Pianist Friedrich Gulda's [1930-2000] reputation has gained more popularity than when he was alive! You either like him or you don't. Fortunately, I do, most of the time. His pianistic career was not only classical music, but jazz. During his lifetime, he was appreciated by a huge audience and now, because of recordings, his name looms larger than ever.
Orfeo of Munich has just issued another set [C 808 109 L, 9 CDs, mono] of Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas with Gulda, recorded in 1953 and 1954 in mono sound. This set represents the pianist's first recorded traversal of the 32. The set also includes the Eroica Variations, Op. 35, the Diabelli Variations, Op. 120, and Six Bagatelles, Op. 125, recorded in 1957 and spread over nine CDs in mono sound. These are largely radio studio recordings and spot-checking the sound finds them to be excellent.
Decca issued all 32 Beethoven sonatas [475 6835] on 11 CDs, which represent the pianist's second complete traversal, recorded between 1954 and 1958 but didn't release them for the first time on LP until 1973. This CD set also includes Gulda's collaboration with violinist Ruggiero Ricci in Beethoven's Violin Sonatas Nos. 7 and 10; the Eroica Variations and other solo pieces, and the Beethoven Piano Concerto #1 in C Major with the VPO under Karl Böhm.
Amadeo recorded all 32 sonatas as an integral set for the third time in July 1967 and issued them on LP in 1968. This set allegedly was purported to be the pianist's "final word" on Beethoven's 32. They were subsequently reissued on the Brilliant Classics label [92773, 9 CDs]. I believe Gulda used a Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano for these original Austrian Amadeo recordings.
Now, you can take your pick of three sets, or acquire all three sets! Just in these three sets you will have enough Beethoven to last a lifetime! I have not yet had an opportunity to pick a few sonatas and A/B/C compare them, but I have enjoyed and learned much about interpretation in the Decca and Brilliant sets. It will be an interesting experiment now to hear these Orfeo recordings for comparison. Aside from all this, I am very pleased the Friedrich Gulda's name is beginning to be heard more and more since his passing in year 2000. He would be pleased, too, I'm sure.
It would also be interesting to hear what listeners think about Gulda's Beethoven sonatas regardless of which (or all) the sets you may have. ♪
