I was skeptical when robodoc raved about Andras Schiff's recording of the Pathetique. I bought the CD, and the Pathetique is good, but did not seem vastly better than other versions I had heard - just different. In fact it even had a slightly annoying bit where he adds a slight fermata to some chords where everyone else plays in strict tempo.

But a couple of days ago finally got around to listening properly to the three Op 10 sonatas on the same disk.

Wow! I had never been especially fond of those three. They had always struck me as amongst the weaker of Beethoven's sonatas. I was wrong. It was just that none of the recordings I had heard before did them justice. (and that includes Schnabel, Arrau, Barenboim, Brautigam, Perl, Taub, ... and many, many others)

They are absolutely wonderful. In a different class. Schiff really understands what Beethoven wanted.

Trouble is that, although I have 4 complete sets of the sonatas on CD, and lots of recordings of smaller selections, now I need ( ) to buy the other 6 CDs in Schiff's set - at not far short of 100 pounds for the lot

Oh dear Tom now I'm going to be tempted too. I haven't heard Schiff play Beethoven, though he is brilliant at Schubert , nearly as good as Brendel. I play the Op10 Sonatas a lot- Ok they are among the easier ones , but they are still fine Sonatas. I nearly have no 1 and 2 memorised, but I have been playing them since my ALCM in 1963 !

Thats interesting.

What was so different about his readings Mad Tom which causes you to find them so attractive?

For a start there is huge contrast and variety of touch, from ultra smooth legato to extreme almost-Prokofievan, trumpety staccato. Then there are thevariations in dynamics, both subtle and gross. But always meticulously obeying Beethoven's markings. He finds the lines and shows you thematic occurences and connections that you never suspected. He creates marvellous pianistic effects from ornaments and cadenzas that sound dead from others. His articulation is stunningly clear. His choice of tempi seem spot on (at least on this disc - I hear that his "Moonlight" is contentious).

But if I really knew what he was doing and how he did it, then I'd be out there doing it myself.

I guess you might be interested in this site, MT. I am ashamed to say I still have to investigate the site, but I would be prepared to bet that there are some fantastic insights to be gained from a study of it.

http://music.guardian.co.uk/classical/page...1943867,00.html

BTW. I think AS is one of the most musical pianists in existence.