Beethoven: Piano Sonatas

Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Alfred Brendel
Philips 446 909 (10 CDs)

Contents:

    Sonata No. 16 in G, Op. 31 No. 1
  1. Allegro vivace
  2. Adagio grazioso
  3. Rondo: Allegretto

    4. Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2 "The Tempest"
  4. Largo - Allegro
  5. Adagio
  6. Allegretto

    7. Sonata No. 18 in Eb, Op. 31 No. 3
  7. Allegro
  8. Scherzo: Allegretto vivace
  9. Menuetto: Moderato e grazioso
  10. Presto con fuoco
    Sonata No. 21 in C, Op. 53 "Waldstein"
  1. Allegro con brio
  2. Introduzione: Adagio molto
  3. Rondo: Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo

    4. Sonata No. 22 in F, Op. 54
  4. In tempo d'un Menuetto
  5. Allegretto

    6. Sonata No. 28 in A, Op. 101
  6. Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung: Allegretto ma non troppo
  7. Lebhaft, marschmäßig: Vivace alla marcia
  8. Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll: Adagio ma non troppo, con affetto
  9. Geschwind, doch nicht zu sehr, und mit Entschlossenheit: Allegro
  10. Andante in F, WoO 57 "Andante favori"
    Sonata No. 12 in Ab, Op. 26
  1. Andante con variazioni
  2. Scherzo: Allegro molto
  3. Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un eroe
  4. Allegro

    5. Sonata No. 13 in Eb, Op. 27 No. 1
  5. Andante - Allegro - Tempo I
  6. Allegro molto e vivace
  7. Adagio con espressione
  8. Allegro vivace - Tempo I - Presto

    9. Sonata No. 14 in C# minor, Op. 27 No. 2 "Moonlight"
  9. Adagio sostenuto
  10. Allegretto
  11. Presto

    12. Sonata No. 19 in G minor, Op. 49 No. 1
  12. Andante
  13. Rondo: Allegro
    Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2 No. 1
  1. Allegro
  2. Adagio
  3. Menuetto: Allegretto
  4. Prestissimo

    5. Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 2 No. 2
  5. Allegro vivace
  6. Largo appassionato
  7. Scherzo: Allegretto
  8. Rondo: Grazioso

    9. Sonata No. 3 in C, Op. 2 No. 3
  9. Allegro con brio
  10. Adagio
  11. Scherzo: Allegro
  12. Allegro assai
    Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 "Pathétique"
  1. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio
  2. Adagio cantabile
  3. Rondo: Allegro

    4. Sonata No. 9 in E, Op. 14 No. 1
  4. Allegro
  5. Allegretto
  6. Rondo: Allegro comodo

    7. Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 14 No. 2
  7. Allegro
  8. Andante
  9. Scherzo: Allegro assai

    10. Sonata No. 11 in Bb, Op. 22
  10. Allegro con brio
  11. Adagio con molta espressione
  12. Minuetto
  13. Rondo: Allegretto
    Sonata No. 25 in G, Op. 79
  1. Presto alla tedesca
  2. Andante
  3. Vivace

    4. Sonata No. 24 in F#, Op. 78
  4. Adagio cantabile - Allegro ma non troppo
  5. Allegro vivace

    6. Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90
  6. Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck
  7. Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorgetragen

    8. Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 "Appassionata"
  8. Allegro assai
  9. Andante con moto
  10. Allegro ma non troppo
    Sonata No. 4 in Eb, Op. 7
  1. Allegro molto e con brio
  2. Largo, con gran espressione
  3. Allegro
  4. Rondo: Poco allegretto e grazioso

    5. Sonata No. 15 in D, Op. 28 "Pastoral"
  5. Allegro
  6. Andante
  7. Scherzo: Allegro assai
  8. Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo

    9. Sonata No. 20 in G, Op. 49 No. 2
  9. Allegro ma non troppo
  10. Tempo di menuetto
    Sonata No. 29 in Bb, Op. 106 "Hammerklavier"
  1. Allegro
  2. Scherzo: Assai vivace
  3. Adagio sostenuto. Appassionato e con molto sentimento
  4. Largo - Allegro risoluto

    5. Sonata No. 26 in Eb, Op. 81a "Les adieux"
  5. Das Lebewohl. Adagio - Allegro
  6. Abwesenheit. Andante espressivo
  7. Das Wiedersehen. Vivacissimamente
    Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10 No. 1
  1. Allegro molto e con brio
  2. Adagio molto
  3. Finale: Prestissimo

    4. Sonata No. 6 in F, Op. 10 No. 2
  4. Allegro
  5. Allegretto
  6. Presto

    7. Sonata No. 7 in D, Op. 10 No. 3
  7. Presto
  8. Largo e mesto
  9. Menuetto: Allegro
  10. Rondo: Allegro
    Sonata No. 30 in E, Op. 109
  1. Vivace, ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo - Tempo I
  2. Prestissimo
  3. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung

    4. Sonata No. 31 in Ab, Op. 110
  4. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
  5. Allegro molto
  6. Adagio ma non troppo - Arioso dolente -
  7. Fuga: Allegro ma non troppo - L'istesso tempo di Arioso - L'inversione della Fuga

    8. Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111
  8. Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato
  9. Arietta: Adagio molto semplice e cantabile

Performer: Alfred Brendel

Playing time: 658'

Recording dates: November 1992 - February 1996

Locations vary; some sonatas are recorded from live concerts (Op. 10 Nos. 1 & 2, Op. 106), while most are studio recordings. The last sonatas: Op. 109 was recorded in Henry Wood Hall during 2/1996; Op. 110 & 111 at The Maltings during December 1995. The packaging is quite lavish and durable.

This is Brendel's third complete set, and certainly my favorite. The Vox set is uneven, from his younger years. By the first Philips set, he had the works all together, but the sound is not very good, and the whole set is sort of a trough in his career. Here everything comes together, from superlative playing to excellent sound. I prefer restraint in performance, and a very clear articulation, and hence have long had a preference for Brendel here. This continues to make a great reference.

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T. M. McComb