Irena Koblar, Beethoven Sonata Op 10 No 3 in D major, mov. 3

[christoperfect]

I love her interpretation of this entire sonata. She glides through it by making at cohesive emotionally. Even though each movement is a different mood she doesn't forget things that have just happened or forget to anticipate what's coming appropriately... Just like we do in real life.

Now on to that piano... The b above middle c is a bit detuned (not terribly) It has that distracting "twang" in comparison to the other pitches in that register.

[gwozdezzz]

And it is muuuch to slow in my opinion.

[gwozdezzz]

oh no... this movement is... no... nooooo..

this is definitly NOT the right feeling. This is not a baroque menuetto... After the DEATH in the 2. movement this has to be LIGHT, BRIGHT and completely... animato... I really don't like this romantic interpretaions of beethoven's scherzo's

[Haeronthegreat]

@gwozdezzz Actually, it is a minuet. Says so in the music.

[gwozdezzz]

@Haeronthegreat What does it have to do with my comment on the interpretation? In later works Beethoven replaced the mE(!)nuett (says so in the music) by a scherzo. But still it is the same gestus you have to reach in it, energic and fresh, and this was the thing I missed by Koblar.

[jermanyificationify]

Not perfect!!

[SertavisPianist]

Man, I need to buy her DVD, anybody know where I can buy it?

[piianno]

brilliant and ingenious! very well done!

[brotherstan28]

Well done! And of course, this piece is brilliant.

[thepianomaniac]

An excellent performance! This little Menuetto and Trio is such a splendid addition to this marvelous Sonata.

[animelf]

yes, the sound and performance is outstanding, all of the movements.

But the way she sits and plays, just not professional, elbows so high, shoulders so high and tense, I hate that, she has to be so tired and exhausted after this, look at her position and her hands, so tense and stiff...thats just not good

[Asgoodasgod]

I'd have to disagree. She's totally at ease in my view. A blind man wouldn't mind at all uh? Regards.

[purememory]

yeah.. her hand movements just seem so elegant and beautiful. but guess everyone has their own teachers n views

[EdiEllerymissing]

I've seen all Irena's videos just to probe what you say. Her technique is a little bit rigide, but that's not a problem for her because she has a very strong hands, you may notice that in her forearm and the she moves her fingers. She has much control of her hand. Her wrist is a little bit up sometimes. I think you're confused, her shoulders are not high, its her dress. Somtimes she gets tense, but is not to much. Her problem for me is her excessive rubato in Beethoven, a little bit out of style

[wogya]

Schiff said about the beginning of this movement: "After such a deep tragedy and frozen silence, suddenly life begins. It's like a ray of hope, like a little flower on the side of the grave." Unfortunately, I cannot feel that connection to the second movement here. It feels like a lot of the tension from the second movement still remains, probably because of the stiffness that others already have detected.

[FlorestanEusebius]

Interesting that Schiff said that. It reminds me what Liszt said about the middle part of the "Mondschein"sonata: "Une fleur entre deux abîmes."

[lourak]

With all of her dexterity and musicality - I detect a stiffness and lack of momentum in her playing that is quite disturbing. Can't quite pin it down though...

[FlorestanEusebius]

I agree with you - this is no relaxed technique. And over and over again I notice that female pianists play staccato staccatissimo. I've heard only a few exceptions (Hess, Norton, Argerich, Larocha). For me, Koblar uses far too little sustaining pedal, so that there is even more disturbing dryness, and too little dynamic contrasts. This can't compete with the wonderful recording of this sonata by Richter.

[BrucknerEnthusiast]

Hear the whole sonata, played by Irena, so that you can hear this movement in context. It's all on YouTube. Her fine account of the long slow movement will entrance any sensitive listener.

[friendlybarman]

I'd like to know more about this pianist. Thanks for posting.