Love Schnabel's. I like Gieseking's Beethoven but I don't think it's quite the bullseye of Schnabel's. Would love to discover some others though. Kempff?
Schnabel is the gold standard. I also like Edwin Fischer very much. For opus 90 and 101, Richter on Praga is also great. For opus 106, Richter is incomparable on Stradivarius label (live recording from 1976).
I find Kempff to be dull, though his earlier mono recordings are less duller than his mind numbing stereo re-recordings.
Kempff is always worth exploring in my opinion -- particularly in the late sonatas -- but Kempff does attract diametrically opposing opinions and I think you need to allow his interpretations to grow on you. His approach is to Beethoven is simplicity, lyricism, and inner power -- not everyone's view. Moravec's performance of Sonata 27 will reward your effort (Connoisseur Society label).
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