Schiff, Perenyi: Beethoven – Complete Music for Piano and Violoncello (2 CD, FLAC)

Performer: Andras Schiff, Miklos Perenyi
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Ecm Records
Size: 536 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

# Sonata for cello & piano No. 1 in F major, Op. 5/1
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Miklos Perenyi, Andras Schiff

# Variations for cello & piano in G major on Handel’s “See, the Conqu’ring Hero comes,” WoO 45
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Miklos Perenyi, Andras Schiff

# Sonata for cello & piano No. 2 in G minor, Op. 5/2
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Miklos Perenyi, Andras Schiff

# Sonata for horn & piano in F major, Op. 17
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Miklos Perenyi, Andras Schiff

# Variations for cello & piano in F major on Mozart’s “Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen,” Op. 66
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Miklos Perenyi, Andras Schiff

# Sonata for cello & piano No. 3 in A major, Op. 69
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Miklos Perenyi, Andras Schiff

# Variations for cello & piano in E flat major on Mozart’s “Bei Männern,” WoO 46
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Miklos Perenyi, Andras Schiff

# Sonata for cello & piano No. 4 in C major, Op. 102/1
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Miklos Perenyi, Andras Schiff

# Sonata for cello & piano No. 5 in D major, Op. 102/2
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Miklos Perenyi, Andras Schiff

Disc: 1
1. Allegro moderato
2. Poco adagio quasi andante
3. Rondo (Allegro moderato)
4. Variations on “See the conquering hero comes” for Cello and Piano, WoO 45

Disc: 2
1. Allegro con brio
2. Adagio con molto sentimento d’affetto
3. Allegro – Allegro fugato
4. Allegro vivace
5. Variations on “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen”, for Cello and Piano, WoO 46
6. Variations on “Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen” for Cello and Piano, Op. 66

A nice set that breaks no new ground and entertains

This new contribution to the Beethoven piano-cello diskography is a worthy entrant by a couple Hungarians widely known in classical music circles. Andras Schiff needs no introduction for any piano afficianado and Miklos Perenyi is a first rate cellist who may not have as many recordings as the average big name cellist.

Perenyi (appparently pronounced pear-Yen-skyi) — who was a student of Casals — first came to my attention in a film about the life of Franz Josef Haydn. The film followed Haydn’s life in the Esterhazy years and featured many performances by the Austro-Hungarian Symphony and soloists including Perenyi, who was filmed playing the finale of one of the cello concertos.

That led me to purchase Perenyi’s version of the two Haydn concertos, which was then available on the ultra-cheap Laserlight label. His performances were remarkable and compared to any current or past player. The work of the Franz Lizst Chamber Orchestra that supported him was scrappy but did nothing to diminish his outstanding playing. Perenyi also recorded the Beethoven cello-piano sonatas once previously on the Hungaraton label.

Perenyi’s playing is virtuosic, concentrated and distinguished by many of the same behaviors as Rostropovich — the bottom lip stuck out, eyes closed, chin and nose up with mind intensely focused on the musical messaging. This type of playing is quite a contrast to classical pop star Yo Yo Ma, who smiles all the way through every performance maintaining eye contact with the audience.

Imagine my surprise when I found Perenyi’s playing to be much friendlier and more intimate in this music, which is rarely identified with intimacy even though it is chamber music for two players. Schiff is a rhapsodic partner, for the most part, acting as romantic foil to Perenyi’s straight man in this collection, which alleges to be all of Beethoven’s music for this combination of instruments.

I have owned a fair number of sets of this music over the years including a couple of the critics’ and public’s favorites — the Richter-Rostropovich collaboartion on Philips and the period set by Jos van Immerseel and Anner Bylsma. The latter has probably been my favorite among all the integral sets I’ve owned. This set includes more music than any of those.

One significant downside to this production is its packaging. There are notes in several langauges that talk about the performers and the music. But for the first time in my experience collecting classical LPs, reel to reel tapes, cassettes and CDs, there is not a single track listing — or listing of the order of the music of any kind — on the outside of the box.

There is a track listing of all the music on a couple inside facing pages of the booklet but it is organized differently than anything I’ve ever seen in this music. And there is no listing on those pages of which music is on which disk, putting a beginner buying this music at something of a disadvantage.

This may be insignificant but it’s also inconvenient, especially if you are listening to the music in the car. I cannot remember a single cassette or CD I’ve ever owned that I played in the car where I ran into this issue.

There’s also not much to be said for the artistry on display in this package, which is remarkably similar to the Beatles “white” album. There are a lot of white pages with text but no art or photography. The cover art appears to be some brown clouds floating by the sea of white. I’ve never judged the book by its cover but this is quite a departure from the norm in full priced classical music.

Aside from these blemishes, this is a highly muscial and respectable offering that is shipshape is all respects. It is very worthy of your attention if you seek this collection or if you enjoy these performers.

I read a critic who said this music has no agenda, meaning it is played straight and without undue personal affectation (take that, Richter and Rostropovich!) So if you like players that are also highly personal interpreters, you may find this set a bit straight laced. Everyone else should enjoy it.