Very nice. Not too much to criticize for the purists, except of course that it does not sound anything close to what the instruments of Mozart’s time sounded like and the tuning is considerably higher than it probably was in the 18th century.
Well, now that’s more like it. Barenboim’s version represents a vast improvement to this listener’s ears, as compared with the much more idiosyncratic interpretations of Lang Lang and Glenn Gould.
He is without a doubt a first-rate pianist and a marvelous musician. In a competition, his interpretation would almost certainly beat the other two because it is more “correct”. His playing of the entire sonata is very lyrical and sounds almost Schubertian to my ears which for me is not at all a negative quality in and of itself. Whether it is truly an “improvement”, however, is not so obvious to me, because “idiosyncratic” (which both GG’s and LL’s versions definitely are) is not necessarily a bad thing in music. When compared with them and if being really picky, DB’s Rondo is just a little bit too bombastic in A-major episodes and somewhat bland overall. The two others are definitely located perilously close to the limits of good taste, but i personally am thrilled that i can hear and enjoy all three of them. Thank you, Tim!
Very nice. Not too much to criticize for the purists, except of course that it does not sound anything close to what the instruments of Mozart’s time sounded like and the tuning is considerably higher than it probably was in the 18th century.
In the 21st, on the other hand, image and sound should be synchronized better.
Well, now that’s more like it. Barenboim’s version represents a vast improvement to this listener’s ears, as compared with the much more idiosyncratic interpretations of Lang Lang and Glenn Gould.
He is without a doubt a first-rate pianist and a marvelous musician. In a competition, his interpretation would almost certainly beat the other two because it is more “correct”. His playing of the entire sonata is very lyrical and sounds almost Schubertian to my ears which for me is not at all a negative quality in and of itself. Whether it is truly an “improvement”, however, is not so obvious to me, because “idiosyncratic” (which both GG’s and LL’s versions definitely are) is not necessarily a bad thing in music. When compared with them and if being really picky, DB’s Rondo is just a little bit too bombastic in A-major episodes and somewhat bland overall. The two others are definitely located perilously close to the limits of good taste, but i personally am thrilled that i can hear and enjoy all three of them. Thank you, Tim!
You’re welcome. Who knew these videos would generate so much activity? Not me.