One can hardly appraise Western classical music as a whole without spending some time on Beethoven. Although certain elements of his personal style are not to my taste, and there are consequently relatively few works which appeal to me on a deep level, his command of form is sufficient in itself to generate interest. There is no question that Beethoven changed the course of art music as few people have done.
The body of work which I feel represents Beethoven at his best is the piano sonatas. This is his most personal music, as well as his most idiomatic for the instrument(s). The body of piano sonatas remains unparalleled, and presents many interesting features. Indeed, virtually everything found in the remainder of Beethoven's output is found first in the sonatas. I prefer restraint in performance, and a very clear articulation, and hence have always preferred Brendel's playing. His latest set is his best:
Among these works, the Op. 54 & Op. 110 Sonatas have always been personal favorites, and these are my favorite individual pieces among Beethoven's work.
Of course, Beethoven's Symphonies were central to the entire development of the genre, and indeed form the core of that repertory. Symphonic writing continues to be the most recognized distinctly Western musical tradition, and so this music is at its core. I have little personal taste for large-scale orchestral writing, or Beethoven's symphonies in particular, although there are some things to like about them. The following set is at least worth hearing:
I would not particularly need a "period" set, but I do like what Harnoncourt has done with these works. Of course, it goes without saying that they are so well-known, recordings are basically unnecessary.
Continuing in that vein, Beethoven's Piano Concertos are also central to the Western classical canon, and deserve a mention. They are often too full of showmanship for my taste, but I do enjoy Nos. 3 & 4. A fine recording:
Again, any number of recordings might merit listing, but a recording remains essentially a reminder of music which everyone knows anyway. This one actually does do a remarkable job of reflecting how I personally conceive the music.
Finally, the string quartet is one of my favorite forms, and Beethoven's work here is also seminal. In this case, the individual pieces themselves never seem to come together in total, with the various phases in his career delineated so sharply and each presenting their own strengths and weaknesses. Nonetheless, I must mention a complete survey of these quartets:
Although this is a live series of recitals, it comes off very well. The energy is needed for some of the movements which either drag along wallowing or proceed so dryly.
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Todd M. McComb Updated: 6 May 2005