Beethoven: 'Spring'/'Kreutzer' Sonatas etc.

On this CD:

1. Sonata for violin & piano No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 12/3
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Adolf Busch, Rudolf Serkin

2. Sonata for violin & piano No. 5 in F major ("Spring") Op. 24
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Adolf Busch, Rudolf Serkin

3. Sonata for violin & piano No. 9 in A major ("Kreutzer") Op. 47
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Adolf Busch, Rudolf Serkin

Tracks:

Son in E flat Op.12 No.3: Allegro Con Spirito
Son in E flat Op.12 No.3: Adagio Con Molt'espressione
Son in E flat Op.12 No.3: Rondo: Allegro Molto
Son in F Op.24 Spring: Allegro
Son in F Op.24 Spring: Adagio Molto Espressivo
Son in F Op.24 Spring: Scherzo (Allegro Molto) And Trio
Son in F Op.24 Spring: Rondo: Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Son No.9 in A Op.47 Kreutzer: Adagio Sostenuto/Presto
Son No.9 in A Op.47 Kreutzer: Andante Con Var
Son No.9 in A Op.47 Kreutzer: Finale: Presto

Customer Reviews:

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.......2004-11-19

This is a precious item indeed, but it's not for beginners or anyone who must have good quality sound. The 4-star rating is the best I can do to indicate that this is a record of a unique duo with a very special pedigree in the interpretation of Beethoven. It sounds to me as if they are at their formidable best. The rhythmic command is such as nothing can disguise, quite a lot comes through of the marvellous phrasing, the players' technical magnificence is is obvious, and the whole disc just exudes authority. If you know these players, your imagination will fill in much of the deficiency of the recording. There is no point in trying to compare a historic reissue like this with any modern versions, but as I have the Kreuzer done by Kulenkampff and Solti (yes, that Solti) I spun their version just to get some focus on Busch and Serkin. K and S are top-class, it almost goes without saying, and the general approach taken by both duos is not all that different. However I could not help sighing when the recorded sound of Busch and Serkin had the greatest difficulty in coping with them -- when Serkin leads off the great striding theme in the first movement. My imagination was having to compensate in a big way, but I bet that must have been a real experience to hear live, something extra-special.

In keeping with the ideas of the time, the violin is in the foreground, and the piano is treated as 'accompaniment' in spite of these sonatas being described as for piano and violin, not the other way about. Our technology has come a long way, our musical culture and understanding of the composer has advanced, not least as a result of the efforts of Busch and his modest son-in-law, but some artists can never be replaced. Be thankful to get anything you can of them.

a fan of classic music.......2004-02-23

The music is beautiful, but the recordig quality was so bad. I would not recommend buying it because of quality.

It's Getting More and More Attractive.......2003-03-07

Busch's playing might sound a little old-fashioned at first hearing-- like Horszowski he needs to to be digested, but once you have got over it, it'll become your standard.

He is unlike Menuhin or Thibaud who could with a few notes capture you, nor Huberman or Heifetz who could knock you out, nor was he as easy listening as Oistrakh. Very broadly speaking, he reminds us more of Zimbalist or even Auer. Busch/Serkin were pioneers in playing chamber music and the collaboration of the two was just wonderful and particularly their Schubert's Fantasy.

Serkin's is somewhere between Hofmann and Horowitz. But he was serious and scholarly, never flamboyant. There is a rumour that Serkin was keen to learn the sercret of Horowitz. That might be so, since Serkin was so dedicated. But the fact is, Horowitz had more, as far as music ( particularly chamber music ) is concerned, to learn from Serkin. Of course, showmanship is another matter.

There is also a more affordable Naxos of 1941 recordings which comes with Beetoven No 3 recorded in 1931, but the transfer is not quite as good.

The Legendary Recording from Two Giants.......2000-08-28

I don't have to explain about the violin sonatas in the album because you know already about them very much. But I have to tell you how beautiful, profound and warm the performance is. The album was recorded from the legendary Busch/Serkin Duo in 1933. You can feel the same things the genius composer, who lost the ability to listen, felt. The Duo expressed the things Beethoven felt and thought perfectly. Also, you can feel the loneliness and love of Beethoven through the album. The happiest thing is to listen warm and deep performance which you cannot feel from any other album. The album would bring to you the nostalgia for something.

Music Track:

Music Track

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