Beethoven boot camp for budding concert pianists observer. Moonlight, pathetique and appassionata sonatas and volume 2 cd80160. His sensitive, intelligent and historicallyinformed pilgrimage through the. Over the past 30 years, much scholarly research has been conducted on beethoven s correspondence and his music sketchbooks. Beethoven complete piano sonatas oconnor cd80400 ch. O conor is known by some as a pianist who is carrying on the legacy of wilhelm kampff, having recorded the complete beethoven sonatas and concertos. Ludwig van beethoven wrote his 35 piano sonatas between 1795 and 1822. The five sonatas presented here are characteristic of the classical style, to which haydn was the most important contributor and innovator, and his techniques and expressions anticipate the more dramatic features of the piano sonatas of wolfgang amadeus mozart and ludwig van beethoven. Buchbinder, john oconor, annie fischer, claude frank, richard goode, maria grinberg. This 1985 recording of irish pianist john oconor performing three of beethovens most popular sonatas was made in london using sony equipment was a typical early telarc production. Murray perahia, conductor 1st work and piano 2nd work.
This major new study of beethoven and his music is written as a single, continuous narrative, using a strictly chronological approach that enables each work to be seen against the musical and biographical background from which it emerged. Although his repertoire included bach, mozart, chopin, schumann, liszt and brahms, kempff was particularly well known for his interpretations of the music of ludwig van beethoven and franz schubert, recording the complete sonatas of both composers. Though the focus was solely on beethovens piano sonatas and concerti, the result was not an overwhelming one. Master beethoven pianist john oconor thinks he can always get. On this release, john oconor features what he does best, beethoven. The truth emerges when beethoven is turned upsidedown.
His catalog includes all of beethovens sonatas, his five piano concertos and all of the composers bagatelles short pieces, a collection that the. His sensitive, intelligent and historicallyinformed pilgrimage through the herculian pianistic mire of 32 sonatas and 5 concertos has garnered worldwide acclaim. Wilhelm walter friedrich kempff 25 november 1895 23 may 1991 was a german pianist and composer. Young pianists beethoven competition american beethoven. On this release, john o conor features what he does best, beethoven. The second number goes off like a top so fast indeed that when suddenly the music ceases and the lights go up some are stuck in their seats like carrots, their jaws working convulsively, and if you suddenly shouted in their ear brahms, beethoven, mendeleev, herzegovina, they would answer without thinking. The beethoven reference site provides detailed information on the life and times of beethoven, including picture galleries and discussion forum. John oconor is not one to get in the way of the music. But his appassionata is the worst of anyones, by far. Jun 27, 2011 oconor has a definite approach to beethoven, no matter late or early in the sonata canon. John oconor, my ireland cd after 9 records 2000 ebay. However, i kept waiting for the familiar emotions to wash over me, and they just didnt happen. Browse classical recordings available to buy in the beethoven piano sonatas series.
Usually ships in 24 hours, unless stock becomes depleted. Glenn gould, vladimir horowitz, sviatoslav richter, and rudolf serkin recorded selected sonatas, but never recorded the complete series. Audio recording, beethoven, ludwig van, not applicable. The series continues with recitals on january 31st 2005, february 28th, march 14th, april 18th and. John oconors complete set of beethoven piano sonatas is a monumental achievement.
Beethoven 32 piano sonatas series piano academic area. John oconors complete set of beethoven piano sonatas is a monumental achievement, not only for the sheer volume of music recorded, but for its coherent interpretive scope and its successful illumination of developmental aspects of beethovens everevolving style. John o conor s complete set of beethoven piano sonatas is a monumental achievement, not only for the sheer volume of music recorded, but for its coherent interpretive scope and its successful illumination of developmental aspects of beethoven s everevolving style. The teaching of john oconor is very experiential and its aim transparent. Audio recording, no linguistic content, beethoven, ludwig. The complete piano sonatas box set john oconor on allmusic 1994. Oconor is slightly more interventionist than usual in the first movement, holding back at a few points where beethoven has specifically indicated a tempo. Alfred brendel piano for many collectors in the 1960s, the budget priced vox turnabout lps of the beethoven sonatas and concertos were a revelation, and. The five sonatas presented here are characteristic of the classical style, to which haydn was the most important contributor and innovator, and his techniques and expressions anticipate the more dramatic features. Try disabling any ad blockers and refreshing this page. This is the only disc i have heard in john oconors complete series of beethovens piano sonatas for telarc.
Beethovens diabelli variations and volume one in a series of haydn sonatas. The complete piano sonatas by john oconor from amazons classical music store. John oconor performs in the beethoven piano sonata series. Beethoven 1812 when we think of the great beethoven interpreters of the twentieth and twentyfirst centuries, the name of irish pianist, john oconor, immediately springs to mind.
John oconor plays beethovens sonata pathetique, ii movement. The teaching of john o conor is very experiential and its aim transparent. His traversal of beethovens final sonatas is practically free of the hairpins and rouge that denote style. He went on to record the complete sonatas and these were issued as a box set in 1994. Oconors performance had the inwardness to play the. Program notes by nick jones and biographical notes on the performer 11 p. May 17, 2018 pianist john o conor speaks to john kelly about his extraordinary career on the latest edition of the works presents a pianist, a teacher and former director of the royal irish academy of music. Though the focus was solely on beethoven s piano sonatas and concerti, the result was not an overwhelming one. Jan 21, 2017 iconic irish piano legend john oconor celebrates his 70th birthday playing beethoven source. All of john o conor s renditions of the beethoven piano sonatas are of the highest quality and all that i have purchased have provided a wonderful listening experience. Oconor has a definite approach to beethoven, no matter late or early in the sonata canon. Recorded at sunypurchase performing arts center, theatre c on june 2729, 1995.
The result is a much closer integration of life and works than is often achieved. Oconor, john, beethoven, ludwig van piano sonatas 2. The illustrious irish pianist john oconor debuts on the steinway label with impeccable performances of five great works by franz joseph haydn. Beethovens own development is a known factor so i thought it would be interesting to follow oconors own pilgrimage. Pianist john o conor speaks to john kelly about his extraordinary career on the latest edition of the works presents a pianist, a teacher and former director of. John oconor straightforward and balanced, paul baduraskoda, and walter gieseking. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from john o conor at the discogs marketplace. After borrowing the series of beethoven sonatas played by john oconor from my local library, i was impressed by the quality of the interpretations, and i. This results in a relaxed reading of some very pithy music which yields more to a concentrated approach. The tragic story of beethovens life helped draw pianist john oconor into the. My admiration has increased with this wise and moving new biography, beethoven. Alfred brendel piano for many collectors in the 1960s, the budget priced vox turnabout lps of the beethoven sonatas and concertos were a. Oconor is known by some as a pianist who is carrying on the legacy of wilhelm kampff, having recorded the complete beethoven sonatas and concertos. In 2011 he was awarded the order of the rising sun by the emperor of japan.
Beethovens work crowned the classical period and also effectively initiated the romantic era in music. Beethoven complete piano sonatas john oconor box set. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from john oconor at the discogs marketplace. Beethoven piano sonatas series page 1 of 1 presto classical. Beethoven complete piano sonatas john oconor box set 9cds. The irish pianist john oconor is not a household name in the u.
The performance is part of an eightconcert series, which began last season, in which mr. The vanbrugh shied away from the purely chronological sequence that, for instance, john oconor has favoured when performing a cycle of the beethoven piano sonatas. This artist has the kind of flawless touch that makes an audience gasp washington post. John oconor first gained widespread attention in the usa in 1986 with the release of his first volume of beethoven sonatas on the telarc label. Although originally not intended to be a meaningful whole, as a set they compose one of the most important collections of works in the history of music. Pathetique, moonlight, waldstein catalog record electronic resource available garrick ohlsson, piano. John o conors complete set of beethoven piano sonatas is a monumental achievement. Piano sonatas volume 7 by john oconor on amazon music. He is fond of striking dynamic contrasts, quick tempi and. Beethoven sonatas pianotexas international academy. O connor is one of the best performers on the piano in our era. His technical performance of the second movement of pathetique was excellent, of course.
O conor s performance had the inwardness to play the. Who played beethoven piano sonatas the best thats easy, glenn gould. Audio recording, no linguistic content, beethoven, ludwig van. John oconor is a highly accomplished and respected pianist, one who has studied beethoven extensively. Oconor has recorded all the beethoven sonatas superbly for the telarc label next fall and spring, he plays the entire cycle in dublin, and he was able to demonstrate his points with. Beethoven, john oconor piano sonatas, volume i discogs. Recorded in maltings concert hall, snape, england, apr. John oconor and beethoven the royal conservatory of music. Beethoven specialist john oconor, whose playing has the kind of flawless. Search results from audio recording, beethoven, ludwig van. The approach works particularly well for beethoven for two reasons. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. The celebrated artistry of pianist john oconor returns to the steinway label. List of books and articles about ludwig van beethoven.
He is fond of striking dynamic contrasts, quick tempi and lots of rubato expressively changing the tempo. Ludwig van beethoven wrote his 32 piano sonatas between 1795 and 1822. Oconors performances of these sonatas as recordings of the highest calibre and beethoven playing at its best and went on to say this beethoven series. This 1985 recording of irish pianist john o conor performing three of beethoven s most popular sonatas was made in london using sony equipment was a typical early telarc production. Recorded in the coolidge auditorium of the library of congress, washington, d. Concerts from the library of congress, 20062007 season chamber music in beethovens vienna catalog record only title supplied by cataloger. The earliest sonatas are vintage gould glenn said that they were his favorite of the 32 for theorectical reasons. Best edition on the beethoven sonatas piano street. John oconor born 18 january 1947 is an irish pianist and pedagogue, and former director of. He has performed the complete sonatas of beethoven in a cycle of 8 recitals in one season on a number of occasions.
Beethovens work crowned the classical period and also effectively initiated the romantic era in. John oconor performs in the beethoven piano sonata series 200405 at the nch on monday at 8 p. He is universally recognized as one of the greatest composers of the western european music tradition. Oconor first gained widespread attention in the usa in 1986 with the release of his first volume of beethoven sonatas on the telarc label. Telarc are reissuing at midprice john oconors recordings of the beethoven piano sonatas, made in the late 1980s. Iconic irish piano legend john oconor celebrates his 70th birthday playing beethoven source. Oconor is playing all 32 of beethovens sonatas in chronological order.
695 1164 75 736 992 278 1336 67 1078 1371 137 164 1566 1317 665 837 6 1100 472 1187 362 522 1094 1044 614 1417 5 1259 1109 1606 713 882 501 1288 1031 604 1616 610 1130 174 1407 671 661 581 886 1239 892