Barenboim plays Beethoven Sonata No. 15 in D Major Op. 28 "Pastoral", 1st Mov.

[alanblackwood1]

I'm not all that familiar with Schnabel's recordings. But I believe he was the only pianist of his day to perform the first movement of the 'Hammerklavier' Sonata at Beethoven's own metronome marking!

[alanblackwood1]

The opus 28 is not one of Beethoven's best known sonatas but it is one of his finest. And no one plays Beethoven better than Barenboim.

[nestorcadario]

@alanblackwood1 Perhaps Schabel was, and is (yet he is dead) the supreme performer of the Beethoven's Sontates, but Baremboim is the best of the alive performers.

[ym42ym42]

He is trying to make it deeper than it is...

[zymurgea]

It's been said this was Beethoven's favorite sonata, especially the 2nd movement.

[paikiboy]

@zymurgea yes

[magicalfirstkiss]

there's one of the most awkward knots in postmodern thought; to expect us to assign an everpresent ego to all the works of humanity. beethoven did honest work according to one design, and he himself professed it was that of heavenly and universal brotherhood. "atheists" are essentially people born to be trolled by beethoven's work. what irony, i can't think of anything better to place faith in than ludwig van. music was better scripture than any JC ever made it into, for sure.

[orphyborphy]

@magicalfirstkiss Haha I love your style - you aren't afraid to offend many, many people (myself not included)

[7days0sensibility]

It's maybe a not well known sonata, but surely a really beautiful one =)

[ricvonzipper]

@7days0sensibility I am constantly amazed at Beethoven's otherworldliness with the inexhaustable depth of his themes and developments. He, without a doubt, was commissioned by God to be His vehicle by which to ease a world of suffering in exchange for immortality. Beethoven, to his everlasting credit, will receive top honors among men for not ending his life when the pain of his affliction became too great to bear.