Search - L.V. Beethoven :: Diabelli Variations Piano Sons

Simply divine playing by Werner Haas

Mete Ibanoglu | Ankara, Turkey | 03/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I know what a lot of people will think when they see this set from a label called "Concerto Royale" (I had not heard of the myself): "There is DG, Philips, Decca and they provide the best intrepretations and technical qualites, why should I waste money on this?" Apart from being extremly cheap for three CDs, this set contains the most beautiful recordings of Beethoven's 8th, 14th and 23rd sonatas. These things are generally are really objective, and you generally like the one you listened to the best. But then, there are those times when you stumble upon a record that becomes the yardstick with which you compare other interpretations.



I bought this CD a long time ago, when I was searching frantically for a recording of the 14th on CD. I stumbled upon this and the price was just right and bought it. Upon first hearing these pieces I was just speechless. Werner Haas is one of the less known pianists but there isn't any other soul who can play these three sonatas as beutiful as him. I have Arrau's Beethoven Complete Sonatas and Concertos set from Philips and still put this CD on when I want to listen to the moonlight or apassionata.



All of the pieces are played with extreme musicianship, if I were to describe with only one word : Water. The notes stream as water streams on a smooth table.



This set is worth a lot more than 7 dollars, I could give a lot more for the 2nd CD alone. Buy it, there isn't a soul on earth who won't like these..."