[Guest]

The thing which interests me is how many different responses are possible with the same pianist playing virtually the same work!! Amazing. I wonder how all that works and wouldn't it be great if studies were done on subjective responses!!

 

[Sid James]

Kindly taking direction from stern disciplinarian Rasa, I'll recommend these "Barenboim the pianist" recs.

...

Heard that one and I think it's good, even though I'm not much into Chopin, only ocassionally...

 

[Il_Penseroso]

I don't like some of his interpretations, of course he's a good pianist, but he gonna prove himself as an all around man ! trying to play everything ! I think there are works that he can't play so charactristic like a real virtuoso.

 

[Vaneyes]

I have heard a few of his Mozart works and thoroughly enjoy them. He puts much emotion into his playing, therefore I enjoy it more than other's versions, whether the pieces are played totally correctly or not.

His Mozart Piano Trios (rec 2005) with Zlotnikov and Znaider was a pleasant surprise.

 

[Itullian]

yes, i like his romantic approach too

his Brahms piano concertos with Barbirolli is my favorite
his LvB concertos with Klemperer are great
his Mozart concertos with Berlin Phil on Teldec are awesome
and a classic Songs Without Words
and his DG LvB piano sonatas are wonderful.

 

[Blancrocher]

One Barenboim disk I've been very happy with that I don't often see mentioned is his recording of Liszt's Wagner transcriptions.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=146643

 

[Neal]

I find that Barenboim is an excellent pianist in Mozart and Beethoven. Unfortunately, his Bach is pretty bad - poor balance among voices and some ridiculous ornamentation - the man's clueless in Bach. Overall, I much prefer him as a conductor.

 

[WJM]

I really love Barenboim's Mozart and Beethoven. As for Bach I've heard his recording of Goldberg Varations and I think it's enjoyable enough to listen, but there are much better alternatives.

 

[SteveSherman]

He played the complete Beethoven sonatas here in Munich a few years ago. His approach is rather apollonian for my taste, but it was a well thought out and perfectly executed interpretation. I think there is no greater test of a performer than to present these 32 masterpieces, in all their variety, in a short period of time, and Barenboim passed the test with honors.

 

[Skilmarilion]

When it comes to Beethoven, I think he is a master interpreter. I have complete sets of his of both the sonatas and concerti. The pianism is all there coupled with a profound expressive poignancy.

As a package of pianist/conductor, he is surely one of the most remarkable artists to have graced classical music.

 

[Blancrocher]

I recently discovered Daniel Barenboim's website, which has an interesting journal. I've read a few of the essays--on Carter, Boulez, and Don Giovanni--and have enjoyed the combinations of introductory musical notes and personal anecdotes.

For those interested: http://www.danielbarenboim.com/journal.html

 

[Op.123]

I can't stand any of it

 

[aajj]

As fine as Barenboim is as a pianist, I always find others who do it better.

 

[Albert7]

I really enjoy Barenboim both as pianist and conductor honestly. Perhaps not the master but he has some awesome recordings particularly the ones with Du Pre.

 

[Pip]

I have never known a musician to attract so much positive and negative feelings as DB.
He is without doubt one of the greatest Wagner conductors of the last 50 years. How many of his recordings would have been much better appreciated if only he had had better casts. His Bayreuth Ring is still the best video recommendation, and one of the best of all the Rings performed there since 1951.

As for the symphonic repertoire, he really is just as great.
Barenboim the pianist - one of the greats - no more to be said.

How many of his detractors confuse his personality with his musicianship?
I have been enjoying his performances as a pianist since I first saw him in London in the Sixties, and as a conductor for almost as long.
Long may he continue.

 

[44523]

Forty years ago I was conned by the publicity and agreed with the classical establishment that he was a great interpreter of Beethoven. Now I think that he has great virtuosity, an incredible memory, and that he plays very badly, with little understanding of the music in which he is supposed to be a great expert.

 

[joen_cph]

I prefer his later decades as a conductor, rather than his pianism. Such as his late Bruckner and Wagner recordings, at times uneven, at times sublime.

 

[Pugg]

He's a great pianist, his Beethoven concertos on EMI are sublime, as well as his piano sonatas on EMI .
His Mozart concerto's are one of my very favourite. ( first recording):tiphat:

 

[DavidA]

Whatever you think of DB one must acknowledge his astounding musicianship and hard work. How he has managed to combine so many conducting appointments AND keep his piano technique in such good shape is quite something. I heard more of the young DB and enjoyed his Beethoven sonatas which are anything but boring. His Beethoven concertos with Klemperer are very interesting and his early set of Mozart piano concertos are really fresh.
His later work for DG I don't know well apart from a set of Chopin Nocturnes which didn't do it for me.
I have his Ring cycle (DVD) and it is superbly conducted as is his Parsifal, which I also possess. I can never quite see how a Jewish conductor can be so enthusiastic about a composer who was such an avowed anti-semite but each to his own.
I heard his recent Brahms 1 with Dudamel and felt his technique was perhaps not what it was.
But one of the greatest all-round musicians today.
About his political statements no comment!

 

[WaterRat]

I like listening to him talk about music rather than actually play it.

A later rescreening of the original 'Barenboim On Beethoven' series helped me to discover classical music. However, I was disappointed when I subsequently purchased a CD of the Beethoven sonatas. His conducting, also, has failed to impress me, and I now largely bypass him entirely.