Eric Hammond wrote:

>I have discovered recently that he currently has three different
>recordings of the complete sonata cycle.  The first recording was
>for VOX and the last two for Phillips..... I am curious to know if anyone
>has an opinion as to which recording is the best.

Have all three of them - wouldn't say that any one of them is better than
the others.  The Vox has the worst sound (but not bad); leave aside that
one and you miss the "youthful" Brendel.  I think the best way to go might
be to buy the Vox first and just keep going in chronological order.  That
route would provide the most insight into Brendel's conception of
Beethoven.

>Also does anyone have any comments to the criticism I have heard
>that Brendel is not the most imaginative of pianists.

That's for each individual to decide, but I obviously consider Brendel's
Beethoven full of imagination.  Some find him too studious and even
technically suspect.  I hear none of that and think he's the best active
classical pianist.

Don Satz
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