Claudio Arrau: Beethoven Piano Sonatas

This two DVD set features pianist Claudio Arrau performing eight Beethoven sonatas at Bonn's prestigious Beethovenfest in 1970, the composer's bicentenary, and 1977. I'll keep my comments to a minimum here and say that these performances are among the most powerful I've heard from this great Beethoven pianist - and this includes the many times I heard him in recital from the early 1970's through the 1980's.While the producers elected to open the set with the 1977 Beethovenfest recordings (op. 53 "Waldstein," op. 2 no. 3 and op. 111), perhaps because they're in color, I'll comment first on the second disc which is from the more significant 1970 Festival (recorded in black & white, but in no way inferior from a video or sonic perspective). Arrau was 67 at the time and in top form; and there is only one word that begins to convey the performances of the five sonatas he covers (op. 27 no 1, op. 109, op. 57, op. 27 no. 2, and op 81a): and that is "gigantic." From the opening bars of the 13th sonata ("quasi una fantasia"), Arrau displays incredible energy and absolute authority that carry straight through to the Les Adieux, which closes the program. There's an aggressiveness to his attack combined with complete keyboard mastery that's simply thrilling to watch. Just watch him throw his hands at the keys during the Appassionata -- amazing. Arrau's immersion in the music is total and his expressiveness second to none, while tremendous dramatic energy is generated from the keyboard in controlled waves of sound. Nothing is overlooked yet nothing is overstated. So overwhelming is the impression made here that it's my opinion that not one of these five sonata performances, which bear the imprint of true creative genius, is anything less than definitive. This is the Arrau that is often missing from his more restrained studio sessions from the same period; and while the recording is in mono, it's one of the best I've heard at capturing the full weight of the pianist's organ-like sound.The first disc opens with an outstanding performance of the Waldstein, showing Arrau at 74 still projecting the heft that began to fade in his final performing years. A comparison between this reading and the 80th birthday concert is illustrative ( Claudio Arrau, The 80th Birthday Recital - Recorded Live at Avery Fisher Hall, New York City [VHS ]) - by then, Arrau's approach had become lighter and his technique, while still very much intact, was nevertheless scaled back (e.g., compare the octave glissandos in the Waldstein's finale). The early op. 2. no. 3, another Arrau specialty, receives a gorgeous performance - just listen to the magical bubbles of sound he creates out of the notes in the finale. The only performance that's not quite up to the super-human quality of the other seven in this set is the op. 111 sonata - and while it's excellent, it suffers in comparison to Arrau's majestic 1970 recording:  Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Carnaval Op. 9 & Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor / Arrau . Surprisingly it is the Arietta, with its metaphysical dimension that Arrau uniquely grasps, that's taken just a little too quickly here.For those who have always wondered, why Arrau? this two-disc set is the answer. For those who already know, this set is a fabulous document of the great pianist at his titanic best.

One of the greatest honors for any pianist was to be invited to perform at the 1970 Beethovenfest in Bonn,Germany.It was a special year,celebrating the 200th anniversary of Beethoven'sbirth ( In Bonn,of course ) .W.Kempff,F.Gulda and C.Arrau were among thehandful of great Beethoven performers invited to play hispiano sonatas.Finally,more than 40 years later,we can experiance some of the solemmnity and excitement of the event.Itcaptures Arrau at the peak of his interpretative gifts and his technique in awesome shape. Theblack and white, made for TV video,is of much better quality than other Arrau videos, for EMI ( Schumann,Beethoven from 1964 and also 1970)or VAI ( Mozart,Beethoven forthe Canadian TV in 1964). This 2 DVD pack also offers Arrau in a 1977 Beethovenfest recital (color video) with 3 sonatas ( Op.53,Op.2,No.3,Op.111),wich unfortunately ommits the Op.35 Variations ( "Eroica").The quality of the video and sound are optimal.The novelty is the Op.2,No.3.The Op.111 is better performed in other Arrau videos ( VAI 1964,EMI 1970 )The total content includes 8 sonatas,wich were Arrau's most performed ones in the later years of his career along with the Op.10,No.3 ( The seventh Sonata),wich is available on a Kultur VHS,recorded in Chile in 1984.Obviouly thefive sonatas offered in the 1970 recital are probably the best Arrau performances ever available on any video format and are a "must have".So,grab it without hesitation to learn how a master live performance materializeswithout second takes nor editings.For the non-Arrau enthusiasts,it may explain his legendary and long-lasting fame

What can I say the other reviewers didn't? When I saw this on Amazon, I clicked the buy button immediately.This long awaited release finally makes justice to a monumental piece of art. It seems that some Arrau's Liszt footage will be released if it is going to be profitable; this is the world we live in, we must speak with our dollars.A note for European users, the DVDs I received are region 0 (worldwide), so you shouldn't have problem.

In this video, the great Claudio Arrau provides the blood and tears,and the cameramen...the sweat.This producer and his cameramen may well be considered among the most inept ever: short and dumb takes of the hands, long and painful takes of mr. Arrau's face ( sweating his heart out).The presentation, stating that we are offered the pleasure to see Arrau as in a concert hall is really obnoxious:this video sometimes looks like A TOTAL LACK OF RESPECT tomards the artist.The close-ups are particularly humid and mean.Otherwise,close your eyes and enjoy a masterful performance.

Excellent!!!!!!

I bought Claudio Arrau after watching him playing on Youtube and reading some good reviews about him. The beauty of Beethoven Pno music throught Claudio Arrau is so deep that I hardly find a word to describe it. We have 2 DVD recorded in 1970 and 1977 (one black and one in colour) with eight Sonatas (some with all 3mvts). I like all. Since I bought( less than 5 weeks), I already listen the 2 DVD 3 times. To really appreciate this music you will need to be concentred. Now let Claudio Arrua music given ride to your imagination and awake all your deepest feeling.Buy it and you will like it.

Quel plaisir de retrouver en images la musique de Beethoven que nous connaissions en sons uniquement ......C.ARRAU était vraiment un immense "musicien" bien avant d'être un immense "pianiste" ,les enregistrements du Festival Beethoven de Bonn ,pris sur le vif nous restituent la pureté et la vérité d'interprétation "du concert". Mêmes si les petites imperfections techniques (l'homme n'est pas une machine .....même C.ARRAU°) absentes bien sûr sur le disque nous font parfois déconcentrer légèrement,l'inspiration au plus haut niveau reste bien présente.....pour preuve le silence impressionnant du public Allemand ......les toux et autres bruits sont réservés aux (courts) intervalles entre les mouvements de sonate,ce qui est extrèmement rare...!Autrement dit ,il FAUT posséder ce DVD si l'on aime Beethoven et C.ARRAU, de plus les images restent belles et de bonne qualité ,surtout lorsque l'on songe qu'elles ont été tournées en 70 et 77 ....... UN IMMENSE MOMENT DE MUSIQUE.

Pas facile pour les pianistes d'aujourd'hui de faire mieux ou même seulement aussi bien que Claudio Arrau lorsqu'il s'agit des dernières sonates de Beethoven. Il revient presque en vrai grâce au dvd et c'est un bonheur de l'entendre et de le revoir à la fois.

Io penso che qui ci troviamo di fronte ad una delle interpretazioni più straordinarie ed eccelse delle sonate Beethoveniane: intensità , profondità , partecipazione, il tutto come rare volte ci e' dato di ascoltare e vedere, in poche e semplici parole, grandezza, grandezza!!Semplicemente irrinunciabile.