200 years old

[@zrytabania7460]

@@alanleoneldavid1787 Nice age, preety impressive

[@spiritsplice]

@@leonardoiglesias2394 How would you know this?

[@leonardoiglesias2394]

@@spiritsplice because Raoult says Kempff plays as beethoven would have liked it….so…it was parody…

[@Villiago]

Absolutely sublime! I have listened to the interpretations of Wilhelm Kempff since my childhood, and yet I have yet to hear any which technically could be considered better or that capture better the tempestuousness of the composer's character. Many thanks for the upload. Best wishes, Villiago.

[@shadowsmustfall1]

Couldn't agree more. His interpretation captures Beethoven's spirit like no other pianist. I have listened to many others play this work and nobody interprets every single note as well as Kempff in this recording. I feel like I'm listening to it the way Beethoven intended.

[@mitsospoulikakos1804]

I'm pushing 76 now and i still remember when I first heard him play that same sonata (in Athens,Greece),when I was about 11-12!!!...I thought he was a miracle maker!!!!!

[@Villiago]

Oh you heard a live performance! How lucky were you! Best wishes Villiago.

[@brianrussel6012]

@@shadowsmustfall1 (guest) Please seek the masterclass, here on You Tube , where the great Daniel Baremboim advises the amazing Lang-Lang on subtle improvements, which Lang-Lang immediately does and clearly adopts, as the true musician he is. I too love Wilhelm Kempff's interpretations. 🎼😊🇬🇧❤🎼

[@christinajewell5981]

Absolutely incredible

[@juharmonie]

The best performance ever heard until now !

[@yodigodoy2518]

Lo mejor que pude escuchar en años//Emociona enormemente --Casi el mismísimo Beethoven en su mismo Espíritu --Una verdadera Joya para guardar ///Muchas gracias por este video .

[@francelinepigoury6082]

Kempff "est" la musique, son corps, ses mains virevoltant sur le piano me font entrer au coeur de cette sonate, vivante comme s'il la créait à ce moment-même. Merci !

[@carloscarballo7495]

tu as raison mon ami, Wilhelm Kempff est unique.

[@andrewjohnthorpe1462]

A wonderful performance. i saw Kempff play the Appassionata in 1974 in London and four more Beethoven sonatas in 1975.

[@christopherczajasager9030]

Hope you heard it, too

[@bedenerexhepaj293]

Superb styling!!!! Thank you!!!

[@MrGer2295]

Awesome ! Thank you for posting :)

[@tomazzlebnik5127]

Kempff... who knows why? ... is Beethoven, full Beethoven... piano Beethoven.. thank You for this audio - video!

[@marieroth3940]

My favourite rendition of Beethoven's Appassionata.

[@HectorMartinez-cw4ql]

Despues de escuchar muchas versiones de las sonatas de Beethoven,particularmente las mas populares como esta ,la 8 o la 32 uno concluye,como un diletante de la musica, que los entendidos tienen razon...sin lugar a dudas Kempff fue uno de los mejores interpretes de Beethoven del siglo 20.

[@terryp3034]

You may be un diletante, but you are right!

[@terryp3034]

You may be un diletante, but you are right!

[@Otilia-by4nc]

The best performance. Thank you for posting!

[@MusicalMaryFly]

Otilia 1246 expert !

[@uzziadriano7017]

MusicalMaryFly

[@uzziadriano7017]

Uzzi Adriano : best recording of 60's.

[@Otilia-by4nc]

(y)

[@FishHONtopBiz]

My only sorrow is thinking that with all the tech and artists and music of today, that many people will have lived on there lives. Never to hear the man Beethoven beyond fur Elise, Mozart beyond twinkle little star, Bach beyond the toccata fugue ringtone. To ever know great interpreters such as Kempff, Rubinstein, Barenboim etc. that spent there lives reproducing the most heartfelt music this world will ever know(classical music). Everyone deserves from time to time to stop there lives for 20 minutes and listen to a musical piece that takes them to a place far beyond the sound that comes out of a speaker. But many won’t anymore. This video has under 200k views in its DECADE of being here. :’( Must we be so fortunate? Thank-full at the least.

[@jihyunkim5948]

He is my favourite Beethoven pianist :)

[@ramonchan9732]

I believe he is the best Beethoven interpreter.

[@saulebatalova7812]

Превосходное исполнение! Brilliance!

[@chrispiazza9544]

the breathtaking.

[@noapology88]

I imagine Beethoven listening to this masterpiece played by W Kempff on a modern piano. I know, he lost his hearing, but even to be able to feel the vibrations would maybe been enough.

[@innocenzobarrera1505]

Un'esecuzione così puntuale, rarissimo ascoltarla ! ! !

[@miguelmunoz383]

Perfect timing in the final movement!!! Like a tragic Bach

[@ardarico]

The way he plays the 3rd movement is astonishing! Best rendition ever, I think.

[@MusicalMaryFly]

what great interpretation !

[@lars9168]

You are 6 years older now

[@michel6]

I won't reconsider my comment, simply because I can not see a possible better version for this composition.

[@tsaihengmao7197]

Life in all its fullness

[@arturozeballos1]

Sobrio, Refinado y con una pasión que pocos pueden interpretar

[@michel6]

I completely agree. I use Kempff like my gold standard to evaluate any other person on Earth who dares do play anything regarding Beethoven. He is so sentimental, austere, germanic. It's hard to find words. Too bad he is not as famous as the more merchandised jewish pianists.

[@michaeltraub3614]

Did he collaborate with the Nazis?

[@thebigstink7472]

@@michaeltraub3614I believe he played for them on occasion. Probably why he isn’t as popular. Never really heard too much fuss about it until recently.

[@MalisandreFeline]

Immense ,génial sublime!

[@sheldonbazinga3985]

Wilhelm Kempff, me fait rêver. Malgré une prise de son qui peut faire friser les tympans par moments, il dépeint Beethoven (ou l'idée qu'on s'en fait) avant même de jouer sa musique. A l'entendre on n'a pas l'impression que ce soit un pianiste du XXe siècle qui est assis au piano, mais le compositeur lui-même...Il joue comme si c'était lui qui avait composé cette sonate. En même temps et encore une fois bénéficiait il de par sa situation géographique, de par sa naissance et son âge, de la juste et pas si ancienne tradition, ou d'un bouche-à-oreille avisé de personnes ayant connu Beethoven. Après tout, Beethoven décédant en 1827 et Kempff naissant en 1895...Le trait d'union entre eux deux n'est pas si lointain...En tous cas nombreux sont ceux qui ont pu lui transmettre le véritable goût et la manière du grand maître.

[@carloscarballo7495]

Besides being one of the best pianists of all time, he is a good composer and knows how to transcribe works, something that other pianists do not know.

[@platform84]

wtf!!!! this is amazing!!!!

[@nikianddaphne9318]

this old man happens to have been charachterised as the poet of piano .

[@daniloogrisek8246]

Eccezionale. Molto più granitico delle altre registrazioni

[@adambennett7893]

Wonderful

[@naksatrabailung1520]

Classics are the BEST

[@olgashcherbakova8742]

Great !!!!!

[@RolandKarlBryce]

So, in 1948? The Columbia record launched into Vinyl LP records. Mr Kempff had already recorded the entire cycle of the piano sonatas on 78’s prior to this. We are hearing an older man’s hands here: by the time the Beethoven edition in 1970 released by DG? Much of Herr Kempff’s concert career had been achieved. He also composed his own very fine music, and conducted etc etc. So what if a few notes are touched on the way through a passionate phrase? Clarity of line, dynamic faithfulness, rhythmic impulse: its all in the Kempff recordings. The pinao never boasts and his staccato/detaché is wonderful.

[@frankjaeger227]

Schöne Widmung auf der Postkarte: Für meine liebe Idil (Biret) …

[@noapology88]

I liked Artur Ruberstein's version... until I heard this. But this..this.

[@Angela970614]

I love too much the second movement.

[@1PapaElk]

Ang ela I love to hear the second movement too. Beethoven had strong and turbulent emotions,, lightning and thunder, and the storm, but then, a spiritual peace comes through that melts the heart and fixes your heart with the music.

[@floppy303]

+1PapaElk This piece is brilliance--and also seemingly exposes Beethoven's inner workings. Would love to go back in time and ask Freud to analyze the man through this music.

[@JoanTurull]

Música que surt de l'ànima i arriba a l'ànima!

[@richardkell4888]

I just love that intro ...

[@rudolfgolezpianist4322]

Impassioned! Not passionate! He's not a millenial. He's a one in million!

[@user-zr5pb9cm1p]

No, mate. He is the one. There is no other one, just him.

[@howies.2545]

I enjoy the slower tempo in the 3rd movement, Allegro ma non troppo. The notes are very clear when the tempo is slightly on the slower side in my opinion.

[@alexismandelias]

Agree, but at some points it is just too slow for the melody to sound nice

[@TSK24692]

@@alexismandelias I prefer the slow tempo... I guess I'm getting old. lol. I grew up listening to the DG Bicenntennial recordings of Beethoven's sonatas (performed by Kempff) and back then I thought he played them too slow. Now, the challenge for me is to find a recording with the slower tempo that I prefer! lol

[@marieroth3940]

I have had numerous CDs of his recording of Moonlight, Appassionata and Pathetique but they are jinxed they all get mysteriously damaged. I would love to get another undamaged CD could anyone tell me where?

[@brianrussel6012]

(guest) I've been comparing performances of the Appassionata recently, after seeing the fascinating Masterclass, Daniel Baremboim advising Lang-Lang : I can really recommended it, to understand nuances that make it more compelling / rewarding to listen to. One of my favourite works is : J. S. Bach's "Goldberg" Variations : over nearly 40 years of hearing many performances, Wilhelm Kempff remains my favourite, his interpretation prompted me to get the 🎼music 🎼and learn the 8 easier ones!😊! ..... Still seeking Martha Argerich and Mitsuko Uchida , and of course the amazing Lang-Lang... Endless interest in the sublime world of classical music... Many thanks for so much being available here on KZbin. 🎼😊🎼🇬🇧🎼😊🎼

[@keithhulks7049]

Lang-Lang is far too showy for my taste

[@sophiecarolinaabend3284]

9:46 15:38

[@markswanson549]

Interesting 3rd movement.

[@mangoelb]

divino!

[@professorshermanpeabody1237]

Most of my recordings are by Serkin but Kempf's interpretation of the D minor is staggering.

[@rosinabragi1150]

Best pleing.I cray.

[@patty1127]

very pretty

[@noname-2175]

Ein poet am klavier...

[@sciyoussef]

Do you know what Lenin said about Beethoven’s Appassionata? "If I keep listening to it I won’t finish the Revolution." Can anyone who has heard this music, I mean truly heard it, really be a bad person? ــــ The Lives of Others

[@LouieBeethoven]

Yeah, Hitler and Alex in Clockwork Orange, to name two.

[@LiradeTerpsichore]

What a pity he didn't keep listening !!!!!!!

[@donaldrichardson9132]

The piano action Beethoven composed this sonata could accomodate this tempo?

[@user-sw2ck1xl2t]

베토벤과 빌헬름 켐프는 나의 삶에서 한 부분을 차지한다. 삶에서 자극을 받고싶고, 신선함을 느끼고 싶을때 베토벤곡을 듣는다. 아울러 시간이 되면 바흐곡도! 베토벤 곡을 들으면 머리가 천재라는 게 느껴지고, 고맙다. 열심히 살아주어서. 누군가 베토벤을 루저라 애기하던데 만약 루저라면 이러한 휼륭한 곡을 만들수 있나요! 난 베토벤은 행복을 느꼈고 인생에서 만족을 가졌다고 생각한다. 나에게 베토벤과의 만남은 행복 그 자체다!

[@lars9168]

15:43 favorite part beginns

[@LiradeTerpsichore]

Yes it is possible to like this & be a bad person. Or better said: to have turned bad, and do evil, have no compassion, etc We had learnt that from the Nazis... Or have the wrong spiritual ideas, by which GOOD SOCIAL IDEAS END UP IN CREATING THE REVERSE. I agree that it is the Go(o)d in a person which likes this. But that is not enough :) as we can see from the world which surrounds us. Beauty being indispensable & a stair to/from God from which Goodness comes, doesn't mean that it is enough.

[@brianrussel6012]

The year of this recording might be 1975? Written on the score... 44 years ago.... Beautiful music, amazing for the time Beethoven wrote it.... 🎼😊🎼😊🎼😊🎼🇬🇧❤.

[@keithhulks7049]

The recordig actually dates from 1960 when Kempff was 65

[@LouieBeethoven]

Third movement is missing the OOOOOMPH. I'm not opposed to slowing the movement down. However, it's not passionate.

[@jonathanpunla8312]

Currently listening to various versions - which one do you recommend?

[@leonardoiglesias2394]

Thrills don woik

[@s1earle]

O well perhaps you need to broaden your listening and interpretation techniques - yes, music performance is very personal and what one listener likes might be scorned by another: To me early Horowitz is good however his later performances disguised all by loudness with banging the keys...

[@pchk1]

Of course, Lenin himself.

[@MusicalMaryFly]

(Y)

[@daniloogrisek8246]

Ma è lui?

[@MrWilhelm76]

Wilhelm Kempff said : well the nazies can paint as many swastikas in front of this Piece of Music as they want...they will never be able to play it !!!!!! THIS IS GERMANY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@DavidTheRoss]

True, he did :P Although he was referring to the Waldstein sonata (No. 21)

[@carloscarballo7495]

Wilhelm Kempff is on the piano what Andrés Segovia is on the guitar ... unique.

[@TheOne7777777777]

you have no idea what you are talking about....this is not the best appassionata's performance but, for moonlight and tempest sonata i would always go with him(especially the 3rd movement),for Pathetique i would go with Horowitz and for the Appassionata no one came close to Arrau(not even Richter,although i like his performance too)...Kempff is the most virtuosismo pianist i ever heard...there is no best performer for all the sonatas,maybe beethoven himself.

[@s1earle]

Don't bother because I have listened to all; Kempff is the slackest of the many Beethoven sonata recordings available. Perhaps he never lacked the technique for virtuosity however his Schubert is exceptionally fine... His Liszt is lightweight against other titans providing compelling proof to my claim that he never excelled in virtuosic pieces.

[@aachoocrony5754]

seems generally speaking pianists don't appreciate Kempff's Beethoven as much as non-pianists.

[@MrInterestingthings]

This is the one ! I've ignored Kempff too long and the younger English Freddy Kempf seems to have disappeared . AnnieFischer in this (too much nervosity not ideally balanced by rapture and logic as Kempff (she's too much fingers not enough music for me ) ,Backhaus,Arrau .Did dat crazyYudina ever record this . It's got her name on it .Her last Schubert Sonata should be broadcast from churches ! Need to hear Brendel in this . Lupu's op.53 is also the one . Pletnev .No! His early Bach was his purest moment put him in the open air box with Pogorelich . The American pianist Perahia in this ! Some not very very famous pianists also Roger that teacher from up north and da famous American Beethiovenian . I can't believe tinnytiny Maria Pletnev won a Beethoven contest ! She makes the earth stand still but can she summon demons like Volodos and Solomon in this ? Clifford Curzon !!!

[@vivianleung5201]

Have you watched Pollini's version. Go check and I think you may reconsider your comment.

[@lars9168]

I feel like modern pianists play to impress the audience instead of trying to make the best interpretation they can... A shame

[@Bruce88keys]

academic at best

[@user-hj6oe8xg9i]

Очень нравится звук, но не хватает темпа и мощи. По сравнению с Рихтером или Мацуевым, или с Гилельсом - ну никак не заходит...

[@tt-wz1ih]

Руслан It might be possible just to compare with Richter or Gilels in terms of performance class, but definitely not with Mazuev

[@gingerdurbin1412]

I don't understand why people(including my daughter) count this as one of their favorites. It goes nowhere.

[@mitsoukoguerlain849]

What's your favourite?

[@MusikPiratCH]

I don't like Kempff at Beethoven! For me he plays it rather strange. Just compare with Solomon's structural play of the Appassionata! Perhaps you realize what I'm trying to tell. Brendel, Fischer, Backhaus and Art(h)ur Rubinstein are also much better!

[@MusikPiratCH]

With Friedrich Gulda I agree. I'm not convinced by Barenboim or Richter when it comes to Beethoven ... ;(

[@MusikPiratCH]

I don't like both Barenboim and Richter for the Appassionata. The other pianists I mentioned I find much better. So everybody has his own taste.

[@MusikPiratCH]

None of them, except Buchbinder!, Backhaus would be an alternative! Yes, tastes are very different.

[@1PapaElk]

MusikPiratCH this is an interesting line of conversation. You think Brendel is better than Kempff eh? Everyone has their tastes. Not for me. I will have to listen to Solomon and Backhaus. Fischer is a good point. I like Rubinstein but more in Chopin.

[@MusikPiratCH]

+1PapaElk Yes. for my taste Brendel is clearly better than Kempff. I really don't like Kempff at Beethoven (he is better at Schumann). You should really listen to Rubinstein's Appassionata - a true tresor! Brendel in his last years of concerting played all Beethoven Sonatas. Friedrich Gulda made one of the best complete recordings (because Solomon could not finish his)! *sad enough*

[@inraid]

horrible and ridiculous!

[@pianotreasures]

+inraid Sorry?

[@monterano]

I don't know if you are......horrible but, definitively, you are ridiculous !!

[@rizwanrahmani5430]

Inraid is at least aurally/musically challenged!