Audition: Beethoven Op. 106 Hammerklavier, Friedrich Gulda,
Friedrich Gulda (19.5.30 - 27.01.00) Gulda recorded the Hammerklavier sonata when he was 31, on the 19th of May in the Musikverein in Vienna. This was part of a cycle of the Beethoven Sonata is by Decca. At the time he dwelt in the world of post war "old school greats" many of whom will be in this series. These were fabulous pianists with ferocious reputations, young blood and wise old school Beethovenians with credibility on record and in concert. His technique was seldom in question in the classical field envied, but I think he spread himself too thin as he drifted in his late years more towards jazz and experimental music. He excelled in Mozart, Bach, Beethoven and Chopin, Ravel and Debussy The piano recordings especially in big works like the Hammerklavier require a lot from the player and even more from the sound engineers. This Decca recording (now available on Phillips) was in the early 60s and one would expect great sound. But this recording has a significant p...
