Octo_Russ

Beethoven - Piano Sonata 23 'Appassionata' [Kempf] 

Another disc making its debut in my Blog, and debut in my disc player, i don't actually buy Beethoven's Piano Sonatas as full cycle sets, i actually prefer buying them as single / double discs here and there, it's gives a greater range of different Pianists to sample from, i haven't ever listened to Kempf Before, i guess he's good, some strong ideas, and well recorded, his speeds can sound less than convincing, also some of his transitions are jolting and just 'wrong', Kempf needs to learn subtleness in certain areas, plus another Sonata could have fitted on the disc BIS!. 

Freddy Kempf is English, he's now 34, he recorded this disc in 2004, thr front cover picture is by Hideki Shiozawa, almost a silhouette, lovely purple tinge throughout, the dark purples are great, the hands and face especially lighted, showing nice warm skin tones / colours, i like the way the Photographer has shot from a low down angle, very clever and unusual.

Well this was good to hear this disc, it's not all that often i get round to hearing Beethoven's Piano Sonatas, and it was the first movement that really got me, the Sonata is in F minor, and it's certainly coupled with a degree of anger in the first movement, there's a dull introduction which lasts roughly a minute, and the piece slowly gains in volume, Kempf is not too subtle here, he sure likes his dose of forte on the piano, .

Here's Freddy Kempf playing the middle Adagio Cantabile from Piano Sonata 8 'Pathetique' on YouTube.