now playing

start of Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 27 in E Minor, Op. 90
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZizDVT4Z9uQ&list=OLAK5uy_nti8_sK69i59DEk8paJTX7xOALi6-NUHc&index=88

start of Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG-D680xDcA&list=OLAK5uy_nti8_sK69i59DEk8paJTX7xOALi6-NUHc&index=90

start of Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-Flat Major, Op. 106 "Hammerklavier"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8wI_N1O9ak&list=OLAK5uy_nti8_sK69i59DEk8paJTX7xOALi6-NUHc&index=93

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nti8_sK69i59DEk8paJTX7xOALi6-NUHc

The two modern Beethoven piano sonata cycles I'm looking at listening through right now are Louis Lortie and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet. From the reviews and a cursory listen, Lortie's belongs more to the romantic, tragic approach whereas Bavouzet is classical and placid, even Haydnesque. Here's the first movement of their Appassionata, curious what you guys think:

Lortie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03kQkau3B1k&list=OLAK5uy_nti8_sK69i59DEk8paJTX7xOALi6-NUHc&index=76

Bavouzet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZeCwYo__MM&list=OLAK5uy_lSiE0ScU7ZotnHCk0TjUTp7JCPHapQlpE&index=77

I do recall one anon who said a while back the only cycle they outright vehemently hated was Lortie's, lol, so we'll see.