Beethoven: Cello Sonatas Nos. 4 & 5

Editorial Reviews
American Record Guide
"These two musicians are lively and virtuosic players with good feeling for drama and sonic excitement, the recording is excellent."

Album Description
Written in 1815 during the composer’s final creative period, and at a time when the piano was becoming a more sonorous instrument, Beethoven’s Cello Sonatas Nos. 4 and 5 exploit the cello’s cantabile potential more fully than was previously possible. The great Sonata No. 5 features the first real slow movement of all the sonatas, a haunting Adagio in which both instruments are treated as equal partners. In the finale, an Allegro fugato, the musical argument is even more concentrated as Beethoven explores the extreme range of the developing keyboard instrument. This disc concludes Maria Kliegel’s recordings of the complete music for cello and piano by Beethoven.

Tracks:

Vc And Pno Son No.3 in A, Op.69: Allegro Ma Non Tanto
Vc And Pno Son No.3 in A, Op.69: Scherzo (Allegro Molto)
Vc And Pno Son No.3 in A, Op.69: Adagio Cantabile - Allegro Vivace
Vc And Pno Son No.4 in C, Op.102 No.1: Andante - Allegro Vivace
Vc And Pno Son No.4 in C, Op.102 No.1: Adagio - Tempo D'Andante - Allegro Vivace
Vc And Pno Son No.5 in D, Op.102 No.2: Allegro Con Brio
Vc And Pno Son No.5 in D, Op.102 No.2: Adagio Con Molto Sentimento D'Affetto
Vc And Pno Son No.5 in D, Op.102 No.2: Allegro - Allegro Fugato
Rhap No.2 in g, Op.79
Intermezzo in a, Op.116 No.2 - Artur Schnabel
Intermezzo in E flat, Op.117 No.1 - Artur Schnabel

Amazon.com

Artur Schnabel's postwar collaborations with cellist Pierre Fournier yielded compelling performances of Beethoven's three greatest cello sonatas. Matching Fournier's warm sound and elegant style with Schnabel's austere command of Beethoven's idiom was inspired. The result is momentum in the outer movements, soulfulness in the adagios. They're almost on par with the classic Emanuel Feuermann-Myra Hess recording of Op. 69 (also on Pearl) and their Opus 102 Sonatas are unbeatable, with the great Adagio of the second of the pair a moving high point, perfectly capturing one of Beethoven's finest single movements. The following fugue is exciting in its forward movement and the relaxed, natural way the two instruments exchange phrases. The Beethoven works alone would make for an indispensable disc, but the Brahms fillers are just as mouth-watering. Schnabel's Rhapsody and Intermezzos are a lesson in great Brahms playing, the Rhapsody with its transparent textures and the Intermezzos melting without a trace of sentimentality. Fine transfers by Seth Winner. --Dan Davis

Beethoven: Cello and Piano Sonatas Nos. 2, 4, 5

Average customer rating:

Gorgeous Recording....
Gorgeous Recording....

Beethoven: Cello and Piano Sonatas Nos. 2, 4, 5

Manufacturer: Valois
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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Beethoven: Cello Sonatas 1 & 3, Variations
Anne Gastinel Performs Cello Concertos (Box Set)
Elgar / Barber / Cello Concertos / Gastinel

ASIN: B00007JO8I
Release Date: 2003-02-11

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous Recording...........2004-02-04

This is a beautiful demonstration of how gorgeous music can be. The performances are inspired -- and the recording quality is not to be believed. I rarely have been as enthralled by a recording. I will still cherish older visions of these works but I must admit it would be the first recording I'd reach for to provide as close to live musical experience from a CD. I suspect this is the first of a set. I look forward to the release of the next disc.

Gorgeous Recording...........2004-02-04

Average customer rating:

Kliegel & Tichman Finish Their Very Fine Beethoven Series

Beethoven: Cello Sonatas Nos. 4 & 5

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

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Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 3, Op. 69; Cello Sonata, Op. 64
Music for Cello & Piano 1
Peter Lieberson: Neruda Songs

ASIN: B0002TNGXW
Release Date: 2004-09-21

Tracks:

Andante - Allegro Vivace
Adagio - Tempo D' Andante
Allegro Vivace
Allegro Con Brio
Adagio Con Molto Sentimento D' Affetto
Allegro Fugato
Theme: Allegretto
Variation I
Variation II
Variation III
Variation IV
Variation V
Variation VI
Variation VII
Variation VIII
Variation IX
Variation X: Allegro
Variation XI: Adagio
Variation XII: Allegro
Allegro
Minuetto

Album Description

Written in 1815 during the composer's final creative period, and at a time when the piano was becoming a more sonorous instrument, Beethoven's Cello Sonatas Nos. 4 and 5 exploit the cello's cantabile potential more fully than was previously possible. The great Sonata No. 5 features the first real slow movement of all the sonatas, a haunting Adagio in which both instruments are treated as equal partners. In the finale, an Allegro fugato, the musical argument is even more concentrated as Beethoven explores the extreme range of the developing keyboard instrument. This disc concludes Maria Kliegel's recordings of the complete music for cello and piano by Beethoven.

Customer Reviews:

Kliegel & Tichman Finish Their Very Fine Beethoven Series.......2004-10-04

Maria Kliegel is a German cellist whose name has become increasingly familiar over the past few years. She is, in my opinion, one of the finest cellists to come along in a while. And her piano partner here, Nina Tichman, an American teaching in Germany, is an equally secure and musicianly player. I wrote a very positive review of their earliest issue in this series of all of Beethoven's cello/piano music. And here the pair finish out that task with Volume 3 which includes not only the two final sonatas, No. 4 in C, Op. 102, No. 1 and No. 5 in D, Op. 102, No. 2 (sometimes called the 'Erdödy Sonatas' after Countess Maria von Erdödy, a Beethoven patroness to whom they are dedicated), but also the rather lighter set of variations on 'See here the conqu'ring hero comes' from Handel's 'Judas Maccabaeus,' WoO45 and a real rarity, the viola and cello duet in E flat, WoO 32.

The playing is at a high level throughout. Kliegel and Tichman are able to convey the drama of the sonatas without their sound becoming rough or unpleasant. Many cello/piano duos soften their approach, using a more rounded tone to avoid that problem. The present duo meet the challenges squarely and come through with, particularly in the outer movements, strongly delineated and yet beautiful-toned performances. I have been very taken with the complete set done by David Finckel and Wu Han (on their own label, ArtistLed, available only from the label's website) and of course the Rostropovich/Richter set. But this duo meets their competitors head on and is at least the equal of the others. The long line of the adagio movements in both sonatas is beautifully maintained. The brio of the two final movements is equally effective. But best of all are the large first movements of the two sonatas. They convey Beethoven's structural thinking clearly and expertly and with all possible drama. The Maccabaeus variations are not Beethoven's finest composition, but they are fun to hear (and, I suspect, to play). Our duo plays them with sweet innocence and obvious joy.

The big surprise, largely because I'd never heard the viola/cello duet before, is that although this is early Beethoven (written probably in 1798) has a humorous subtitle ('Duet with Two Obbligato Eyeglasses,' reportedly given to the work jokingly by Beethoven because the amateur cellist for whom it was written had very weak eyesight) is that it is a very strong work. Indeed, this thirteen minute work in two movements reminds at times of Mozart's string trio, the great Divertimento in E flat, K. 563. And Zimmermann and Kliegel play the socks off it.

So, the bottom line is that this issue, like its predecessors, is a very strong entry in the field, and when one considers Naxos's budget price, it is well-nigh irresistible.

TT=58:47

Scott Morrison

Beethoven: Sonatas for Cello & Piano Nos. 3, 4, 5

Average customer rating:

Great performances - wonderful CD
Terrible
Terrible

Beethoven: Sonatas for Cello & Piano Nos. 3, 4, 5

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000026YV
Release Date: 1992-07-28

Tracks:

Sonata No. 3 For Cello & Piano In A Major, Op. 69: I. Allegro ma non tanto
Sonata No. 3 For Cello & Piano In A Major, Op. 69: II. Scherzo. Allegro molto
Sonata No. 3 For Cello & Piano In A Major, Op. 69: III. Adagio cantabile - Allegro vivace
Sonata No. 4 For Cello & Piano In C Major, Op. 102, No. 1: I. Andante - Allegro vivace
Sonata No. 4 For Cello & Piano In C Major, Op. 102, No. 1: II. Adagio - Allegro vivace
Sonata No. 5 For Cello & Piano In D Major, Op. 102, No. 2: I. Allegro con brio
Sonata No. 5 For Cello & Piano In D Major, Op. 102, No. 2: II. Adagio con molto sentimento d'affetto
Sonata No. 5 For Cello & Piano In D Major, Op. 102, No. 2: III. Allegro - Allegro fugato

Customer Reviews:

Great performances - wonderful CD.......2004-11-17

Just bought this last night and have listened to it three times already. I have same works played by Richter and Rostrapovitch, which is an excellent recording, but I have to say that Serkin and Casals play just wonderfully together, in perfect concert. Neither one dominates, and their timing is perfect.

I don't like to comment on other reviewers, but the sound on this recording is excellent. The recording was made in the 50's, so obviously it's not perfect, but I cannot hear any distracting pops and hisses; in fact compared with other "historical" recordings the sound is great.

Terrible.......2004-06-05

All tracks contain pops, clicks and hisses, and the overall quality sounds like something out of a 1940's radio. With so many distractions, its hard to focus on the performance. Don't believe me? Listen to the sample and i'm more then positive you will agree.

Terrible.......2004-06-05

The tracks contains pops, clicks and hisses, and the overall quality sounds like something out of a 1940's radio.

Average customer rating:

Beethoven: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1-5

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000041SD
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Beethoven: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1-5; Antonio Janigro

Average customer rating:

Beethoven: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1-5; Antonio Janigro

Manufacturer: Vanguard
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000023BM
Release Date: 1997-01-01

Tracks:

Son No.1 in F, Op.5, No.1: Adagio Sostenuto - Allegro
Son No.1 in F, Op.5, No.1: Allegro Vivace
Son No.2 in g, Op.5, No.2: Adagio Sostenuto Ed Espressivo - Allegro Molto Piu Tosto Presto
Son No.2 in g, Op.5, No.2: Rondo (Allegro)

Tracks:

Son No.3 in A, Op.69: Allegro Ma Non Tanto
Son No.3 in A, Op.69: Scherzo (Allegro Molto)
Son No.3 in A, Op.69: Adagio Cantabile-Allegro Vivace
Son No.4 in C, Op.102, No.1: Andante - Allegro Vivace
Son No.4 in C, Op.102, No.1: Adagio - Tempo D'Andante-Allegro Vivace
Son No.5 in D, Op.102, No.2: Allegro Con Brio
Son No.5 in D, Op.102, No.2: Adagio Con Molto Sentimento D'Affeto
Son No.5 in D, Op.102, No.2: Allegro - Allegro Fugato

Amazon.com

When Antonio Janigro and Jörg Demus made these recordings in 1965, they played only Beethoven's Cello Sonatas, which is a pity. Most such recordings also include his three sets of Variations for cello and piano. And the way these experienced Beethoven players characterize the music they do play, one really wishes to hear them do the Variations also. Janigro, who died in 1989, made most of his recordings for Westminster and didn't record much in stereo. He and Demus gave the world one of the most distinguished and powerful sets of this wonderful music, and at mid-price, even without the Variations, the CDs are a bargain. --Leslie Gerber

Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonatas for Piano and Cello Nos. 4 & 5

Average customer rating:

Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonatas for Piano and Cello Nos. 4 & 5

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000E6YQX
Release Date: 2004-05-18

Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonatas for Cello & Piano Nos. 1-5

Average customer rating:

A rare find! For more visit antoniojanigro.com

Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonatas for Cello & Piano Nos. 1-5

Manufacturer: Vanguard Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0000CABII
Release Date: 2003-11-11

Customer Reviews:

A rare find! For more visit antoniojanigro.com.......2004-02-08

These are old recordings that have for long time been unavailable. The recent reissue on CD of Antonio Janigro's recordings is welcome. These are not "historical recordings". The quality of sound is excellent and one may believe that the disc are DDD. The musicality of the interpreters has nothing to envy to other cello-piano stars. It's actually refreshing to finally hear something new (oops, old!).