Customer Rating: 
Summary: Really excellent
Comment: Another reviewer has described Perlman and Ashkenazy as "giants" in their respective fields. I would not seek to dispute their stature but such is not of itself sufficient to generate a satisfying performance. I prefer Milstein's recordings of the Bach unaccompanied violin works to those of Perlman; I like Brendel's interpretations of the Beethoven piano sonatas in preference to Ashkenazy's. But the synergy developed between Ashkenazy and Perlman on the four discs of these Decca recordings is palpable.
The Beethoven violin sonatas are wonderful works - all of them, not just the Kreutzer and the Spring which are more widely known than the others. It seems to me that no collection of chamber music could claim to be anywhere near complete in the absence of these sonatas which represent Beethoven at his extraordinary best.
The playing here is first class in every respect. I sometimes find Perlman's playing more technical than musical but not in this instance - these are warm and beautifully balanced performances with an obvious empathy established between piano and violin. This same balance extends to the recording itself which is faultless.
This set is very fine indeed.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Greatest cycle of the greatest violin sonatas ever
Comment: I agree that this is the greatest cycle of the greatest set of violin sonatas ever written. Gidon and Argerich are also good but Argerich doesn't articulate her notes clearly like Ashkenazy. You feel that Argerich is kind of "cheating" by skimming to lightly over some notes - whereas Beethoven needs to be played with a greater force. Ashkenazy provides just the right kind of Beethovenian playing.This set also contains the greatest performance of the greatest violin sonata ever written - the Kreutzer - plus a highly delectable Spring sonata.
If you're not familiar with the rest of Beethoven's sonatas, you'll be surprised at how magnetic they are in the hands of musicians the likes of Ashkenazy and Perlman.
I cannot recommend this too highly. Enjoy.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Best complete set I know of
Comment: There are probably better-known recordings of the individual sonatas, but if you are looking for a consistently good collection from start to finish, this would be it, especially if you are familiar only with the Spring & Kreutzer sonatas. This is a collection that gets wonderfully intimate at times, and is a consistent delight to the listener. This is definitely a worthy addition to any collection.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Magnetic from start to finish!!
Comment: This classic set is magnetic from the first note to the last. If you haven't heard it, you haven't heard Beethoven's Violin Sonatas.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Two contemporary musical masters pay homage
Comment: Listen to this music if you want a searching, thoughtful dialog by the Great Brooder between two superb interpreters of their respective instruments....two instruments only, that manage to fill the room and the world completely.....
Listen with the best equipment you can justify, because this music alone justifies the technology- the access of which to the common man fulfills Beethoven's wildest, unnamed hope.
