Claudio Arrau's Legacy

Last century witnessed a truly phenomenal manifestation of piano talent. Amongst its peaks a special place is occupied by the great Chilean pianist Claudio Arrau. One of the most significant facts from his biography seems to me to be the direct relationship he established through his teacher in Berlin, Martin Krause, with the legacy of Franz Liszt and his music making technique and phylosophy. Another very important fact in my view is the seriousness and dedication to the original written score he showed consistently, and advocated for that matter, when it came to making music and trying to transmit through interpretation the whole world comprised in the great compositions. He is one of the few that I know that in order to understand and to play right Beethoven's piano sonatas he felt he has to know by heart and understand all the string quartets of the master of Bonn. Many things can be told significant for the musicianship of Arrau yet the best advocate is his recorded legacy that speaks about a great and profound musician in the most convincing way possible. Here are some picks:


1. Beethoven's Piano Sonatas & Concertos
For me this is by far the best set with all Beethoven's sonatas. Even if there is a debate whether the first are "light" enough he is unbeatable in the middle and above all last sonatas.
For an even more "out of this world" redemption of the last three piano concertos please read this review.


2. Chopin's Nocturnes
Nobody plays these profund pieces with the insight and dedication Arrau does. A genuine experience.


3. Schubert's Last Piano Sonatas
Schubert was a romantic genius and Arrau shows you in beautiful sound why is that.


4. Liszt Piano Sonata in B minor
Tha grand sonata from Liszt by a pianist that inherited him both technically and spiritually. A one of kind version.


5. Brahms' First Piano Concerto
I prefer the version with Giulini. Intellectual power and emotional coherence. Read more here.


6. Bach's Goldberg Variations
Although Gould is an illustrious player of these variations I prefer Arrau deepest approach to this music.


7. Liszt 12 Etudes d'execution transcedentale
An unanimous acclaim as the finest version available.

Mozart for those who hate Mozart

Mozart's musical output has been a permanent interest and almost every musician tried to approach some of his compositions during their careers. Unfortunately the recorded legacy shows clearly that Mozart's music is a very difficult thing to pull through as far as meaningful interpretation is concerned. The luxurious melodic content and the buoyancy of his spirit, obvious even in the slow movements made a good part of musicians play him, in Horowitz's words, "like Chopin". There are nonetheless achievements that make his genius manifest in full splendor. I gathered here some of them as they have in common two things: they are definitive versions and they are perls among Mozart's compositions. Even if you don't like Mozart you'll have to admit the beauty, the complexity of ideas and sentiments, the depth of his psychological insight all in perfect musical forms. If these guys don't convince you of Mozart's genius, nobody will.

1. Don Giovanni, K 527 - Gottlob Frick, Luigi Alva, Graziella Sciutti, Piero Cappuccilli, Joan Sutherland, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Eberhard Wachter, Heinrich Schmidt, Giuseppe Taddei / Carlo Maria Giulini

The greatest recording of the greatest of operas.

2. Le Nozze di Figaro, K 492 - Fiorenza Cossotto, Gillian Spencer, Anna Moffo, Elisabetta Fusco, Piero Cappuccilli, Ivo Vinco, Renato Ercolani, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Dora Gatta, Diana Gillingham, Eberhard Wachter, Heinrich Schmidt, Giuseppe Taddei / Carlo Maria Giulini

Another definitive recording from Giulini.

3. Cosi fan Tutte, K 588 - Christa Ludwig, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Hanny Steffek, Heinrich Schmidt, Alfredo Kraus, Giuseppe Taddei, Walter Berry / Karl Bohm

Impecable cast, masterful conductor, indeed a great recording of the century.

4. Die Zauberflöte, K 620 - Gottlob Frick, Gundula Janowitz, Josephine Veasey, Gerhard Unger, Lucia Popp, Marga Hoffgen, Ruth-Margaret Putz, Christa Ludwig, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Franz Crass, Walter Berry, Nicolai Gedda, Agnes Giebel / Otto Klemperer

You can't get better than this. The cast is stellar.

5. Symphonies 35-41 - Berliner Philharmoniker, Karl Bohm

The authority of the supreme Mozartian of the 20th century. Read an extended review here.

6. Requiem - with William Warfield, Ingrid Seefried, Jennie Tourel, Leopold Simoneau / Bruno Walter

From the guy who reinvented Mozart, sorrow and silent dispair at heaven's doors.

7. Paino Concerto No. 27, B flat major, K 595, Emil Gilels/Karl Bohm

Not from a renowned Mozartian yet perfectly round in shape and emotion.

8. Violin Concertos - Arthur Grumiaux/ Sir Colin Davis/ Raymond Leppard

Impecable style, phrasing and expression. One of the greatest recordings with Mozart's music.

9. Piano Conerto No. 21, C Major, K. 467 - Dinu Lipatti / Herbert von Karajan

A glimpse into what started as a genuine piano genius. Karajan provides one of the best supports on disc.