Gilels: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 7 + Eroica Variations - DG 2532 024 (DDD)

$

35

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This beautiful and now quite rare LP from Deutsche Grammophon (2532 024, German pressing, DDD stereo) features legendary pianist Emil Gilel's resplendent accounts of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major Op. 10 No. 3 and the same composer’s 15 Variations in E-flat major Op. 35 “Eroica”, both recorded in September 1980 in the rich acoustics of the Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin.

Wrote the eminent critic Richard Osborne in his review for the April 1982 issue of The Gramophone:

"The principal glory of this latest Gilels record is an electrifying account of the Eroica Variations, Op. 35. From the first hammerblow chords and charged silences it is clearly destined to be a performance of great forcefulness and fire, properly Promethean. It is also, as the brilliant sifting of parts in the introduction's a quatiro suggests, a performance of sterling virtuosity. The Curzon on Decca, rather less brilliantly recorded though a performance of great clarity and warmth, wears at times a more humane aspect more obviously evolved variation to variation. In the E flat minor Variation Gilels's playing could be variously described as chillier or more visionary. There is a withdrawn quality, characteristic of the writing in some of the late sonatas or (to stay with the Eroica theme) the Eroica Symphony's own first movement recapitulation—one of those rare, visionary moments to which Nottebohm rightly attributes a special 'symbolic' charge. However you respond to such moments, the overall impression created by Gilels in the Eroica Variations is one of great physical excitement.

“The reasons for the coupling with the D major Sonata, Op. 10 No. 3 are not immediately obvious and I find Gilels less compelling here. He takes the first movement's Presto marking quite literally, producing a slightly cool, even occasionally glib feel, with some blurring of lefthand detail and a strangely mannered way with ornament in the lyric subjects. Being Gilds, he plays the Largo e rnesto with refinement and control, stressing the mesto aspect with a degree of romantic pointing which will not suit all tastes. (Brendel, on Philips, is much more gaunt.) I was also disappointed by Gilels's comparatively brittle way with the Menuetto's charmed dolce start. The recording has less body than that of the Eroica Variations, with the finale's all-important silences pedalled or recorded in a way which often seems strangely indeterminate."

Incidentally, the cover photo of Gilels was taken by Susesch Bayat, Berlin. There are fine liner notes on the reverse side of the jacket – provided in English, German, French, and Italian – by Hartmut Fldat.

CONDITION:

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the jacket is VERY GOOD. This was a promo copy and there is a stamp, consisting of needle-like holes, at the lower-right corner. There is also some edgewear. However, there are no seamsplits, bends, owners' markings, or other defects, and the album remains solid, bright, glossy, and highly attractive – overall, an excellent collector's copy.

The condition of the LP is near-MINT and playback is superb – overall, a truly fine collector's copy.

PLEASE NOTE:
This LP has been carefully cleaned using a VPI cleaning machine. All LPs are provided with a new Nagaoka (or Nagaoka-style) inner sleeve. The images I've provided are of the actual item you are potentially bidding on - these are not stock images or images I've taken from other sites. Bid with confidence!

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