Beethoven: The Last Three Piano Sonatas

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Revelation brings out the same January 12, 1975, Op. 111 issued by Music & Arts in a brighter yet hissier transfer. Sviatoslav Richter dives headfirst into the opening movement, safety last, looking Beethoven's "Allegro con brio ed appassionato" straight in the eye (what a tempo!), and generates both high tension and repose in the sublime Arietta as well as in Op. 109's variation movement. The slightly distanced miking in an October 10, 1965, Op. 110 is kinder to Richter's metrical shifts and accentuation than the clangy version from the same year on Praga. The pianist still pounds out the left-hand quavers in the Klagender Gesang, in contrast to his more graceful Philips and Live Classics traversals a quarter century later. A worthy but not indispensable addition to Richter's colossal discography. --Jed Distler

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.

Average customer rating:

Beethoven: The Last Three Piano Sonatas

Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005UO8A
Release Date: 2002-02-12

Average customer rating:

Beethoven: The Last Three Piano Sonatas

Manufacturer: Russian Revelation
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000006BB6
Release Date: 1998-04-21

Tracks:

Sonata in E flat, No.30 Op.109: I Vivace ma non troppo-Adagio espressivo-Tempo I
Sonata in E flat, No.30 Op.109: II Prestissimo
Sonata in E flat, No.30 Op.109: III Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo
Sonata in A flat, No.31 Op.110: I Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
Sonata in A flat, No.31 Op.110: II Allegro molto
Sonata in A flat, No.31 Op.110: III.Adagio ma non troppo-Arioso dolente
IV Fuga:allegro ma non troppo-L'istesso tempo di Arioso
Sonata in C minor, No.32 op.111: I Maestoso-Allegro con brio ed appassionato
Sonata in C minor, No.32 op.111: II Arietta:Adagio molto semplice e cantible

Amazon.com

Revelation brings out the same January 12, 1975, Op. 111 issued by Music & Arts in a brighter yet hissier transfer. Sviatoslav Richter dives headfirst into the opening movement, safety last, looking Beethoven's "Allegro con brio ed appassionato" straight in the eye (what a tempo!), and generates both high tension and repose in the sublime Arietta as well as in Op. 109's variation movement. The slightly distanced miking in an October 10, 1965, Op. 110 is kinder to Richter's metrical shifts and accentuation than the clangy version from the same year on Praga. The pianist still pounds out the left-hand quavers in the Klagender Gesang, in contrast to his more graceful Philips and Live Classics traversals a quarter century later. A worthy but not indispensable addition to Richter's colossal discography. --Jed Distler

BEETHOVEN: Last Three Piano Sonatas - Artur Pizarro

Average customer rating:

BEETHOVEN: Last Three Piano Sonatas - Artur Pizarro

Manufacturer: Linn Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000FILYP2
Release Date: 2006-04-27

Tracks:

Vivace, ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo
Prestissimo
Andante, molto cantabile ed espressivo
Moderato cantabile, molto espressivo
Allegro molto
Adagio, ma non troppo - Fuga: Allegro, ma non troppo
Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato
Arietta: Allegro molto , semplice e cantabile

Product Description

Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827)

The Last Three Piano Concertos
Piano Sonata No. 30 in E, Op. 109
Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat, Op. 110
Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111

Artur Pizarro

Average customer rating:

Beethoven Master

Beethoven: The Last Three Sonatas

Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000037IW
Release Date: 1995-10-03

Tracks:

Son No. 30 in E, Op. 109: Vivace Ma Non Troppo-Adagio Espressivo
Son No. 30 in E, Op. 109: Prestissimo
Son No. 30 in E, Op. 109: Gesangvoll Mit Innigster Empfindung: Molto espressivo/Leg...
Son No. 31 in A flat, Op. 110: Moderato Cantabile Molto Espressivo
Son No. 31 in A flat, Op. 110: Allegro Molto
Son No. 31 in A flat, Op. 110: Adagio, Ma Non Troppo-Recitativo-Adagio, Ma Non Troppo
Son No. 31 in A flat, Op. 110: Fuga: Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Son No. 32 in c, Op. 111: Maestoso-Allegro Con Brio Ed Appassionato
Son No. 32 in c, Op. 111: Adagio Molto Semplice E Cantabile

Customer Reviews:

Beethoven Master.......2000-02-27

I must admit to finding Beethoven a bit of a bore- he led music out of the Classical era and into the heavier Romantic era. In his last piano sonatas in particular, Romanticism is revealed at its very peak, and they are demanding for the listener as well as for the performer. Yet in Bernard Roberts, Beethoven has a living champion like no other, and this disc is a fortuitous example of Beethoven playing of the highest standard. It is as if Roberts has been able to sense Beethoven's very soul buried deep in the music, and has found a way to lift it out and share it with us through gripping mastery of the piano and its expressive sound world.

Customer Reviews:

Pianist Bruce Hungerford.......2004-11-06

Bruce Hungerford did not become well known in the world's pantheon of great pianists, of which there are many. What stands out in his recording of Beethoven's final three mystical sonatas of Beethoven is his meticulous love of the composer's intentions. These performances transcend by far any consideration of technique. This has to be understood in purely musical terms; no verbal communication is adequate.

I heard Bruce play op. 111 shortly before his tragic death in an
auto accident on his way home from delivering a lecture on Egyptology at Rockefeller University, New York. I have never
again been so deeply moved by any other keyboard artist.

Please cancel my order for this cd, it is on the double cd,.......2002-06-08

Please cancel my order of this used CD, it is on my 2 cd wish olist of Bruce Hungerford which I have ordered. This will be a duplicate and I shall return it.
George Bournoutian

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

The Trouble with Poets

Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5 (Box Set) [Box set]

Beautiful, But Why? [Import]

Suite 16

The Essential Sun Collection [Import]

And Now...Booker T. and the MG's

ABC Paramount Rec.1

Artur Schnabel Plays Beethoven

A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'Bout Love)

Alone Together [Import] [Original recording remastered]

Anima Animus

Accept No Substitute- Live [Import]

23 Twelves: Twenty Three Records Sampler [Import]

Testament

Jump Jive & Wail: The Very Best of Bill Wyman