Hi

I'm looking for a birthday present for a friend and finally had some inspiration.

I know he's learning the Pathetique sonata at the moment and we have a longstanding joke about him owing me a rendition of the Raindrop prelude.

Does anyone know of a good CD which has both of these pieces on it? Or a favourite rendition of one or other that I could check out? I think the Beethoven is probably priority as that's what he's playing at the moment and keeps randomly playing bits of - having a really inspiring version of it would be a nice present. Both on the same disc might just be asking too much!

Anyway if anyone has any recommendations for either or both piece that I can go away and research, I'd be grateful - starting from scratch is hard when I know lots of pianists but everyone and his brother has recorded these famous pieces and there's quite a choice.........

Here is a thought -it all depends how much you are going to spend - have you thought about organising a subscription to Naxos. Therefore they can listen to many different versions of each piece.

It is fantastic. I use it but I don't pay for it so I can't give you an idea of the piece.

Maybe have a look into it??

It may seem a little impersonal of a gift but if someone go it for me I would be over the moon!

Hmmm - I'll look and see how much it is. He's a good friend but I don't want to embarrass him with something overly extravagant. And I would love to find a really inspiring version of something that's currently relevant for him.

Edit: erk, am I looking in the right place? $150 for a year is definitely out of my price range atm...

Gosh - I really did not think it was that expensive - sorry for my outrageous suggestions!

That's OK - it was a lovely idea and I was quite taken with it till I looked up the price!!! I guess even a month's subscription would be a good present but you'd have to be ready to do some serious downloading! I think I'll stick with a smaller and more permanent gift

The thing is - you can't download from the site, only listen!!!

Oh right - I thought you could download too! A month's worth would be a bit of a damp squib indeed then. Ahh well! Back to the drawing board

Can't comment on the CD, but with the Naxos subscription I really think you have been looking in the wrong place. I have a subscription for Naxos, and I only cost me 19.95 (euro's or dollars) a year!

Good luck with finding a gift!

I rather thought it wasn't that much, I was surprised when that page said $150... I guess I will have to go and look again - maybe the one I found was for downloading stuff off it... I'll have to do more research

Can't think of one and couldn't find one on Amazon either i'm afraid. I think your best bet would be one of those compilation cd's free with the newspapers (and cheaper!) although most of them usually have the moonlight rather than the pathetique

I looked on amazon and came to the same conclusion!

OK... anyone got any favourite renditions of either piece they can recommend? And if the rest of the CD is good, then - bonus! (I can always save up the surplus one for next year )

Could you make your own CD and put those two pieces on it along with some others.