Maria Joćo Pires ~ Beethoven - Sonatas "Quasi una fantasia" ~ Moonlight

Track Listings
1. Piano Sonata no. 13, op. 27 no. 1: Andante-Allegro-Tempo I-attaca    
2. Piano Sonata no. 13, op. 27 no. 1: Allegro molto e vivace-attaca    
3. Piano Sonata no. 13, op. 27 no. 1: Adagio con espressione: attacca    
4. Piano Sonata no. 13, op. 27 no. 1: Allegro vivace    
5. Piano Sonata no. 14, op. 27 no. 2: Adagio sostenuto-attacca    
6. Piano Sonata no. 14, op. 27 no. 2: Allegretto-attacca    
7. Piano Sonata no. 14, op. 27 no. 2: Presto agitato    
8. Piano Sonata no. 30 op. 109: Vivace, ma non troppo    
9. Piano Sonata no. 30 op. 109: Prestissimo    
10. Piano Sonata no. 30 op. 109: Gesangvoll, mit inningster Empfindung    

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Maria-João Pires's poetic pianism has won admirers for her lyric Chopin and sensitive Mozart performances. She brings similar romantic sensibility to these Beethoven sonatas, using a wide dynamic range, strong tempo contrasts, and her usual sober interpretive stance. Beethoven's music is so strong, it can take an enormous variety of approaches, and many will find Pires's versions of these sonatas enthralling, given the beauty of her tone and her obvious involvement in the music. But her approach often verges on mannerism. The slow movements tend to be too slow, as in the dreamy opening movement of Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata, which subordinates the argument of the piece to mere prettiness. Compared with such master Beethoven pianists as Arrau, Kempff, Schnabel, and Yves Nat, the great Op. 109 sonata seems superficial, its dragging opening a microcosm of what's objectionable in her approach to Beethoven. Pires's fans will not be disappointed, but Beethoven buffs will have reservations. Excellent sonics, but the packaging is puzzling, and the booklet could be mistaken for a real estate ad for Pires's Portuguese estate. --Dan Davis

Maria Joćo Pires ~ Beethoven - Sonatas "Quasi una fantasia" ~ Moonlight, Music, Ludwig van Beethoven, Maria Joćo Pires, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Keyboard, Romantic Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Beethoven: Piano Sonatas
    Maria Joao Pires
    Manufacturer: Les Incontournables
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    4-for-3 Classical4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
    4-for-3 All Music4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
    ASIN: B000063J9S
    Release Date: 2002-08-12

    Tracks:

    1. Piano Sonata No. 14 In C Sharp Minor ("Moonlight"), Op. 27/2
    2. Piano Sonata No.8 Op.13 'Pathetique'
    3. Piano Sonata No.17 Op.31 No.2 'Tempest'
    4. Piano Sonata No.23 Op.57 'Appassionata'
    Beethoven: Piano Sonatas
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Beethoven: Piano Sonatas

      Manufacturer: Erato
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      All Works by BeethovenAll Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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      Similar Items:
      1. Maria João Pires ~ Beethoven - Sonatas "Quasi una fantasia" ~ Moonlight
      2. Schubert: Sonata; 6 Moments Musicaux; 2 Scherzi
      3. Schumann: Kinderszenen; Waldszenen; Bunte Blätter (Excerpts); Etc.
      4. Mozart: Piano Concertos 14,17 & 21
      5. Maria João Pires ~ Bach - Partita No. 1 · English Suite No. 3 · French Suite No. 2

      ASIN: B00005OBR7
      Release Date: 2002-02-19

      Tracks:

      1. Sonata Quasi Una Fantasia No.14 In C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': Adagio Sostenuto
      2. Sonata Quasi Una Fantasia No.14 In C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': Allegretto
      3. Sonata Quasi Una Fantasia No.14 In C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': Presto
      4. Sonata No.8 In C Minor, Op.13 'Pathetique': Grave - Allegro Di Molto E Con Brio
      5. Sonata No.8 In C Minor, Op.13 'Pathetique': Adagio Cantabile
      6. Sonata No.8 In C Minor, Op.13 'Pathetique': Rondo
      7. Sonata No.17 In D Minor, Op.31 No.2 'The Tempest': Largo - Allegro
      8. Sonata No.17 In D Minor, Op.31 No.2 'The Tempest': Adagio
      9. Sonata No.17 In D Minor, Op.31 No.2 'The Tempest': Allegretto
      10. Sonata No.23 In F Minor, Op.57 'Appassionata': Allegro Assai
      11. Sonata No.23 In F Minor, Op.57 'Appassionata': Andante Con Moto - Allegro Ma Non Troppo
      Maria João Pires ~ Beethoven - Sonatas "Quasi una fantasia" ~ Moonlight
      Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
      • Unwieldy Packaging! Horrible Sound Quality!
      • Very well played
      • careful of expectations...
      • Transcendent, austere beauty.
      		 Maria João Pires ~ Beethoven - Sonatas "Quasi una fantasia" ~ Moonlight
      Ludwig van Beethoven , and Maria João Pires
      Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      All Works by BeethovenAll Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      SonatinasSonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
      Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      Pires, Maria-JoaoPires, Maria-Joao | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
      Deutsche Grammophon: MusicDeutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
      Similar Items:
      1. Beethoven: Piano Sonatas
      2. Maria João Pires ~ Bach - Partita No. 1 · English Suite No. 3 · French Suite No. 2

      ASIN: B00005OC07
      Release Date: 2001-11-13

      Tracks:

      1. Piano Sonata no. 13, op. 27 no. 1: Andante-Allegro-Tempo I-attaca
      2. Piano Sonata no. 13, op. 27 no. 1: Allegro molto e vivace-attaca
      3. Piano Sonata no. 13, op. 27 no. 1: Adagio con espressione: attacca
      4. Piano Sonata no. 13, op. 27 no. 1: Allegro vivace
      5. Piano Sonata no. 14, op. 27 no. 2: Adagio sostenuto-attacca
      6. Piano Sonata no. 14, op. 27 no. 2: Allegretto-attacca
      7. Piano Sonata no. 14, op. 27 no. 2: Presto agitato
      8. Piano Sonata no. 30 op. 109: Vivace, ma non troppo
      9. Piano Sonata no. 30 op. 109: Prestissimo
      10. Piano Sonata no. 30 op. 109: Gesangvoll, mit inningster Empfindung

      Amazon.com

      Maria-João Pires's poetic pianism has won admirers for her lyric Chopin and sensitive Mozart performances. She brings similar romantic sensibility to these Beethoven sonatas, using a wide dynamic range, strong tempo contrasts, and her usual sober interpretive stance. Beethoven's music is so strong, it can take an enormous variety of approaches, and many will find Pires's versions of these sonatas enthralling, given the beauty of her tone and her obvious involvement in the music. But her approach often verges on mannerism. The slow movements tend to be too slow, as in the dreamy opening movement of Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata, which subordinates the argument of the piece to mere prettiness. Compared with such master Beethoven pianists as Arrau, Kempff, Schnabel, and Yves Nat, the great Op. 109 sonata seems superficial, its dragging opening a microcosm of what's objectionable in her approach to Beethoven. Pires's fans will not be disappointed, but Beethoven buffs will have reservations. Excellent sonics, but the packaging is puzzling, and the booklet could be mistaken for a real estate ad for Pires's Portuguese estate. --Dan Davis

      Customer Reviews:

      1 out of 5 stars Unwieldy Packaging! Horrible Sound Quality!.......2006-07-28

      For a disc that comes advertised as DDD quality mastered, I have to say that I'm very disappointed indeed! The volume levels are very, very low so much so that you can hardly hear a thing without raising your volume knob way, way up. Pires is probably a very good pianist but who could say for sure when you can hardly hear a darn thing! The packaging is flimsy cardboard and extremely unwieldy making it difficult to even remove the disc. I have to say that this purchase is a major disappointment and needless to say, I regret buying this.

      5 out of 5 stars Very well played.......2002-10-07

      Pires did a wonderful work
      with this sonatas, my favorite
      is Beethoven's "Moonlight" sonata.
      Pires puts the passion and the
      feelings that the performance
      of these works need.

      3 out of 5 stars careful of expectations..........2002-02-20

      Pires is a superb pianist, and I am a huge fan of virtually every recording she has produced...until this one. Mind you, this is not a "bad" recording. Rather, it just did not move me the way that nearly all of her other recordings have. By way of example, I think her recordings of the Schubert Impromptus are the kind one would wish to have on that proverbial desert isle.

      One other complaint is against the experimental packaging. It was exceptionally flimsy. One must hope that we are not viewing the future of CD packaging.

      5 out of 5 stars Transcendent, austere beauty........2001-12-03

      Reviewers write in such hyperbole that words are cheapened. When a genuinely transcendent work of art comes along, our praise uses the same vocabulary as that applied to the latest bit of over-hyped junk. I found this recording hypnotic and unique--an incomparable fusion of mature, wise austerity, impeccable technique, controlled passion, bright intelligence and an almost otherworldly sensitivity enabled by, rather than inhibited by, the artist's self-control. If this sounds contradictory, it's because language won't go the step beyond required to communicate the level of achievement Maria Joao Pires has reached at this point. Like the utterly-different Martha Argerich, she is a transcendent artist, someone who exists in such a perfect union with the music that, upon hearing her recordings, you feel that "this is exactly how the piece was meant to be played and heard and felt." For anyone who believes the "Moonlight" sonata is worn-out, this recording will be a revelation. My only reservation is that I'm not certain young ears will "get it." This is music so incisive that the listener may need a certain experience of life--and of music--to begin to appreciate the quality on offer. Quiet, rigorous, yet rich with passion of the highest order, this is, for me, one of the greatest piano recordings I have ever heard. Stunning.
      Beethoven: Piano Sonatas
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Beethoven: Piano Sonatas
        Maria Joao Pires
        Manufacturer: Erato/Warner Classics
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
        ASIN: B00004UJY9
        Release Date: 2002-08-12

        Track Listings:

        1. Medtner: Sonatas for Piano, Op.5 , Op.11
        2. Meredith Willson's The Music Man (1991 Studio Cast) [Cast Recording]
        3. Mozart: Piano Sonatas Kv 309, 332, 570 [Import]
        4. Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 41, 25 & 32
        5. Music from Tajikistan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia
        6. My Ireland
        7. Nielsen: Saul & David, Op.25
        8. Nouveau Banjo
        9. Original Classical Album [Import]
        10. Percussion Ensemble Project

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