A Beethoven Trilogy: The Last Three Sonatas, Opp. 109, 110 & 111

Track Listings

1. Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Opus 109 - I Vivage ma non troppo

2. Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Opus 109 - II Prestissimo

3. Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Opus 109 - III Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo (Gesangvoll, mit inningster Empfindung)

4. Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Opus 110 - I Moderato cantabile molto espressivo

5. Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Opus 110 - II Allegro molto

6. Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Opus 110 - III Adagio, ma non troppo; Arioso dolente (Klagender gesang)

7. Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Opus 110 - IV Fuga: Allegro, ma non troppo; L'istesso tempo di Arioso

8. Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Opus 110 - V L'istesso tempo della Fuga poi a poi di nuovo vivente (nach und nach wieder auflebend)

9. Sonata No. 32 in c minor, Opus 111 - I Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato

10. Sonata No. 32 in c minor, Opus 111 - II Arietta: Adagio molto semplice e cantabile

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Written between 1820 and 1822 at a time when Beethoven was suffering from a variety of maladies including nearly total deafness, each of these three sonatas stands alone as a great artistic achievement. Heard together in Victor Rosenbaum's magisterial performances, these works remind us of what vast new territories of the imagination Beethoven explored. Pianist Victor Rosenbaum became a member of the piano faculty at the New England Conservatory in 1967, and went on to head both the piano and chamber music departments at NEC. In addition to his long tenure at NEC, Rosenbaum was Director and President of the Longy School of Music from 1985 to 2001, where he continues as a faculty member. Victor Rosenbaum has toured as a soloist throughout Europe and the USA, and in 1996 made his first solo recording for Bridge Records–a highly acclaimed Schubert recital (BRIDGE 9070). In this recording, made in Boston's acoustically superb Jordan Hall, Rosenbaum plays Beethoven's final three sonatas in powerfully insightful readings.

Tracks:

Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Opus 109 - I Vivage ma non troppo
Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Opus 109 - II Prestissimo
Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Opus 109 - III Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo (Gesangvoll, mit inningster Empfindung)
Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Opus 110 - I Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Opus 110 - II Allegro molto
Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Opus 110 - III Adagio, ma non troppo; Arioso dolente (Klagender gesang)
Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Opus 110 - IV Fuga: Allegro, ma non troppo; L'istesso tempo di Arioso
Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Opus 110 - V L'istesso tempo della Fuga poi a poi di nuovo vivente (nach und nach wieder auflebend)
Sonata No. 32 in c minor, Opus 111 - I Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato
Sonata No. 32 in c minor, Opus 111 - II Arietta: Adagio molto semplice e cantabile

Album Description

Written between 1820 and 1822 at a time when Beethoven was suffering from a variety of maladies including nearly total deafness, each of these three sonatas stands alone as a great artistic achievement. Heard together in Victor Rosenbaum's magisterial performances, these works remind us of what vast new territories of the imagination Beethoven explored. Pianist Victor Rosenbaum became a member of the piano faculty at the New England Conservatory in 1967, and went on to head both the piano and chamber music departments at NEC. In addition to his long tenure at NEC, Rosenbaum was Director and President of the Longy School of Music from 1985 to 2001, where he continues as a faculty member. Victor Rosenbaum has toured as a soloist throughout Europe and the USA, and in 1996 made his first solo recording for Bridge Records-a highly acclaimed Schubert recital (BRIDGE 9070). In this recording, made in Boston's acoustically superb Jordan Hall, Rosenbaum plays Beethoven's final three sonatas in powerfully insightful readings.

Customer Reviews:

Rosenbaum Brings These Works Home.......2007-02-12

This is the single most satisfying recording I own of Beethoven's last three piano sonatas. I rank it alongside Gilels' offering.

Claudio Arrau was once noted to have observed that you can't really play the late Beethoven sonatas unless you're at least 50 years old. By that, I believe he meant that you have to have lived and contended with a certain minimum set of important emotional milestones and experiences that can only occur with maturity. I have come to increasingly appreciate Arrau's observation, especially listening to the performances of younger artists. It seems that some of what is being said in these late works simply goes over their heads. In contrast, none of the emotional terrain these works cover is lost on Maestro Rosenbaum.

I had the pleasure of meeting Maestro Rosenbaum and playing for him in a master class. I also observed him with other pianists during their master class sessions as well. Rosenbaum brings a rare and refreshing psychological-mindedness to his interpretation of a composer's work. His playing reflects this approach in that his performance of a work feels like the unfolding of a compelling and inevitable emotional drama. After listening to him, I feel I've been told a story, even if I can't remember any of the words.

If you are looking to be emotionally moved by these works, you will be very pleased with this disc.

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1. Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Opus 109 - I Vivage ma non troppo
2. Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Opus 109 - II Prestissimo
3. Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Opus 109 - III Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo (Gesangvoll, mit inningster Empfindung)
4. Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Opus 110 - I Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
5. Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Opus 110 - II Allegro molto
6. Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Opus 110 - III Adagio, ma non troppo; Arioso dolente (Klagender gesang)
7. Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Opus 110 - IV Fuga: Allegro, ma non troppo; L'istesso tempo di Arioso
8. Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Opus 110 - V L'istesso tempo della Fuga poi a poi di nuovo vivente (nach und nach wieder auflebend)
9. Sonata No. 32 in c minor, Opus 111 - I Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato
10. Sonata No. 32 in c minor, Opus 111 - II Arietta: Adagio molto semplice e cantabile