Vladimir Ashkenazy: Beethoven - Piano Sonata Opus 106 (Hammerklavier) 

I simply cannot think of another pianist who makes me so consistently happy whenever I listen to him. I wish Ashkenazy had explored more piano literature than he has. To me he's one of the greatest ever. ❤

My first time listening to the whole of the Hammerklavier... I’m speechless and mesmerized! And today we celebrate 250 years of Beethoven. What a gift he has been and will continue to be for our world! Indeed, what a powerful and personal interpretation by the great Vladimir Ashkenazy! I’m never disappointed by his playing.

41:15 Simply incredible, Ashkenazy grows an extra 4 pairs of hands just to be able to hit all the notes

We're in front of two geniuses. The very best is the Composer the second one is Vladimir Ashkenazy.

Amazing concentration! I was fortunate enough to hear him play this live in 1980!

Askenazy became an icon. With his white collar and all.. I got to know him because I spent lots of money on Sibelius records he conducted with the philharmonia, which dragged me through my teenage years against all ods. He feels like a distant uncle to me. He's probably a man of exceptional greatnes. At least to me he is.

間違いなく天才だ。この方は、歴史上最高か？ピアノ自身が奏でている。音が声になっている。大半の人がピアノを泣かせているのに、ピアノが喜んで奏でている。すごいです。

Grandioso, potente, Ashkenazy un suono come scolpito sul marmo a creare una meravigliosa scultura.

One of the most difficult piece of piano concert. Love it

That Fugue is such a beast. In a way you almost hear the Grosse Fuge in the dissonances and shrillness of his trills. There are parts of that where you are play ascending and decending scales with one hand at the same time. Such a great master of the instrument!

Uno dei pochi a suonare il terzo movimento con la giusta poesia e con un perfetto rubato, senza rovinare stupidamente i passaggi più belli affrettandoli, per amore di “originalità”.

You can hear it clearly: He loves the second movement so much and he can play it so well. Fabulous!! Incredible!

I do enjoy Ashkenazy's Beethoven, very rhythmic and clear.

This is an outstanding performance of possibly the most amazing piece of music for piano ever, composed by, who else, the maestro, Beethoven.

A true servant of the composer. Wonderfully insightful playing.

Flawless, as usual. He explained the piece to us. Thank you, Sir Vladimir Ashkenazy! Thank you, Master Ludwig van Beethoven!

The last movement is so fugal in parts it almost could be from the “Art of Fugue.” The color is so dense, and yet I can hear every voice, just amazing, Maestro Ashkenazy!

I've just swapped pianists. I was listening to Mr Brendels performance, and now I'm listening to Mr Ashkenazy... just to see how he plays the wickedly difficult 4th movement... and THAT monster fugue.

Bravo Vladimir , eseguendo le 70 pagine a memoria hai dato la prova di essere un grande pianista.

never heard it play like this..... magnificent

Es una de las obras mas dificiles y complejas de beethoven...un reto aterrador para cualquier intérprete...y aqui el señor Ashkenazy lo hizo en forma magistral ..muchos👏

I lack a true love of classical music, but can recognise genius when I see (or hear) it. Always an absolute pleasure to experience the works of such people.

I've always loved his recording of this.

Потрясающе, сильно, ярко, проникновенно, ГЕНИАЛЬНО!!!!!!

Ashkenazy is one of very few pianist who almost makes me hear some harmonic and structural coherence in the fugue. We owe it to Beethoven to endure his angry rant after having given us so much divinely inspired music.

Such a relief to hear him play the Hammerklavier Sonata after Yuja Wang! She is a piano wizard but doesn't understand much of Beethoven, in my opinion.

La più grande 106 che abbia mai sentita Capolavoro

Prodigieux...et passionnant. ❤

An infinity of happiness!

Superb. As good as it gets. This piece, so much can and has been said about it. A quantum leap forward in Beethoven's output. It truly stands like Mt. Everest over the whole of the 19'th century. Everything else seems smaller by comparison. He has created a new language and has extended and stretched musical architecture into new patterns that will inform composition for another hundred years. Not a pretty piece, as Schiff says. But on a scale that is symphonic in scope, it has no rivals.

Ashkenazy é genial e incrível! Obrigado pela postagem!

Both Ashkenazy and Kempff's performance of the Hammerklavier are amazing in how they play with cantabile. Too many interpretations of this work are little more than chord bashing. And the third movement here is simply amazing.

22:35 EVERY pianist in the world should watch this section and learn how to use rubato to amazing effect. Many "famous" pianists rush this section (which is L E G A T O) like a maniac... Ashkenazy's touch here second to none. Even surpasses Richter IMHO.

Yes, two geniuses !!

Brilliant performance.

Wonderful. Appreciating that camera angle that lets me study his technique a little bit!

Hace 25 años vi un documental de Beethoven por Peter Ustinov, en donde aparecía el maestro Ashkenazy tocando el Scherzo. Ahora finalmente pude ver la Sonata completa.

his interpretation is moderate rational clear exact deep

Outstanding.

One of the foremost criterion when I assess whether I like an interpretation or not is how the performer handle the opening theme. Ashkenazy did it really well here! Though I suggest everyone to also check out Igor Levit's interpretation, the opening is the most thunderous interpretation I've heard.

Браво, Володя!!!

Esecuzione semplicemente stupenda .....

This work certainly sets Beethoven far ahead of his own time in many ways - and the fugue indeed sounds modern.

En la Sonata Hammerklavier, Beethoven viaja por el espacio interno, como él sabía hacer con sus y nuestras emociones, y cruza el Océano Atlántico para percibir el sentimiento del folclore Argentino, dando sobradas muestra de un milagro al componer tanto un "Aire de Carnavalito" y también, en otro momento de la obra, dejar nacer y relucir un sentimiento similar al de la Soledad de los "Gauchos de la Pampa Argentina". A su vez en el movimiento lento hay una cita del 2° mov del Concierto para violín en Mi Mayor de Bach, cuando en un momento "se hace la luz" en una sección, y también un adelanto del genial Chopin. A pesar de tanta exploración del alma humana, siempre está la esencia de Beethoven, el Rey de los Sentimientos, el Rey de la Música. En el final del tercer moviento, Beethoven nos saluda desde el cielo, se despide de nosotros para siempre de la manera más tierna y amable! Gracias Genio! ¡Qué versión, por favor! Me llevó hasta las lágrimas más sentidas. El 4° mov es la "resurrección" de Beethoven y su homenaje a la gran Música del Gran Bach, sus últimos esfuerzos en esta vida terrena. Su paseo coronado y laureado por sí mismo hacia sí mismo, premio que ningún otro mortal o Dios podría darle mejor que él mismo al haber elegido ser Músico contra todo destino. Es Beethoven triunfando una vez más sobre toda dificultad. No hubo derrota alguna en la vida de este Gigante! Gracias Beethoven!!! Gracias Vladimir Ashkenazy!!! dos Genios totales!!!! Este video es un momento único en la Historia de la Humanidad!!! Increible, Insuperable, de lo mejor del Universo!!! Gracias!!! Thanks to Christopher Nupen Films!!!

La música clásica es el lenguaje con que el Infinito se comunica con el mundo . Gracias❤!

It's wonderfoul

This is incredible!

Thank you for posting! Love this music. Especially the third movement. How full of emotion. Doesn't it make you feel and share his pain? Did you know that you had such empathy?

From what I hear, for this and the other late sonatas you need the shoulders of an inside linebacker, including the moves, and the fingers of a safecracker. I keep coming back to this reading.

In the slow third movement i hear already Chopin👍

Magnificent!

Una obra del GRAN LUDWIG que SOLAMENTE debe apreciarsela en VIVO.Toda grabación(respetables todas)no permite percibir los efectos orquestales que todo interprete debe "extraerle"al piano... De todos modos,aplausos al pianista!!!!!!

This is so good!

Which other composer could ever create an Adagio Sostenuto more intense than this?? OMG listen with closed eyes the incredible notes sucesion mainly when the crescendo begins. In the highest!!!

GREAT!!!

Busoni decia que la vida es demasiado corta para aprender esa sonata endiablada. Askenazy genial.

24:54 onwards is just beautiful

einfach grossartig

Russia and China both produce the greatest piano players living today. I'm amazed at their skill. Truly an inspiration, even if you're not a pianist yourself, given their hard work and dedication.

Beethoven's first real romantic work, in my opinion

Braviiiissssiiiimoooooo

Grandioso.

I never understood musically the hammerklavier sonata. But I've listened to it many times.

ピアノ曲の範疇を超えた楽想の大きさに感服　!!! かつてメンデルスゾーンはベートーヴェンの交響曲をピアノアレンジ してます。 逆にこの曲をオーケストレーションアレンジしたものがあれば是非 拝聴したい。

41:14 you gave me a heart attack cuz I was wearing my new headphones and thought that they were broken lol

この曲って、ベートーベンの赤裸々な日記を読んでいる気持ちになるから、ひとりでじっくり聞きたい。

Impresionante pianista Beethoveniano... Lo masssss Nikolaievsky dedicada a vos

この頃のアシュケナージは音色が多彩で技術も最高だった ＣＤも愛聴しています

A GIANT MAESTRO...!

公明新聞にこの曲の記事が載っていたので来てみました。この手の音楽は全く無知ですが、演奏が何か凄く難しそうですね! たまにはクラッシックも良いですね。

Even the Master's piano compositions are filled with sonorities and melodies that would have blown the Orchestra Halls away. If only he had orchestrated these gems!

Ashkenazys Interpretation des Schlußsatzes wird auch in 50 Jahren weiter bestehen, zeitlos klar nicht von dieser Welt Dr.Hauser

Playing the fuge with this level of artistry in front of a live audience is a tremendous achievement for mankind. His hands are so steady. Andras Schiff's (whom I admire greatly) fingers tremble and he is sweating profusely when playing Goldberg variations live

This piano sonata opus 106 is the summit of all piano composition since and till now where the other piano works that follows by the master has left this earthy summit to a new world that only the great Beethoven has uncover and invite us those who have none materialistic and universal love to enter Beethoven's world .... since then music became greater than philosophy and deeper than religion... without sectarian dogma.... Ahh Beethoven 🎗

Hans Moerkerk What a blessing to see and listen to this fantastic pianist and harmonic person. Hopefully we can enjoy him for another 80 years. Compared to the 'china virus' pianoplayers like Lang Lang and other hysterics, this music as it should be played

Ashkenazy live is always better than in studio. I know only one exeption which is his Kreutzer sonata with Perlman. THE reference.

Ashkenazys Interpretation des Schlußsatzes wird auch in 50 Jahren weiter bestehen, klar struktuiert, zeitlos, nicht von dieser Welt Dr.Hauser

Very interesting interpretation! Voice leading and dialogues between left and right hand. I only wish he put more emphasis on the culmination in the development section.

When doctor who plays hammerklavier

Not the best fugue I've ever heard however what is amazing is to watch someone perform this unbelievable sonata live and virtually note-perfect. I mean really??

It's already too late for Dustin Hoffman to play Ashkenazy in a biopic....

This is as good as ANY studio recording, maybe better.

Spock is one hell of a pianist

What a remarkably modern feel. I understand the piece is lauded as among the greatest of sonata. However, despite Ashkenazy's vigorous and technically brilliant execution, I found myself too much in my head. Given the time of night, a not too orderly place to be. I'll revisit in time, or perhaps listen to another interpretation, see if my taste matures.

I wonder if anyone other than myself will ever visit this due to reading "The Black Cloud" by Fred Hoyle... time will tell... :)

와

une sonate qui laisse pantois et pantelant... une musique visionnaire : William Blake en musique...

An unfortunate glitch around the 41:15 mark. Not a serious impairment, but nothing should be allowed to mar this performance.

Finale che fa il paio con l'op.134. Io non suonare, ma ognuno di questi suoni mi risulta comprensibile.

Ashkenazi's attack on the keys is too incisive for my taste....but maybe LvB would have approved...I prefer a much broader evenly mellow tone, especially in the bass....don't forget it was LvBs trying out the newly expanded reaches of the keyboard

Das ist zu grob !!!

My favourite version is Arrau's..... what do you think of it ?? Greetings from France

13:54 - 14:15

13:54 14:15

0:18

5:40

26:56

37:02 fugue start…

Just came from listening to Valentina Lisitsa...this is so much better!

Artistic appreciation being subjective, I must confess I prefer Yuja Wang's interpretation. I'm not able to explain why, because I don't have any musical background. but even eyes wide shut, I can feel that she plays with ease and happiness, and this is contagious. She never transmits any negative emotion like stress, anger, sadness, boredom, etc. Only joy, fun, passion, peace and light. With Yuja, time is suspended, you never look at your watch.