Title: R. Serkin less a place to start than one of many to end up
Product review: Rudolph Serkin's Beethoven sonatas are different and interesting, but there are many, many versions of the popular Beethoven sonatas that are different and interesting. Better (more mainstream?) performers to start with might include Wilhelm Kempff, Emil Gilels, or possibly Schnabel. Richard Goode and Stephen Kovacevich have performed well in more modern recordings (though Kovacevich's cycle has a clinker or two as well.) Solomon's versions of the late Sonatas should not be missed if you acquire "the bug", and one could (and should) also dip into individual sonatas by Arrau, Brendel and others. (Certain of Svatislav Richter's performances available on Praga and Revalation should also not be missed.) In short, Rudolph Serkin's vision of these works may make his Beethoven less a place to start than one of many places to end up.
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