Notes and Editorial Reviews

Here we have all of the solo and concerted stereo Beethoven repertoire featuring Rudolf Serkin released by Sony Classical, gathered together in an 11-disc budget boxed set. It does not include mono Beethoven items that Serkin remade in stereo. However, Serkin's great mono-only Diabelli Variations is present, along with alternative live Marlboro Festival recordings of the Fourth concerto and the Choral Fantasy, plus two stereo versions of the Op. 110 sonata (one from 1971, the other a posthumously released 1960 recording).

The gaunt intensity, nervous energy, tensile strength, and textual rectitude that Serkin brought to Beethoven influenced several generations of pianists, particularly in America. You especially perceive these qualities throughout the aforementioned Diabellis, the Third and Fifth concertos' outer movements, the early sonatas' finales, the "Pathétique" first movement (Serkin was the first major pianist on disc to extend the exposition repeat back to the start of the long introduction), Op. 111's combative Allegro, and the "Hammerklavier" outer movements. Serkin's "Moonlight" and "Appassionata" have not lost their staying power as reference recordings, yet the pianist proves even more persuasive in the Op. 119 Bagatelles and in a lean, lofty, and elegant reading of the B-flat Op. 22 sonata. To be sure, some of Serkin's later performances prove sterner and less supple when heard alongside their earlier counterparts.

The sound samples below enable you to compare his handling of the counterpoint in Op. 110's Scherzo in 1960 and 1971, and to measure his fiery 1962 opening Choral Fantasy cadenza alongside the still powerful yet relatively labored live 1981 traversal. Then again, the older Serkin still could rise to the occasion, as borne out in the surprisingly impetuous Op. 77 Fantasia, and the 1975 "Waldstein" sonata's blazing coda. Similarly, the 1974 Fourth concerto's live ambience offers a more realistic replication of Serkin's nuanced trills and double notes than the stereo studio version's harsher, less sustained tonal characteristics. In sum, collectors with a broad interest in Serkin's Beethoven will find this modestly priced release attractive. Full discographical information is provided on the individual disc sleeves in lieu of booklet notes.

-- Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com

Disk 1:

1. Concerto No. 1 in C Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 15: I. Allegro con brio Rudolf Serkin 17:01

2. Concerto No. 1 in C Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 15: II. Largo Rudolf Serkin 10:59

3. Concerto No. 1 in C Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 15: III. Rondo: Allegro scherzando Rudolf Serkin 9:19

4. Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 19: I. Allegro con brio The Philadelphia Orchestra 13:25

5. Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 19: II. Adagio The Philadelphia Orchestra 8:48

6. III. Rondo: Molto allegro The Philadelphia Orchestra 6:35

Disk 2:

1. I. Allegro con brio Rudolf Serkin;New York Philharmonic;Leonard Bernstein 15:36

2. Concerto No. 3 For Piano And Orchestra In C minor, Op. 37: II. Largo Rudolf Serkin;New York Philharmonic;Leonard Bernstein 10:58

3. Concerto No. 3 For Piano And Orchestra In C minor, Op. 37: III. Rondo: Allegro Rudolf Serkin;New York Philharmonic;Leonard Bernstein 9:30

4. Concerto No. 4 in G Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 58: I. Allegro moderato The Philadelphia Orchestra 19:10

5. Concerto No. 4 in G Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 58: II. Andante con moto The Philadelphia Orchestra 5:35

6. Concerto No. 4 in G Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 58: III. Rondo: Vivace The Philadelphia Orchestra 9:40

Disk 3:

1. Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 73 "Emperor": I. Allegro Leonard Bernstein;New York Philharmonic;Rudolf Serkin 19:32

2. Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 73 "Emperor": II. Adagio un poco moto Leonard Bernstein;Rudolf Serkin;New York Philharmonic 8:44

3. Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 73 "Emperor": III. Rondo. Allegro Leonard Bernstein;New York Philharmonic;Rudolf Serkin 9:59

4. Choral Fantasy in C minor for Piano, Chorus & Orchestra, Op. 80 New York Philharmonic;Leonard Bernstein 18:18

5. Choral Fantasy in C minor for Piano, Chorus & Orchestra, Op. 80 (1808) (Instrumental) Marlboro Festival Orchestra 19:56

Disk 4:

1. Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2, No. 1: I. Allegro Rudolf Serkin 4:40

2. Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2, No. 1: II. Adagio Rudolf Serkin 5:00

3. III. Menuetto. Allegretto Rudolf Serkin 3:23

4. IV. Prestissimo Rudolf Serkin 4:33

5. Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10, No. 2: I. Allegro Rudolf Serkin 8:45

6. Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10, No. 2: II. Allegretto Rudolf Serkin 3:31

7. Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10, No. 2: III. Presto Rudolf Serkin 3:44

8. Sonata No. 8 for Piano, Op. 13 "Pathétique" in C minor: I. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio Rudolf Serkin 9:28 EUR 0,99 Kaufen

9. Sonata No. 8 for Piano, Op. 13 "Pathétique" in C minor: II. Adagio cantabile Rudolf Serkin 5:51

10. Sonata No. 8 for Piano, Op. 13 "Pathétique" in C minor: III. Rondo. Allegro Rudolf Serkin 4:16

11. I. Allegro con brio Rudolf Serkin 7:17

12. Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22: II. Adagio con molta espressione Rudolf Serkin 7:50

13. Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22: III. Menuetto Rudolf Serkin 3:17

14. Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22: IV. Rondo: Allegretto Rudolf Serkin 5:53

Disk 5:

1. Sonata No. 12 in A-flat Major, Op. 26: I. Andante con Variazoni Rudolf Serkin 8:36

2. II. Scherzo. Allegro molto Rudolf Serkin 2:46

3. Sonata No. 12 in A-flat Major, Op. 26: III. Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un Eroe Rudolf Serkin 5:48

4. IV. Allegro Rudolf Serkin 3:27

5. I. Andante - Allegro - Tempo I - attacca: Rudolf Serkin 5:16

6. Sonata No. 13 in E-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1 (Sonata quasi una fantasia): II. Allegro molto e vivace - attacca: Rudolf Serkin 2:00

7. Sonata No. 13 in E-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1 (Sonata quasi una fantasia): III. Adagio con espressione - attacca: Rudolf Serkin 2:37

8. IV. Allegro vivace Rudolf Serkin 6:23

9. Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor for Piano, Op. 27, No. 2 "Moonlight": I. Adagio sostenuto Rudolf Serkin 6:30

10. Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor for Piano, Op. 27, No. 2 "Moonlight": II. Allegretto Rudolf Serkin 2:16

11. Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor for Piano, Op. 27, No. 2 "Moonlight": III. Presto agitato Rudolf Serkin 6:57

12. I. Allegro vivace Rudolf Serkin 6:58

13. II. Adagio grazioso Rudolf Serkin 10:38

14. Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31, No. 1: III. Rondo. Allegretto Rudolf Serkin 7:06

Disk 6:

1. Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 (Waldstein): I. Allegro con brio Rudolf Serkin 11:17

2. Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 (Waldstein): II. Introduzione. Adagio molto Rudolf Serkin 4:18

3. Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 (Waldstein): III. Rondo. Allegretto moderato Rudolf Serkin 10:44

4. Sonata No. 23 in F Minor for Piano, Op. 57 "Appassionata": I. Allegro assai Rudolf Serkin 9:20

5. Sonata No. 23 in F Minor for Piano, Op. 57 "Appassionata": II. Andante con moto Rudolf Serkin 7:03

6. Sonata No. 23 in F Minor for Piano, Op. 57 "Appassionata": III. Allegro ma non troppo; Presto Rudolf Serkin 8:02

7. Sonata No. 24 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 78: I. Adagio cantabile: Allegro ma non troppo Rudolf Serkin 8:24

8. Sonata No. 24 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 78: II. Allegro vivace Rudolf Serkin 2:46

9. Sonata No. 26 in E-flat Major for Piano, Op. 81a "Les Adieux": I. Les Adieux. Adagio - Allegro Rudolf Serkin 7:32

10. II. L'absence. Andante espressivo Rudolf Serkin 3:22

11. Sonata No. 26 in E-flat Major for Piano, Op. 81a "Les Adieux": III. Le retour. Vivacissimamente Rudolf Serkin 6:05

Disk 7:

1. I. Etwas lebhaft, und mit der innigsten Empfindung (Allegretto ma non troppo) Rudolf Serkin 4:47

2. Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101: II. Lebhaft: March mässig (Vivace alla Marcia) Rudolf Serkin 6:32

3. III. Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll (Adagio ma non troppo, con affetto); Geschwind, doch nicht zu sehr und mit Entschlossenheit (Allegro) Rudolf Serkin 11:41

4. Sonata No. 29 for Piano, Op. 106 "Hammerklavier" in B-flat Major: I. Allegro Rudolf Serkin 12:12

5. Sonata No. 29 for Piano, Op. 106 "Hammerklavier" in B-flat Major: II. Scherzo: Assai vivace Rudolf Serkin 2:36

6. Sonata No. 29 for Piano, Op. 106 "Hammerklavier" in B-flat Major: III. Adagio sostenuto Rudolf Serkin 16:25

7. Sonata No. 29 for Piano, Op. 106 "Hammerklavier" in B-flat Major: IV. Largo; Allegro; Allegro risoluto Rudolf Serkin 12:27

Disk 8:

1. I. Vivace, ma non troppo Rudolf Serkin 4:05

2. Sonata No. 30 in E Major for Piano, Op. 109: II. Prestissimo Rudolf Serkin 2:32

3. Sonata No. 30 in E Major for Piano, Op. 109: III. Gesangvoll, mit innigser Empfindung. Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo Rudolf Serkin 13:32

4. Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110: I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo Rudolf Serkin 6:37

5. Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110: II. Allegro molto Rudolf Serkin 2:10

6. Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110: III. Adagio, ma non troppo - Fuga. Allegro, ma non troppo Rudolf Serkin 12:41

Disk 9:

1. Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major for Piano, Op. 110: I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo Rudolf Serkin 6:27

2. Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major for Piano, Op. 110: II. Allegro molto Rudolf Serkin 2:09

3. III. Adagio ma non troppo - Fuga. Allegro ma non troppo Rudolf Serkin 11:04

4. Sonata No. 32 in C minor for Piano, Op. 111: I. Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato Rudolf Serkin 9:00

5. Sonata No. 32 in C minor for Piano, Op. 111: II. Arietta. Adagio molto semplice e cantabile Rudolf Serkin 17:55

Disk 10:

1. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Tema. Vivace Rudolf Serkin 0:54

2. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 1 Alla Marcia maestoso Rudolf Serkin 1:44

3. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 2 Poco allegro Rudolf Serkin 0:50

4. Var. 3 L'istesso tempo Rudolf Serkin 1:20

5. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 4 Un poco piu vivace Rudolf Serkin 0:55

6. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 5 Allegro vivace Rudolf Serkin 0:49

7. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 6 Allegro ma non troppo e serioso Rudolf Serkin 2:05

8. Var. 7 Un poco piu allegro Rudolf Serkin 1:06

9. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 8 Piu vivace Rudolf Serkin 1:37

10. Var. 9 Allegro pesante e risoluto Rudolf Serkin 2:05

11. Var. 10 Presto Rudolf Serkin 0:36

12. Var. 11 Allegretto Rudolf Serkin 1:08

13. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 12 Un poco piu moto Rudolf Serkin 0:48

14. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 13 Vivace Rudolf Serkin 1:00

15. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 14 Grave e maestoso Rudolf Serkin 2:56

16. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 15 Presto scherzando Rudolf Serkin 0:33

17. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 16 Allegro Rudolf Serkin 1:06

18. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 17 (without tempo indication) Rudolf Serkin 1:14

19. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 18 Poco moderato Rudolf Serkin 1:30

20. Var. 19 Presto Rudolf Serkin 0:44

21. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 20 Andante Rudolf Serkin 2:02

22. Var. 21 Allegro con brio Rudolf Serkin 1:18

23. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 22 Allegro molto ( alla "Notte e giorno faticar" di Mozart) Rudolf Serkin 0:51

24. Var. 23 Allegro assai Rudolf Serkin 0:46

25. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 24 Fughetta. Andante Rudolf Serkin 2:53

26. Var. 25 Allegro Rudolf Serkin 0:45

27. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 26 Rudolf Serkin 1:02

28. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 27 Vivace Rudolf Serkin 0:52

29. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 28 Allegro Rudolf Serkin 0:59

30. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 29 Adagio ma non troppo Rudolf Serkin 1:12

31. Var. 30 Andante, sempre cantabile Rudolf Serkin 2:02

32. Var. 31 Largo, molto espressivo Rudolf Serkin 4:27

33. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 32 Fuga. Allegro Rudolf Serkin 3:04

34. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Opus 120: Var. 33 Tempo di Menuetto moderato (ma non tirarsi dietro) Rudolf Serkin 3:57

35. Eleven Bagatelles, Op. 119 Rudolf Serkin 15:11

36. Fantasie in G minor, Op. 77 Rudolf Serkin 9:45

Disk 11:

1. Concerto For Piano, Violin, Cello And Orchestra, Op. 56 ("Triple Concerto") (C Major/C-dur/ut majeur/do maggiore): I. Allegro (Instrumental) Marlboro Festival Orchestra 18:00

2. Concerto For Piano, Violin, Cello And Orchestra, Op. 56 ("Triple Concerto") (C Major/C-dur/ut majeur/do maggiore): II. Largo (Instrumental) Marlboro Festival Orchestra 5:35

3. Concerto For Piano, Violin, Cello And Orchestra, Op. 56 ("Triple Concerto") (C Major/C-dur/ut majeur/do maggiore): III. Rondo alla Polacca (Instrumental) Marlboro Festival Orchestra 13:29

4. I. Allegro moderato (Instrumental) Marlboro Festival Orchestra 20:26

5. Concerto No. 4 in G Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 58: II. Andante con moto (Instrumental) Marlboro Festival Orchestra 5:45

6. Concerto No. 4 in G Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 58: III. Rondo: vivace (Instrumental) Marlboro Festival Orchestra 10:05



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