Violin Sonatas 5 & 9

1. Sonata for violin & piano No. 5 in F major ("Spring") Op. 24
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Monique Frasca-Colombier , Michelle Langot

2. Sonata for violin & piano No. 9 in A major ("Kreutzer") Op. 47
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Monique Frasca-Colombier , Michelle Langot

Violin Sonatas 5 & 9,Beethoven,Frasca-Colombier,Langot,Pierre Verany,Classical,Classical Music

Average customer rating: Yes, perfect Mozart-A prisoner of his own time. Good music and good value Five and a half hours of joy for not much bucks FINALLY

Mozart: Piano Sonatas Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Eschenbach, Christoph | ( E ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Eschenbach, Christoph | ( E ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Bargain Box Sets | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Mozart: The Violin Sonatas Brahms: Works for Solo Piano Schubert: The Piano Sonatas Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas Beethoven - The Complete String Quartets / Alban Berg Quartet ASIN: B00002DEH1 Release Date: 1999-11-09

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata In C Major, K. 46d: 1. Allegro
2. Piano Sonata In C Major, K. 46d: 2. Menuetto I - II
3. Piano Sonata In F Major, K. 46e: 1. Allegro
4. Piano Sonata In F Major, K. 46e: 2. Menuetto
5. Piano Sonata In C Major, K. 279: 1. Allegro
6. Piano Sonata In C Major, K. 279: 2. Andante
7. Piano Sonata In C Major, K. 279: 3. Allegro
8. Piano Sonata In F Major, K. 280: 1. Allegro assai
9. Piano Sonata In F Major, K. 280: 2. Adagio
10. Piano Sonata In F Major, K. 280: 3. Presto
11. Piano Sonata In B Flat Major, K. 281: 1. Allegro
12. Piano Sonata In B Flat Major, K. 281: 2. Andante amoroso
13. Piano Sonata In B Flat Major, K. 281: 3. Rondeau. Allegro
14. Piano Sonata In E Flat Major, K. 282: 1. Adagio
15. Piano Sonata In E Flat Major, K. 282: 2. Menuetto I - II
16. Piano Sonata In E Flat Major, K. 282: 3. Allegro

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata In G Major, K. 283: 1. Allegro
2. Piano Sonata In G Major, K. 283: 2. Andante
3. Piano Sonata In G Major, K. 283: 3. Presto
4. Piano Sonata In D Major, K. 284: 1. Allegro
5. Piano Sonata In D Major, K. 284: 2. Rondo en Polonaise. Andante
6. Piano Sonata In D Major, K. 284: 3. Andante - Thema - Variations I-XII
7. Piano Sonata In C Major, K. 309: 1. Allegro con spirito
8. Piano Sonata In C Major, K. 309: 2. Andante un poco adagio
9. Piano Sonata In C Major, K. 309: 3. Rondeau. Allegretto grazioso
10. Piano Sonata In D Major, K. 311: 1. Allegro con spirito
11. Piano Sonata In D Major, K. 311: 2. Andante con espressione
12. Piano Sonata In D Major, K. 311: 3. Rondo. Allegro

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata In A Minor, K. 310: 1. Allegro maestoso
2. Piano Sonata In A Minor, K. 310: 2. Andante cantabile con espressione
3. Piano Sonata In A Minor, K. 310: 3. Presto
4. Piano Sonata In C Major, K. 330: 1. Allegro moderato
5. Piano Sonata In C Major, K. 330: 2. Andante cantabile
6. Piano Sonata In C Major, K. 330: 3. Allegretto
7. Piano Sonata In A Major, K. 331: 1. Andante grazioso - Thema - Variations I - VI
8. Piano Sonata In A Major, K. 331: 2. Menuetto - Trio
9. Piano Sonata In A Major, K. 331: 3. Alla turca. Allegretto

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata In F Major, K. 332: 1. Allegro
2. Piano Sonata In F Major, K. 332: 2. Adagio
3. Piano Sonata In F Major, K. 332: 3. Allegro assai
4. Piano Sonata In B Flat Major, K. 333: 1. Allegro
5. Piano Sonata In B Flat Major, K. 333: 2. Andante cantabile
6. Piano Sonata In B Flat Major, K. 333: 3. Allegretto grazioso
7. Fantasia In C Minor, K. 475: Adagio - Allegro - Andantino - Piu allegro - Primo tempo
8. Piano Sonata In C Minor, K. 457: 1. Molto allegro
9. Piano Sonata In C Minor, K. 457: 2. Adagio
10. Piano Sonata In C Minor, K. 457: 3. Allegro assai

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata In F Major, K. 533: 1. Allegro (K. 533)
2. Piano Sonata In F Major, K. 533: 2. Andante (K. 533)
3. Piano Sonata In F Major, K. 533: 3. Rondo. Allegretto (K. 494)
4. Piano Sonata In C Major, K. 545: 1. Allegro
5. Piano Sonata In C Major, K. 545: 2. Andante
6. Piano Sonata In C Major, K. 545: 3. Rondo. Allegretto
7. Piano Sonata In B Flat Major, K. 570: 1. Allegro
8. Piano Sonata In B Flat Major, K. 570: 2. Adagio
9. Piano Sonata In B Flat Major, K. 570: 3. Allegretto
10. Piano Sonata In D Major, K. 576: 1. Allegro
11. Piano Sonata In D Major, K. 576: 2. Adagio
12. Piano Sonata In D Major, K. 576: 3. Allegretto

Customer Reviews:

Yes, perfect.......2007-07-11

Fabulous music. Simple, direct, un-affected peformances that are a delight to listen-to over and over again. At times the playing is utterly sublime. These performances are technically perfect in a smooth sense - and totally absorbing.

Mozart-A prisoner of his own time........2006-09-08

If you were to clump all of the composers of the classical era together, mix them up, and listen to them willy-nilly in a blind hearing test, you'll never be able to tell the difference between them... until you hear Mozart. Mozart's era was not rich in harmony. To me, Haydn wrote the same symphony over and over. Stamitz and Gossec... love 'em, but they were also prisoners of this classical harmony. But Mozart was able to put his fingerprint on all of his music. You can pick his music out blindly with ease because it is unmistakingly Mozart. That's why we have a mostly Mozart festival and not a mostly Kraus (who?) festival.

As this cd shows, Mozart's music was sublime. But even he struggled with using this "harmony of the day". If you were to study the catalogues of Mozart's symphonies, sonatas, and chamber music, let's face it; you would hear a lot of turkies before you made it to the peacocks. We would have to wait until Chopin until the harmonies fattened up a little.

Having said that, you have to completely hail Mozart for taking what was available to him in his day and creating some of the most sublime music with it. It would be like for the next ten years all the world had available to eat was peas, and 200 years from now one man became immortal for the many interesting ways he was able to manipulate peas into a meal.

Good music and good value.......2006-08-28

Bought this for my son who is learning to play piano. Lots of good music, not too expensive.

Five and a half hours of joy for not much bucks.......2005-11-11

This is just about the best money I've ever spent on music. I love Eschenbach's interpretations: tenderness and emotional intimacy in spades---and dazzling effects without self-consciousness or "athletic" display of technique. I would say that he "lets Mozart be Mozart," except that these interpretations have so much personality that Eschenbach's own life-energy must be coming through. I just think that his own personality complements Mozart's perfectly.

FINALLY.......2004-08-05

I've searched the world over for a box set of all of Mozart's piano sonatas that I liked. The first one I heard was the Glenn Gould version, which in retrospect was not so smart. I like his playing but he hums into the mic during the recording. Real smart.

Anyways, Eschenbach plays these with all the virtuosity and feeling they demand. My favorite piano sonata is Mozart's 12th and he plays it flawlessly; the only thing remotely lacking is that he doesn't quite dig in as much as Alicia de la Roccha does when she plays it on the Allegro movement, but he more than makes up for it with his playing on the Adagio movement.

If it's not your cup of tea it might be worthwhile getting the de la Roccha box set, but personally I think the Eschenbach recording is the best out of all of them.

Average customer rating: Wonderful and delightful evenings Great Music excellent compile Pleasant backdrop Musical soothing of the soul

Musical Evenings With The Captain Manufacturer: Essay ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Boccherini | Boccherini, Luigi | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Franz Joseph Haydn | Haydn, Franz Joseph | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leclair | Leclair, Jean Marie | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Locatelli, Pietro Antonio | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Trio Sonatas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Musical Evenings With The Captain, Vol. 2 Musical Evenings in the Captain's Cabin Master and Commander A Sea of Words, Third Edition: A Lexicon and Companion to the Complete Seafaring Tales of Patrick O'Brian Harbors and High Seas, 3rd Edition : An Atlas and Geographical Guide to the Complete Aubrey-Maturin Novels of Patrick O'Brian, Third Edition ASIN: B00000083U Release Date: 1996-06-18

Tracks:

1. Sonata In G Major, Op. 5 No. 1 For 2 Violins & Basso Continuo: Andante
2. Sonata In G Major, Op. 5 No. 1 For 2 Violins & Basso Continuo: Largo Andante
3. Sonata In G Major, Op. 5 No. 1 For 2 Violins & Basso Continuo: Allegro
4. Sonata In G Major, Op. 5 No. 1 For 2 Violins & Basso Continuo: Menuetto & Trio: Vivace
5. Duet For Violin & Cello In D Major: Poco Adagio
6. Duet For Violin & Cello In D Major: Tempo di Menuetto
7. Duet For Violin & Cello In D Major: Allegro (non troppo)
8. Eight Pieces For Violin And Cello: Tuning & Gavotte
9. Eight Pieces For Violin And Cello: Two Menuets
10. Eight Pieces For Violin And Cello: Air
11. Eight Pieces For Violin And Cello: Menuet With 2 Variations
12. Eight Pieces For Violin And Cello: Impertinence
13. Eight Pieces For Violin And Cello: Sarabande
14. Eight Pieces For Violin And Cello: Menuet With 2 Variations
15. Eight Pieces For Violin And Cello: Air
16. Sonata In C Minor, Op. 6 No. 5 For Violin & Basso Continuo: Andante
17. Sonata In C Minor, Op. 6 No. 5 For Violin & Basso Continuo: Allegro
18. Sonata In C Minor, Op. 6 No. 5 For Violin & Basso Continuo: Aria with 3 Variations
19. Sonata For Violin & Cello In D Major: Allegretto Spiritoso
20. Sonata For Violin & Cello In D Major: Vivace
21. Sonata For Violin & Cello In D Major: Grave
22. Sonata For Violin & Cello In D Major: Allegro Assai
23. Sonata In D Minor For 2 Violins & Basso Continuo: Andante Molto Cantabile
24. Sonata In D Minor For 2 Violins & Basso Continuo: Allegro
25. Sonata In D Minor For 2 Violins & Basso Continuo: Andante Pastorale
26. Sonata In D Minor For 2 Violins & Basso Continuo: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful and delightful evenings.......2007-06-27

If you are a really follower of Jack Aubrey adventures you must have the 2 Volumes. The best companion for you reading every evenings. A must have.
Enjoy it.

Great Music.......2007-04-05

I bought this as an accompaniment while I read Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series of books, and it goes very well. I've enjoyed every piece on this album, and recommend it for music lovers and readers alike.

excellent compile.......2007-01-16

It is dead-on excellent. Perfectly in tune with the entire series and spirit of Patrick's work. A simply joy to listen to time after time. You grasp the character of the age in crisply performed versions of various collection.

Pleasant backdrop .......2006-01-10

As a child growing up in the city of Salem, known for it's working class backbone, I was the only kid I knew who had been to Symphony Hall more than Fenway Park. Going in to Boston for the symphony's open practices was what I lived for. It gave me a true appreciative, although untrained ear. The one lasting lesson is that while you may not notice good classical music, EVERYONE notices bad classical music. And this is NOT bad classical.

I have been a reader of the Aubrey Maturin Novels for 8 years (only two a year for dramatic suspense) and while I am a huge fan of Patrick O'Brian's writing, I find that with the addition of the music he scored his work to, I stand in awe. The music is well grounded to the situations and feelings in the book. Either Mr. O'Brian was a very well rounded, or he did his homework.

The CD is a wonderful insight to the author, and the characters he created. Pour a glass of claret, listen to the cd, read the books...

but pay no heed to Killick's "scrape, scrape , scrape..never a song you could dance to.."

Musical soothing of the soul.......2002-06-11

I have been a fan of Baroque music since childhood (and I'm not all that old either). But I've only started reading the Patrick O'Brian books in the last few months, since it was announced that my favorite actor, Russell Crowe, was about to star as Captain Jack Aubrey in the Peter Weir movie. I am reading the books in order, and am currently on "HMS Surprise," so what else could be a more perfect accompaniment than this CD? Aubrey is such a multi-layered character, filled with imperfections and bad puns, however he has a great love for music and he plays the violin quite well. Often paired with ship's surgeon Dr. Stephen Maturin on the cello, music is a great release for this sea captain, and the pieces on this CD are fine representations of what Aubrey might have played while on assignment or heard when on land. The selections by Hadyn, Locatelli, Handel, Boccherini and Leclair are pleasant, soothing compositions that are complex and varied enough that they are not redundant, and range from peaceful to nimble. While listening to the CD, I could vividly imagine Jack Aubrey below decks in his cabin and asking Maturin to strike up a tune with him. And then they begin an Andante or an Allegro, allowing Aubrey to set aside his absolutely awful puns and jokes so he can clear his mind and relax. Considering some of the battles he's involved himself in so far in the series, he definitely needs it. Reading his adventures while listening to these charming pieces will relax you as well, and definitely take your imagination to some wondrous places in an era of great change.

Average customer rating: Excellent overall Wonderful Unbelievable!

Bach: Cello Suites, Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin - Christian Tetzlaff & Ralph Kirshbaum (4 CD's) Christian Tetzlaff , Ralph Kirshbaum , and Johann Sebastian Bach Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Cello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Tetzlaff, Christian | ( T ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Tetzlaff, Christian | ( T ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Brahms: Sonatas for Piano and Violin Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Violin Romances Sibelius: The Complete Works for Violin; Christian Tetzlaff Mozart: Violin Concertos 3, 4 & 5 Bartók: Violin Sonatas ASIN: B00030FJ9Y Release Date: 2004-11-16

Tracks:

1. 1. Adagio - Christian Tetzlaff
2. 2. Fuga (Allegro) - Christian Tetzlaff
3. 3. Siciliana - Christian Tetzlaff
4. 4. Presto - Christian Tetzlaff
5. 1. Allemanda - Christian Tetzlaff
6. Double - Christian Tetzlaff
7. 2. Corrente - Christian Tetzlaff
8. Double (Presto) - Christian Tetzlaff
9. 3. Sarabande - Christian Tetzlaff
10. Double - Christian Tetzlaff
11. 4. Bourree - Christian Tetzlaff
12. Double - Christian Tetzlaff
13. 1. Grave - Christian Tetzlaff
14. 2. Fuga - Christian Tetzlaff
15. 3. Andante - Christian Tetzlaff
16. 4. Allegro - Christian Tetzlaff

Tracks:

1. 1. Allemanda - Christian Tetzlaff
2. 2. Corrente - Christian Tetzlaff
3. 3. Sarabanda - Christian Tetzlaff
4. 4. Giga - Christian Tetzlaff
5. 5. Ciaccona - Christian Tetzlaff
6. 1. Adagio - Christian Tetzlaff
7. 2. Fuga - Christian Tetzlaff
8. 3. Largo - Christian Tetzlaff
9. 4. Allegro Assai - Christian Tetzlaff
10. 1. Preludio - Christian Tetzlaff
11. 2. Loure - Christian Tetzlaff
12. 3. Gavotte En Rondo - Christian Tetzlaff
13. 4. Menuet 1/Menuet 2 - Christian Tetzlaff
14. 5. Bourree - Christian Tetzlaff
15. 6. Gigue - Christian Tetzlaff

Tracks:

1. 1. Prelude - Ralph Kirshbaum
2. 2. Allemande - Ralph Kirshbaum
3. 3. Courante - Ralph Kirshbaum
4. 4. Sarabande - Ralph Kirshbaum
5. 5. Menuet 1 & 2 - Ralph Kirshbaum
6. 6. Gigue - Ralph Kirshbaum
7. 1. Prelude - Ralph Kirshbaum
8. 2. Allemande - Ralph Kirshbaum
9. 3. Courante - Ralph Kirshbaum
10. 4. Sarabande - Ralph Kirshbaum
11. 5. Bourree 1 & 2 - Ralph Kirshbaum
12. 6. Gigue - Ralph Kirshbaum
13. 1. Prelude - Ralph Kirshbaum
14. 2. Allemande - Ralph Kirshbaum
15. 3. Courante - Ralph Kirshbaum
16. 4. Sarabande - Ralph Kirshbaum
17. 5. Gavotte 1 & 2 - Ralph Kirshbaum
18. 6. Gigue - Ralph Kirshbaum

Tracks:

1. 1. Prelude - Ralph Kirshbaum
2. 2. Allemande - Ralph Kirshbaum
3. 3. Courante - Ralph Kirshbaum
4. 4. Sarabande - Ralph Kirshbaum
5. 5. Menuet 1 & 2 - Ralph Kirshbaum
6. 6. Gigue - Ralph Kirshbaum
7. 1. Prelude - Ralph Kirshbaum
8. 2. Allemande - Ralph Kirshbaum
9. 3. Courante - Ralph Kirshbaum
10. 4. Sarabande - Ralph Kirshbaum
11. 5. Bourree 1 & 2 - Ralph Kirshbaum
12. 6. Gigue - Ralph Kirshbaum
13. 1. Prelude - Ralph Kirshbaum
14. 2. Allemande - Ralph Kirshbaum
15. 3. Courante - Ralph Kirshbaum
16. 4. Sarabande - Ralph Kirshbaum
17. 5. Gavotte 1 & 2 - Ralph Kirshbaum
18. 6. Gigue - Ralph Kirshbaum

Customer Reviews:

Excellent overall.......2006-03-28

The two works presented in this bargain set represent Johann Sebastian Bach's greatest contribution to the solo string reportoire.

Although usually marginalized, the Cello Suites are hidden diamonds in the solo literature, requiring a depth of humanity and musicality that few performers actually achieve, so concerned as they are with simply hacking away at this seemingly simple music. Kirshbaum's reading is full of warmth and power, and his instrument (from Bach's time period) sings almost of its own accord. Tempi are just right; the sense of pacing in the G Major Prelude is magnificent, giving the piece a gently rocking feel. Kirshbaum's double stopping (as called for by many of the Allemanda movements) is impeccable and very clean; the harsh, biting sound such double-stopping requires from other performers is not present here.

The focal point of the set is, of course, Christian Tetzlaff's reading of the Six Solos. In comparison with the "big names," such as Perlman, Milstein, and Grumiaux, Tetzlaff cannot quite compete. His tempi are exceedingly swift, and he lacks much of the humanity present in Milstein and Menuhin. As a result, the quicker movements, such as the E Major Preludio and the B minor Doubles, sound less like the masterpieces they are and more like simple etudes to be sawed away on.

Tetzlaff's traversal of the Chaconne, however, is a breathless, exciting journey, and he is in top form during the massive fugues in each sonata. The recording location, while resonant, allows the violin's sound to sing without losing it in a sea of reverb. Although he suffers from tempi issues, Tetzlaff's technique is never in doubt, and he is solid and secure (perhaps even a bit too secure) during this recording.

Overall, despite issues with tempi in the Six Solos, this set is a great bargain, and hopefully Tetzlaff will decide to record these pieces again later in life.

Wonderful.......2006-01-10

I've been listening to and studying Bach's solo cello and violin works for over 30 years. Although I love this music dearly, it's rare that I'm surprized by it anymore. However, listening to Tetzlaff and Kirshbaum, I felt as if I were hearing them for the first time all over again. Both musicians are such masters of their instruments that their "technique" never intrudes on the music. These are really breathtaking performances.

Unbelievable!.......2005-10-19

Both these artists are exceptional. I have always had trouble listening to "anybody else's interpretation" of the bach cello suites, being a cellist myself. This one is truly outstanding. The excellent Bach solo violin interpretation by Christian Tetzlaff is just an added plus -- I was most impressed that my father listened through all the way and just made one or two comments about how the music was "alive". He was rapt. My father doesn't do that easily.

Average customer rating: Incredible Greatest cycle of the greatest violin sonatas ever Best complete set I know of Magnetic from start to finish!! Two contemporary musical masters pay homage

Beethoven: The Violin Sonatas Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Perlman, Itzhak | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Mozart: The Violin Sonatas Great Recordings Of The Century - Brahms: Violin Sonatas nos 1 - 3 / Perlman, Ashkenazy Beethoven: The String Quartets Beethoven: The Piano Trios Beethoven: Piano Trios, Vol. 2; Itzhak Perlman; Vladimir Ashkenazy; Lynn Harrell ASIN: B0000041UF Release Date: 2002-09-10

Tracks:

1. Violin Sonata No.1 in D major, Op.12 No.1: l Allegro con brio
2. Violin Sonata No.1 in D major, Op.12 No.1: ll Tema con variazioni: Andante con moto
3. Violin Sonata No.1 in D major, Op.12 No.1: lll Rondo: Allegro
4. Violin Sonata No.2 in A major, Op.12 No.2: l Allegro viva
5. Violin Sonata No.2 in A major, Op.12 No.2: ll Andante, piu tosto allegretto
6. Violin Sonata No.2 in A major, Op.12 No.2: lll Allegro piacevolo
7. Violin Sonata No.3 in E flat major, Op.12 No.3: l Allegro con spirito
8. Violin Sonata No.3 in E flat major, Op.12 No.3: ll Adagio con molt'espressione
9. Violin Sonata No.3 in E flat major, Op.12 No.3: lll Rondo: Allegro molto

Tracks:

1. Violin Sonata No.4 in A minor, Op23: l Presto
2. Violin Sonata No.4 in A minor, Op23: ll Andante scherzoso, piu allegretto
3. Violin Sonata No.4 in A minor, Op23: lll Allegro molto
4. Violin Sonata No.6 in A major, Op.30 No.1: l Allegro
5. Violin Sonata No.4 in A minor, Op23: ll Adagio molto espressivo
6. Violin Sonata No.4 in A minor, Op23: lll Allegretto con variazioni
7. Violin Sonata No.8 in G major, Op.30 No.3: l Allegro assai
8. Violin Sonata No.8 in G major, Op.30 No.3: ll Tempo di minuetto, ma molto moderato e grazioso
9. Violin Sonata No.8 in G major, Op.30 No.3: lll Allegro vivace

Tracks:

1. Violin Sonata No.9 in A major, Op.47 'Kreutzer': l Adagio sostenuto-Presto-Adagio
2. Violin Sonata No.9 in A major, Op.47 'Kreutzer': ll Andante con variazioni
3. Violin Sonata No.9 in A major, Op.47 'Kreutzer': lll Finale: Presto
4. Violin Sonata No.5 in F Major, Op.24 'Spring'-'Le Printemps'-'Fruhlingssonate': l Allegro
5. Violin Sonata No.5 in F Major, Op.24 'Spring'-'Le Printemps'-'Fruhlingssonate': ll Adagio molto espr
6. Violin Sonata No.5 in F Major, Op.24 'Spring'-'Le Printemps'-'Fruhlingssonate': lll Scherzo & trio:
7. Violin Sonata No.5 in F Major, Op.24 'Spring'-'Le Printemps'-'Fruhlingssonate': lV Rondo: Allegro ma

Tracks:

1. Violin Sonata No.7 in C minor, Op.30 No.2: l Allegro con brio
2. Violin Sonata No.7 in C minor, Op.30 No.2: ll Adagio cantabile
3. Violin Sonata No.7 in C minor, Op.30 No.2: lll Scherzo: Allegro
4. Violin Sonata No.7 in C minor, Op.30 No.2: lV Finale: Allegro
5. Violin Sonata No.10 in G major, Op.96: l Allegro moderato
6. Violin Sonata No.10 in G major, Op.96: ll Adagio espressivo
7. Violin Sonata No.10 in G major, Op.96: lll Scherzo: Allegro
8. Violin Sonata No.10 in G major, Op.96: lV Poco allegretto

Amazon.com essential recording

There are two really famous Beethoven violin sonatas, the Kreutzer and the Spring. The Kreutzer Sonata inspired the story by Leo Tolstoy, which in turn became the subject of Janácek's First String Quartet, so if you're into comparative studies in the arts, there's a thesis topic for you! The Spring Sonata was featured in Woody Allen's Love and Death, among other places. And perhaps most intriguingly of all, the scherzo of the late sonata, Op. 96, turns up quite clearly in the third movement of Mahler's Second Symphony. So you may already know more about this splendid music than you think. Why not take the plunge with these superb performances and get to know the sonatas at first hand? Just as there are two truly famous Mozart sonatas, there are also two sides to Itzhak Perlman's musical career--the flashy virtuoso and the considerate partner. Chamber-music recordings such as this feature Perlman in this second role, one that gets less attention than his other, more sensational, persona, but which for many listeners is even more musically rewarding. Ashkenazy, no mere accompanist, is very much involved in the proceedings, and the two musicians combine to produce one of the finest sets of Beethoven violin sonatas available as well as one of Perlman's very greatest recordings in any genre. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Incredible.......2005-04-03

Let me just start off by saying that this set is an absolute no brainer. What more could you ask for than amazing pieces such as the Beethoven Violin Sonatas performed by none other than Itzhak Perlman and Vladimir Ashkenazy, who are both GIANTS in the violin and piano worlds. These recordings are absolutely wonderful, and the performances are definitely what is expected from these incredible musicians, if not more. The sound quality is very good, even though the recording was converted from analog to digital. Highly recommended.

However, if you would like to only have the most famous, and the best, Beethoven Violin Sonatas, you can still get Perlman and Ashkenazy performing the Spring and Kreutzer Sonatas on a separate disc. It is obviously less expensive, because it is only one CD as opposed to four, even though this four CD set is relatively cheap.

Greatest cycle of the greatest violin sonatas ever.......2004-05-11

I agree that this is the greatest cycle of the greatest set of violin sonatas ever written. Gidon and Argerich are also good but Argerich doesn't articulate her notes clearly like Ashkenazy. You feel that Argerich is kind of "cheating" by skimming to lightly over some notes - whereas Beethoven needs to be played with a greater force. Ashkenazy provides just the right kind of Beethovenian playing.

This set also contains the greatest performance of the greatest violin sonata ever written - the Kreutzer - plus a highly delectable Spring sonata.

If you're not familiar with the rest of Beethoven's sonatas, you'll be surprised at how magnetic they are in the hands of musicians the likes of Ashkenazy and Perlman.

I cannot recommend this too highly. Enjoy.

Best complete set I know of.......2004-04-01

There are probably better-known recordings of the individual sonatas, but if you are looking for a consistently good collection from start to finish, this would be it, especially if you are familiar only with the Spring & Kreutzer sonatas. This is a collection that gets wonderfully intimate at times, and is a consistent delight to the listener. This is definitely a worthy addition to any collection.

Magnetic from start to finish!!.......2004-01-06

This classic set is magnetic from the first note to the last. If you haven't heard it, you haven't heard Beethoven's Violin Sonatas.

Two contemporary musical masters pay homage.......2002-08-08

Listen to this music if you want a searching, thoughtful dialog by the Great Brooder between two superb interpreters of their respective instruments....two instruments only, that manage to fill the room and the world completely.....
Listen with the best equipment you can justify, because this music alone justifies the technology- the access of which to the common man fulfills Beethoven's wildest, unnamed hope.

Average customer rating: Mostly good Look at the List of Performers First this "masterworks" series is available much more cheaply from Amazon France You heard guy below: Beethoven needs the royality checks! Buy my box Set!

Beethoven: The Masterworks (Box Set) Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Cello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Brilliant Classics | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Complete Works (170 CD Box Set) Bach: Complete Works - 155 CD Box Set Vivaldi: The Masterworks (Box Set) Mendelssohn: The Masterworks [Box Set] Brahms: The Masterworks (Box Set) ASIN: B00062FLHE Release Date: 2004-11-30

Customer Reviews:

Mostly good.......2007-05-26

A bit of a mixed bag. The symphonies are superb. This is one of the great symphony cycles. The piano sonatas are good, very good (analog) sound. The quartets are well recorded indeed, but there are better cycles out there. The rest is OK, and the sound is genrally good.

Look at the List of Performers First.......2006-11-17

If you want most of Beethoven sitting on one bookshelf, this is a great bargain (especially if you shop for it on amazon.de). But few if any of the performances represent the pinnacles of interpretation that most listeners demand when Beethoven is the composer. The symphonies for instance: can Blomstedt be compared to Furtwangler or (if you lean toward historically informed instrumentation) Gardiner? Most amazingly, the artists who perform the quartets -- the heart of Beethoven's music -- are not even named in the listing.
On the other hand: Vivaldi: The Masterworks is a collection including the very best interpreters, such as Fabio Biondi! Bach Edition (complete Bach) is a fabulous selection of recordings made over 20 years, and almost the same praise can be given the Complete Mozart.

this "masterworks" series is available much more cheaply from Amazon France.......2006-05-28

there are several sets in this series and it's much cheaper to buy these from Amazon France.

included are bach, beethoven, vivaldi, brahms, dvorak, schubert, handel, hayden, and mendelssohn.

they're even cheaper than the list price once u go through the checkout (VAT is removed for overseas (out-of-france) purchases).

**also, the 'complete works of mozart' set is much cheaper there (or at Amazon Germany), too. the 'complete works of bach' is due out later this year.

You heard guy below: Beethoven needs the royality checks! .......2006-04-07

There is quality beyond the Austrian green cardboard (which is lovely to look at, to say the least). In fact, the performance of the symphonies (Dresden Staatskapelle and Herbert Blomstedt) is alone worth the price. The Staatskapelle is a solid group, and Blomstedt, although less wellknown, holds his own. It should be mentioned that Blomstedt recorded many of the most celebrated 20th composition CDs on the market, and definitely knows his stuff. Peter Wohlert recorded mostly for compiliation lables, but to be selected by the Berlin Phil shows that he is a formdiable conductor in rank as well.

Should you buy this collection then? Given the fact that each CD cost $1.75, there is definitely the bargin factor. However, Beethoven's music desveres the top interpreters and musicians of our time - and this applies for all of his music, not just the symphonic. If you are into bargins, then proceed to buy this collection. However, if you save up a bit more, you can buy Karajan's 1963 Beethovens symphonies along with Kempff's 1956 sonata cycles for just a bit more than 70 bucks. Shop around for the string quartets, and the complete overtures should range anywhere from 15 to 30 bucks depending on the conductor/ensemble.

Overall, this is certainly an exceptional bargin. However, quality matter more than money. Besides, chicks dig people with sophisticated tastes.

Buy my box Set!.......2006-03-21

Awesome deal, 40 CD box set of me, Beethoven! There are 3 principle reasons you should buy this box set:

This box is QUALITY my friend, made of the finest, Austrian cardboard with a lovely green finish, it is made to last! You can just set it on your dresser and whenever you need a Beethoven fix you can just pull a CD out. But don't you hate getting your CDs out of order so you can't find what the hell you're looking for?! Not with this set! They are well organized into symphonies, concerti, sonatas and such, so you can find EXACTLY what your looking for, and they have big numbers on them so you can put them right back where they belong.

And the music! Need we go into this, composed through the inspiration of God himself and penned by the greatest composer who ever walked the streets of Vienna, me, Beethoven! Top notch, all done by top performers and recorded at high, clear, digital quality, stick one in your stereo and rock out man! All of my great and mighty works are here, absolutely sublime!

Lastly, you'll be supporting me, I need those royalty checks to keep rolling in!

Buy it if you love me or just buy it if you want people to think that you're sophisticated (the chicks also dig it, I should know: Antonie Brentano, giggity!), you can't go wrong!

Average customer rating: The one collection I cannot imagine being without MASTERY Magisterial... mystical Beethoven + Arrau = Divinity Beethoven himself would be proud.

Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas & Concertos Claudio Arrau , Janos Starker , Ludwig van Beethoven , Bernard Haitink , Eliahu Inbal , Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam , New Philharmonia Orchestra , and Henryk Szeryng Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Variations | Variations | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Cello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Arrau, Claudio | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: Liszt: Piano Works Schubert: The Piano Sonatas Chopin: The Piano Works Brahms: Works for Solo Piano Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier ASIN: B00000C2F7 Release Date: 1999-11-09

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: 1 Allegro
2. Piano Sonata No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: 2. Adagio
3. Piano Sonata No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: 3. Menuetto. Allegretto
4. Piano Sonata No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: 4. Prestissimo
5. Piano Sonata No. 2 In A, Op. 2 No. 2: 1. Allegro vivace
6. Piano Sonata No. 2 In A, Op. 2 No. 2: 2. Largo appassionato
7. Piano Sonata No. 2 In A, Op. 2 No. 2: 3. Scherzo. Allegretto
8. Piano Sonata No. 2 In A, Op. 2 No. 2: 4. Rondo. Grazioso
9. Piano Sonata No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 10 No. 1: 1. Allegro molto e con brio
10. Piano Sonata No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 10 No. 1: 2. Adagio molto
11. Piano Sonata No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 10 No. 1: 3. Finale. Prestissimo
12. Piano Sonata No. 19 In G Minor, Op. 49 No. 1: 1. Andante
13. Piano Sonata No. 19 In G Minor, Op. 49 No. 1: 2. Rondo. Allegro

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata No.3 In C, Op.2 No.3: 1. Allegro con brio
2. Piano Sonata No.3 In C, Op.2 No.3: 2. Adagio
3. Piano Sonata No.3 In C, Op.2 No.3: 3. Scherzo. Allegro
4. Piano Sonata No.3 In C, Op.2 No.3: 4. Allegro assai
5. Piano Sonata No.4 In E Flat, Op.7: 1. Allegro molto e con brio
6. Piano Sonata No.4 In E Flat, Op.7: 2. Largo, con gran espressione
7. Piano Sonata No.4 In E Flat, Op.7: 3. Allegro
8. Piano Sonata No.4 In E Flat, Op.7: 4. Rondo. Poco allegretto e grazioso
9. 6 Piano Veriations In F On An Original Theme, Op.34

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata No.6 In F, Op.10 No.2: 1. Allegro
2. Piano Sonata No.6 In F, Op.10 No.2: 2. Allegretto
3. Piano Sonata No.6 In F, Op.10 No.2: 3. Presto
4. Piano Sonata No.7 In D, Op.10 No.3: 1. Presto
5. Piano Sonata No.7 In D, Op.10 No.3: 2. Largo e mesto
6. Piano Sonata No.7 In D, Op.10 No.3: 3. Menuetto. Allegro
7. Piano Sonata No.7 In D, Op.10 No.3: 4. Rondo. Allegro
8. Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, Op.13 'Pathetique': 1. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio
9. Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, Op.13 'Pathetique': 2. Adagio cantabile
10. Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, Op.13 'Pathetique': 3. Rondo. Allegro
11. Piano Sonata No.9 In E, Op.14 No.2: 1. Allegro
12. Piano Sonata No.9 In E, Op.14 No.2: 2. Allegretto
13. Piano Sonata No.9 In E, Op.14 No.2: 3. Rondo. Allegro comodo

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata No.10 In G, Op.14 No.2: 1. Allegro
2. Piano Sonata No.10 In G, Op.14 No.2: 2. Andante
3. Piano Sonata No.10 In G, Op.14 No.2: 3. Scherzo. Allegro assai
4. Piano Sonata No.11 In B Falt, Op.22: 1. Allegro con brio
5. Piano Sonata No.11 In B Falt, Op.22: 2. Adagio con molta espressione
6. Piano Sonata No.11 In B Falt, Op.22: 3. Minuetto
7. Piano Sonata No.11 In B Falt, Op.22: 4. Rondo. Allegretto
8. Piano Sonata No.12 In A Flat, Op.26: 1. Andante con Variazioni
9. Piano Sonata No.12 In A Flat, Op.26: 2. Scherzo. Allegro molto
10. Piano Sonata No.12 In A Flat, Op.26: 3. Marcia Funebre sulla morte d'un Eroe
11. Piano Sonata No.12 In A Flat, Op.26: 4. Allegro
12. Piano Sonata No.25 In G, Op.79: 1. Presto alla tedesca
13. Piano Sonata No.25 In G, Op.79: 2. Andante
14. Piano Sonata No.25 In G, Op.79: 3. Vivace

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata No.13 In E Flat, Op.27 No.1: 1. Andante - Allegro - Tempo I
2. Piano Sonata No.13 In E Flat, Op.27 No.1: 2. Allegro molto e vivace
3. Piano Sonata No.13 In E Flat, Op.27 No.1: 3. Adagio con espressione
4. Piano Sonata No.13 In E Flat, Op.27 No.1: 4. Allegro vivace - Tempo I - Presto
5. Piano Sonata No.14 In C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': 1. Adagio sostenuto
6. Piano Sonata No.14 In C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': 2. Allegrettro
7. Piano Sonata No.14 In C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': 3. Presto agitato
8. Piano Sonata No.15 In D, Op.28 'Pastorale': 1. Allegro
9. Piano Sonata No.15 In D, Op.28 'Pastorale': 2. Andante
10. Piano Sonata No.15 In D, Op.28 'Pastorale': 3. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
11. Piano Sonata No.15 In D, Op.28 'Pastorale': 4. Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo
12. Piano Sonata No. 22 In F, Op.54: 1. In Tempo d'un Menuetto
13. Piano Sonata No. 22 In F, Op.54: 2. Allegretto

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata No.16 In G, Op.31 No.1: 1. Allegro vivace
2. Piano Sonata No.16 In G, Op.31 No.1: 2. Adagio grazioso
3. Piano Sonata No.16 In G, Op.31 No.1: 3. Rondo. Allegretto
4. Piano Sonata No.17 In D Minor, Op.31 No.2 'Tempest': 1. Largo - Allegro
5. Piano Sonata No.17 In D Minor, Op.31 No.2 'Tempest': 2. Adagio
6. Piano Sonata No.17 In D Minor, Op.31 No.2 'Tempest': 3. Allegretto
7. Piano Sonata No.18 In E Flat, Op.31 No.3: 1. Allegro
8. Piano Sonata No.18 In E Flat, Op.31 No.3: 2. Scherzo. Alllegretto vivace
9. Piano Sonata No.18 In E Flat, Op.31 No.3: 3. Menuetto. Moderato e grazioso
10. Piano Sonata No.18 In E Flat, Op.31 No.3: 4. Presto con fuoco

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata No.21 In C, Op.53 'Waldstein': 1. Allegro con brio
2. Piano Sonata No.21 In C, Op.53 'Waldstein': 2. Introduzione. Adagio molto - Rondo. Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo
3. 15 Piano Variations And Fugue In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica' Variations: Inroduzione col Basso del Tema. Allegretto vivace
4. 15 Piano Variations And Fugue In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica' Variations: Variazioni I-XV
5. 15 Piano Variations And Fugue In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica' Variations: Finale. Alla Fuga. Allegro con brio - Andante con moto
6. 32 Piano Variations In C Minor On An Original Theme, WoO 80
7. Rondo In G, Op.51 No.2

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata No.23 In F Minor, Op.57 'Appassionata': 1. Allegro assai
2. Piano Sonata No.23 In F Minor, Op.57 'Appassionata': 2. Andante con moto
3. Piano Sonata No.23 In F Minor, Op.57 'Appassionata': 3. Allegro ma non troppo
4. Piano Sonata No.24 In F Sharp, Op.78 'For Therese': 1. Adagio cantabile - Allegro ma non troppo
5. Piano Sonata No.24 In F Sharp, Op.78 'For Therese': 2. Allegro vivace
6. Piano Sonata No.26 In E Flat, Op.81a 'Les adieux': 1. Das Lebewohl. Adagio - Allegro
7. Piano Sonata No.26 In E Flat, Op.81a 'Les adieux': 2. Abwesenheit. Andante espressivo
8. Piano Sonata No.26 In E Flat, Op.81a 'Les adieux': 3. Das Wiedersehn. Vivacissimamente
9. Piano Sonata No.27 In E Minor, Op.90: 1. Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck
10. Piano Sonata No.27 In E Minor, Op.90: 2. Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorgetragen
11. Piano Sonata No.20 In G, Op.49 No.2: 1. Allegro, ma non troppo
12. Piano Sonata No.20 In G, Op.49 No.2: 2. Tempo di Menuetto

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata No.28 In A, Op.101: 1. Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung. Allegretto, ma non troppo
2. Piano Sonata No.28 In A, Op.101: 2. Lebhaft. Marschmassig. Vivace alla Marcia
3. Piano Sonata No.28 In A, Op.101: 3. Langsam, und sehnsuchtsvoll. Adagio, ma non troppo, con affetto
4. Piano Sonata No.28 In A, Op.101: 4. Geschwind, doch nicht zu sehr und mit Entschlossenheit. Allegro
5. Piano Sonata No.29 In B Flat, Op.106 'Hammerklavier': 1. Allegro
6. Piano Sonata No.29 In B Flat, Op.106 'Hammerklavier': 2 Scherzo. Assai vivace - Presto - Prestissimo - Tempo I
7. Piano Sonata No.29 In B Flat, Op.106 'Hammerklavier': 3. Adagio sostenuto. Appassionato e con molto sentimento
8. Piano Sonata No.29 In B Flat, Op.106 'Hammerklavier': 4. Largo - Allegro risoluto

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata No.30 In E, Op.109: 1. Vivave, ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo - Tempo I -2. Prestissimo
2. Piano Sonata No.30 In E, Op.109: 3. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung. Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo
3. Piano Sonata No.31 In A Flat, Op.110: 1. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
4. Piano Sonata No.31 In A Flat, Op.110: 2. Allegro molto
5. Piano Sonata No.31 In A Flat, Op.110: 3. Adagio ma non troppo
6. Piano Sonata No.31 In A Flat, Op.110: 4. Fuga. Allegro ma non troppo
7. Piano Sonata No.32 In C Minor, Op111: 1. Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato
8. Piano Sonata No.32 In C Minor, Op111: 2. Arietta. Adagio molto semplice e cantabile

Tracks:

1. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Tema : Vivace - Variation I. Alla marcia maestoso
2. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation II Poco allegro
3. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation III L'istesso tempo
4. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation IV Un poco piu vivace
5. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation V Allegro vivace
6. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation VI Allegro ma non troppo e serioso
7. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation VII Un poco piu allegro
8. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation VIII Poco vivace
9. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation IX Allegro pesante e risoluto
10. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation X Presto
11. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XI Allegretto
12. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XII Un poco piu moto
13. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XIII Vivace
14. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XIV Grave e maestoso
15. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XV Presto scherzando
16. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XVI Allegro
17. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XVII
18. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XVIII Poco moderato
19. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XIX Presto
20. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XX Andante
21. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XXI Allegro con brio - Meno allegro - Tempo I - Meno allegro
22. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XXII Allegro molto alla 'Notte giorno faricar' di Mozart
23. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XXIII Allegro assai
24. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XXIV Fughetta. Andante
25. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XXV Allegro
26. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XXVI
27. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XXVII Vivace
28. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XXVIII Allegro
29. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XXIX Adagio ma non troppo
30. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XXX Andante sempre cantabile
31. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XXXI Largo, molto espressivo
32. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XXXII Fuga. Allegro - Poco adagio
33. 33 Piano Variations In C On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli, Op.120: Variation XXXIII Tempo di minuetto moderato

Tracks:

1. Piano Concerto No.1 In C, Op. 15: 1. Allegro con brio
2. Piano Concerto No.1 In C, Op. 15: 2. Largo
3. Piano Concerto No.1 In C, Op. 15: 3. Rondo. Allegro scherzando
4. Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat, Op.19: 1. Allegro con brio
5. Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat, Op.19: 2. Adagio
6. Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat, Op.19: 3. Rondo. Molto allegro

Tracks:

1. Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor, Op.37: 1. Allegro con brio
2. Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor, Op.37: 2. Largo
3. Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor, Op.37: 3. Rondo. Allegro
4. Piano Concerto No.4 In G, Op.58: 1. Allegro moderato
5. Piano Concerto No.4 In G, Op.58: 2. Andante con moto
6. Piano Concerto No.4 In G, Op.58: 3. Rondo. Vivace

Tracks:

1. Piano Concerto No.5 In E Flat, Op.73 'Emperor': 1. Allegro
2. Piano Concerto No.5 In E Flat, Op.73 'Emperor': 2. Adagio un poco mosso
3. Piano Concerto No.5 In E Flat, Op.73 'Emperor': 3. Rondo. Allegro
4. Triple Concerto For Piano, Violin And Cello In C, Op.56: 1. Allegro
5. Triple Concerto For Piano, Violin And Cello In C, Op.56: 2. Largo
6. Triple Concerto For Piano, Violin And Cello In C, Op.56: 3. Rondo alla Polacca

Amazon.com

Claudio Arrau played with seriousness of purpose that could make other pianists seem like dilettantes and with respect for the composer's score that bordered on veneration. He had nothing but scorn for pianists who played the opening of Beethoven's Opus 111 with two hands instead of one because there were fewer risks. If something was technically difficult, Arrau assumed that the composer had written it that way because the difficulties had an expressive value that it was the interpreter's duty to find.

Arrau's devotion to Beethoven is memorialized by this budget-priced, 14-CD collection of his recordings, mostly from the 1960s, of the composer's 32 sonatas, five concertos (with Bernard Haitink conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam), and most important sets of variations. His Beethoven is not always successful. His sometimes ponderous seriousness keeps early works, such as the Sonata No. 3 and the Concerto No. 2, from smiling, and his lack of spontaneity makes the whimsy in Sonata No. 26 and the "Diabelli Variations" sound labored. But in the composer's weightiest works, Arrau can produce revelations. Certainly, no one plays Sonata No. 32 better. The first movement sounds like thunder that comes ever closer and the finale's chains of trills, played with exquisite finish and expressive perfection, transport the listener to a higher realm. If Arrau could be single-minded in his devotion to the composer's score, he also believed that music could encompass everything. When Arrau was at his best--as he frequently is in this set--it does. --Stephen Wigler

Customer Reviews:

The one collection I cannot imagine being without.......2007-01-30

It would be absurd to recommend recommending one Beethoven cycle to the exclusion of all others, yet it is Arrau's cycle to which I repeatedly return, despite some flaws mentioned by other reviewers.

They are flaws which can be forgiven. Scherzi which would be brimming with mirth & vitality in the hands of others may come up short, but it is more than compensated for by the revelations to be found as Arrau explores every aspect of Beethoven at his most profound. There always seems to be something new to be discovered. Flabby? It is hard to imagine how someone could come to this conclusion.

Even the sound quality for recordings dating back into the 1960's has been remastered so as to be acceptable to all but the most spoiled of listeners, who apparently are satisfied only with the most seamless homogenized studio sound. Those who can't get past the slightly imperfect sound quality are focusing on the wrong details.

If the greatness of the performance were not enough, the price should be enough to convince any serious music lover to add these to a CD collection. One cannot overstate how rewarding this collection will be to anyone who does not yet know the artistry of Arrau.

MASTERY.......2007-01-26

One man's viewpoint: Arrau amazes me as he sets the notes down with such clean deliberation! Total command. No matter how fast Beethoven is charging along. And as Arrau gets every note, we find the real Beethoven genius shining through - after all, as raw material, this is some of the finest piano music anywhere. Of course, this playing delivers passion and heart-and-soul communication too. And a sense of commitment and strength.
I suggest this set - with about nine stars! Mastery in art. *** For a lighter, more joyful touch - and great tone - ALSO get hold of O'Conor's set of the 32. I suggest this set - with about nine stars!

Magisterial... mystical.......2006-11-03

I've been listening to Beethoven's sonatas for fifty years and have heard all of them by some, and some of them by all the available recorded performers. Overall, Claudio Arrau is my favorite interpreter of the sonatas. To me he has an inner affinity with Beethoven that is uncanny. Beethoven was a man of great character. And that greatness, detached from his person in the form of musical ideas, enters the listener through intermediaries such as Arrau. When it is done right, it works a sort of righteous therapy, and makes the listener a better person for the hearing.

Arrau describes Beethoven's greatness in his essay "Thoughts on Beethoven" in the 33 1/3 Philips LP edition. "Beethoven has always stood for the spirit of man victorious. His message of endless stuggle concluding in the victory of renewal and spiritual rebirth...his life was an existential fight for survival...In the sense that he mastered both his life and his art to reach the ultimate heights of creation and transfiguration, he will last as long as man's spirit to prevail lasts on this earth." Part of the greatness of Beethoven's character came from his ability to be intimately close and at the same time at an infinite distance above his listener. Arrau possesses this same character, and his qualities as a man and artist are why he is able to so aptly render the greatness of Beethoven.

A book titled "Conversations with Arrau" was written by Joseph Horowitz to celebrate the artists's 80th birthday in 1982. I've only read the extracts published with the Philips edition, but there is enough information to get a feel for Arrau's character. He guarded the purity of his environment. He shunned parties and avoided small talk. He never drank or smoked, never learned to drive a car, boil an egg, or even operate a phonograph. His only hobby was gardening. Horowitz describes him as the embodiment of the nineteenth-century model of the artist as solitary, suffering hero. He was small (5'6") and frail, but in 1982 at age 80 he was still playing more that 70 concerts a season.

Rather than launch a discussion of his individual works (this has been done admirably by many of the reviewers) I will remark on just a few. I never properly appreciated the Fourth and the Seventh Sonatas until I heard Arrau's reading of these works. His Fourth takes 31 minutes, 30 seconds. Annie Fischer, another great interpreter of Beethoven, plays it in 27 minutes, 30 seconds. And Ms. Fischer does not play at a hurried tempo.

Yes, Arrau plays the sonatas at a slower tempo than any other interpreter. He also achieves a mystical quality in his interpretations that is unmatched. The second movement of the Seventh comes in at 10 min, 30 seconds. It is the greatest 10 1/2 minutes of piano music ever conceived. When interpreted by Arrau it becomes a microcosm of Beethoven's life and work. The second movement of the Appassionata is a sacred hymn.

Arrau's five piano concertos are splendid. I've heard no other renditions of the concertos with slow movements that equal Arrau's. No one plays the middle movements with his expressiveness and sense of the numinous. And his rendition of the "Eroica Variations" is on a par with the top few recordings of this piece.

If you have any interest in Beethoven, at whatever level, this bargain is outstanding.

Beethoven + Arrau = Divinity.......2006-10-29

If you love Beethoven, Arrau's interpretation will certainly be a joyful addition to your classical music collection. For me, his is the definitive Beethoven.

Though some will likely disagree, I have listened to many other great pianists' recordings of Beethoven sonatas, and they are great (don't get me wrong). Yet Arrau is unique in his ability to bring to light subtleties in the melodies that no one else can, and these often turn out to be the most enlightening and resonant of passages. His Op. 111 is indeed unparalleled, and his recording of the 2nd movement is one of my favorite pieces in the world. On top of that, his rendition of the Moonlight Sonata, his Waldstein, his Concertos, every recording on this boxed set is a testament to the depth Arrau worked diligently and consciously to achieve; depth that transcends technical showmanship and for the intuitive listener can certainly elicit fleeting glimpses of divine ecstasy.

At any price, it's a steal - beauty of this magnitude is all too rare.

Beethoven himself would be proud........2006-06-19

This is a masterpiece. Don't listen to the one negative review, as this guy is tone deaf. This compilation of Beethoven's music is a treasure to behold. A bargain at twice the price, this is well worth the money. Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!

Average customer rating: Another World Yet another forgotten musical genius. Beautiful music A Monument of Early Violin Music An Inordinately Beautiful Recording of the Biber Mystery Sonatas Hauntingly beautiful Baroque fare

Biber: The Mystery Sonatas Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Biber | Biber, Heinrich Ignaz | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Biber: Violin Sonatas Biber: Unam Ceylum /Holloway * Assenbaum * Mortensen Biber: Harmonia Artificioso - Ariosa; Tam Aris Quam Aulis Servientes Schmelzer: Unarum Fidium /Holloway * Assenbaum * Mortensen Biber: The Rosary Sonatas ASIN: B00005UNXG Release Date: 2002-12-23

Tracks:

1. Praeludium
2. Aria And Variations
3. Adagio
4. Finale
5. Sonata
6. Presto
7. Allamanda
8. Presto
9. Sonata
10. Courente
11. Double
12. Adagio
13. Ciacona
14. Praeludium
15. Allamanda
16. Guigue
17. Sarabanda
18. Double
19. Lamento
20. Aria
21. Adagio
22. Allamanda
23. Variatio
24. Sarabanda
25. Variatio
26. Sonata
27. Presto
28. Guigue
29. Double I
30. Double II
31. Sonata
32. Courente
33. Doubles I & II
34. Finale
35. Praeludium
36. Aria
37. Variatio 1 - 2
38. Variatio 3 (Adagio)
39. Variatio 4 - 5

Tracks:

1. Sonata
2. Surrexit Christus Hodie
3. Adagio
4. Intrada
5. Aria Tubicinum
6. Allamanda
7. Courente
8. Double
9. Sonata
10. Gavotte
11. Guigue
12. Sarabanda
13. Praeludium
14. Ciacona (Aria)
15. Guigue
16. Sonata
17. Aria
18. Canzona
19. Sarabanda & Double
20. Passagalia

Customer Reviews:

Another World.......2007-03-29

Biber heartily embraced gypsy tavern violin virtuosity long before Dvorak or Brahms. This is magnificent music full of elegant and earthy contrasts. The sonatas that employ unconventional tuning open up new worlds of harmonic splendour, yet the crowning piece, the Passagalia, which does employ conventional tuning but isn't part of the Mystery Sonatas, is thankfully included as the final work of a two disc journey that soars the heights of heaven and plunges the depths of human experience. I have the original release of this music with its sumptuous and informative booklet: booklet or not, these are exceptional performances combined with an exceptional recording.

Yet another forgotten musical genius. Beautiful music.......2007-03-04

Heinrich Ignaz von Biber was a wonderful composer. The so-called "Mystery Sonatas" also known as the "Rosary Sonatas" have an aire of perfection rarely seen in classical baroque music. Biber has been all too conveniently forgotten and I am not sure why. As with Erik Satie (another of my favorite, yet unknown composers) Biber has managed to shrink in to the darkness of history while his legacy of work should be celebrated.
His work is haunting, exhilarating, enriching and somber. His music conveys a sadness and a joy that few musical works are able to convey. Biber's understanding of orchestration, the workings of instruments in compliment of each other, is astonishing to me. He had an ability, a gift, that only God himself could have given him. If you don't believe in God, then just accept that he was a prodigy of the finest degree and his work was sent from a deep place inside that immediately crawls inside of you. I, personally, call it a religious musical experience.
Absolutely stunning music.

A Monument of Early Violin Music.......2006-12-17

This version of Biber's stupendous ROSARY SONATAS (this is the more correct translation of the original German title) is marked first of all by the stunning virtuosity and graceful lyricism of violinist John Holloway. Simply to master the notes of these sonatas is an immense task in itself: playing scordatura is sort of like ventriloquism, since you are miming a certain set of notes while other notes are sounding. To have worked up these difficult pieces into an intensely expressive, dramatic experience, as Holloway has, is breathtaking. Then there is the variety of continuo instruments arrayed for each sonata. In various tracks we hear organ, harp, lute, violone, lirone (a gamba viol sounding to these ears somewhat like a harmonica) and regal (a small, portable organ with a rasping, nasal sound, used to great effect in the "Crowning with Thorns" sonata). Finally, the fact that this recording is priced far lower than any of the other major versions (Goebbel, Manze) makes it doubly attractive. I was disappointed by the scarcity of program notes, understandable given the budget price: we are not informed, for example, of the scordatura tuning of the individual sonatas, and I would have liked a more detailed discussion of the pictorial and symbolic elements used by Biber in the sonatas. However, the notes include a link to Virgin's website promising "a more detailed introduction".

Perhaps it's best not to take in this colossal work all at once. For a sampler, try tracks 14-15 of CD 2 (the "Assumption" sonata) and hear some of the most buoyant, joyous violin playing in existence. You'll be instantly mesmerized.

An Inordinately Beautiful Recording of the Biber Mystery Sonatas.......2006-09-22

Much can be written about the difficulty of this music form the 17th Century by Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber - and other reviewers here have given superb descriptions of those complexities - but the end result of works such as this is in the response it produces in the listener.

Biber wrote these Mystery Sonatas to represent the three sets of mysteries from the Bible: the Birth, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection of Christ. The recording is by Tragicomedia with Davitt Moroney and John Holloway in this impeccably performed recording of impossible music: the music is impossibly difficult to play and impossible not to draw and emotional response from the listener. Some may find this version a bit dry sounding, but for this listener that only enhances the other-worldly sense of the music.

The sixteen sonatas are named as follows: Part I: The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Nativity, The Presentation, The Finding in the Temple Part II: The Agony in the Garden, The Scourging of Jesus, The Crowing of Jesus with Thorns, Jesus carries His Cross, The Crucifixion Part III: The Resurrection, The Ascension, The Descent of the Holy Ghost, The Assumption of our Lady, The Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Passacaglia. With the simplest combination of instruments Biber was able to elicit the feelings of each of these mysteries.

For those who love Period Music this recording is a complete success and a treasure to own. For those who have yet to step into this ethereal world, this is a very fine beginning. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, September 06

Hauntingly beautiful Baroque fare.......2004-02-23

I own three versions of Biber's Mystery (Rosary) Sonatas, and a fourth recording (by Manze) of other Biber sonatas along with the famous passacaglia that concludes the set. All of the versions (the other two being by Rheinhard Goebel on Archiv and Suzanne Lautenbacher on VOX) are beautiful, because the music is. Perhaps the passacaglia is the most beautiful 8 to 12 minutes (depending on performer) in the entire musical library. I rate the Holloway version as the best in terms of the passacaglia. The pacing seems perfect (Goebel is fast and almost dancelike, Manze quite slow but with more flare) and is about the same as that of Lautenbacher, the latter being performed on a modern instrument with her usual good taste and limited vibrato. Certainly the Holloway version has the most delicious ending to the passacaglia, when the minor key resolves to a major that brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. The Goebel and Manze versions both have a decorative flourish on the final note that, while beautiful, detracts in my opinion from the simple beauty of the key resolution. How two reviewers could give this recording only a single star is beyond comprehension! Even if one grants that Moroney is not as "lively" a harpsichordist as the performers on the other versions, my response is, "So what?" Maybe if you're a harspichord fanatic you drop the ranking from five stars to four, but the work is overwhelmingly a violin piece with harpsichord ACCOMPANIMENT. To downgrade the ranking of the entire recording to one star completely ignores the fantastic beauty, technical perfection, and haunting introspection of Holloway's performance on the violin. Besides, it's not as if Moroney actually is "incompetent." The descrition I would use is "tastefully understated, recognizing that this is primarily a violin recording." In contrast to the fun Goebel version and the good but more yeoman (yeoperson?) Lautenbacher version, Mr. Holloway plays with greater sensitivity but still with plenty of guts (not referring to the strings here) when drama or a discordant double-stop are called for. Again, ALL of the versions I've heard are great, and I'm tempted to buy yet another, but I always recommend the Holloway to my friends.

Average customer rating: Outstanding musicality What The Baroque Alone Can Do Music to delight the head--and heart Captivating pure italian baroque

Violin Sonatas Op 5 Corelli , Manze , and Egarr Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Corelli: 12 Concerti grossi, op. 6 Biber: The Rosary Sonatas Handel - Complete Violin Sonatas / Manze, Egarr Pandolfi: Complete Violin Sonatas Vivaldi: Concertos for the Emperor ASIN: B000076CW2 Release Date: 2003-03-11

Tracks:

1. Sonata I In D Major
2. Sonata I In D Major
3. Sonata I In D Major
4. Sonata I In D Major
5. Sonata I In D Major
6. Sonata II In B-Flat Major
7. Sonata II In B-Flat Major
8. Sonata II In B-Flat Major
9. Sonata II In B-Flat Major
10. Sonata II In B-Flat Major
11. Sonata III In C Major
12. Sonata III In C Major
13. Sonata III In C Major
14. Sonata III In C Major
15. Sonata III In C Major
16. Sonata IV In F Major
17. Sonata IV In F Major
18. Sonata IV In F Major
19. Sonata IV In F Major
20. Sonata IV In F Major
21. Sonata V In G Minor
22. Sonata V In G Minor
23. Sonata V In G Minor
24. Sonata V In G Minor
25. Sonata V In G Minor
26. Sonata VI In A Major
27. Sonata VI In A Major
28. Sonata VI In A Major
29. Sonata VI In A Major
30. Sonata VI In A Major

Tracks:

1. Sonata VII In D Minor
2. Sonata VII In D Minor
3. Sonata VII In D Minor
4. Sonata VII In D Minor
5. Sonata VIII In E Minor
6. Sonata VIII In E Minor
7. Sonata VIII In E Minor
8. Sonata VIII In E Minor
9. Sonata IX In A Major
10. Sonata IX In A Major
11. Sonata IX In A Major
12. Sonata IX In A Major
13. Sonata X In F Major
14. Sonata X In F Major
15. Sonata X In F Major
16. Sonata X In F Major
17. Sonata X In F Major
18. Sonata XI In E Major
19. Sonata XI In E Major
20. Sonata XI In E Major
21. Sonata XI In E Major
22. Sonata XI In E Major
23. Sonata XII In D Minor, 'Follia'

Amazon.com

Corelli's Op. 5 Violin Sonatas have always been admired by chamber music fans; there are a couple of good recordings of them already available. But this new one by Baroque specialist and virtuoso Andrew Manze and harpsichordist Richard Egarr presents the sonatas in such a bright, exciting, and improvisatory light that they seem brand new. During the composer's lifetime, these sonatas were widely played and tremendously influential; there's a good chance that it was assumed that virtuosi took what was written on the page as a starting point for embellishing and sheer showing off. Manze is breathtaking--fast, articulate, conscious of the genuinely good tunes some of these sonatas contain--and his variances from the written music are thrilling. Egarr knows how to embellish too, and he matches Manze every step of the way. If you're wondering if 131 minutes of only two instruments can keep your interest, don't worry. This will. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding musicality.......2006-07-13

Like a lot of Italian High Baroque music, the scores for these sonatas are rather minimalist, and played strictly as written, these pieces can come across as drab harmony exercises. Manze and Egarr take the score as merely a starting point, in true High Baroque fashion, improvising with an impressive combination of stylistic accuracy, control, and passion that one virtually never hears in classical music.

The fire and immediacy of these performances is exceptional - the sheer joy of the gigue from the A major sonata (no. 9) is something that will stay with you for a while, and the floating, delicate lyricism they give to the slow movements is simply haunting.

I've always thought that Corelli was, with the exceptions of Bach and perhaps Scarlatti, the best composer of the Baroque era, and this set stands comfortably with Trevor Pinnock's magisterial set of the Op. 6 concerti grossi as proof.

What The Baroque Alone Can Do.......2006-01-15

There's something in the greatest of baroque music that it alone can do - a kind of grace in suspended passion, angular sour biting lines that somehow are sweet without being sickly sweet, a mathematical precision that is not arid. It's all here in Arcangelo Corelli's great and generous gift to us all.

I think this music is best listened to on a night when one is physically ill or one is simply too spiritually ill to go much furthur without some sort of stroking of the soul. When played at such times Corelli asks nothing and gives everything - but what a sweet everything he gives!

Full of light and air, a transfiguration that is not heavy, a thoughtfulness that avoids the perils and pains of excessive introspection. There's a reason why people call this music humane and if you'd like to find out why purchase this double CD set and put it on when the burdens of your humanity are a bit too heavy.

What does the Book of Job tell us? That humans are born to trouble as the sparks fly. Here's music that's a true comfort for the likes of Job while he waits for the answers to his rightful questionings.

Music to delight the head--and heart.......2004-09-14

Confession: I have never loved these sonatas. Respected them, yes, of course; but with a polite detachment that their exclusively intellectual and technical achievements seemed to merit.

Well, this album changed all that. It's a masterly performance, effortlessly virtuosic, that shows forth the music in all its lapidary clarity. More than that, though: it is also luminously expressive, replete with moments of such unadorned and lyrical tenderness that the heart opens up, amazed.

For those who think they know this music no less than those who know they do not, Manze and Egarr's achievement is an exquisite revelation.

Captivating.......2003-09-02

I usually think of Corelli as nice "background music," pleasant, but without the emotional depth of Vivaldi, Bach or Handel. However, with this disc I find myself stopping and losing myself in the beautiful tones of Manze's baroque violin. The playing is superb and subtle, revealing these pieces as intimate and poetic. Harmonia Mundi's recording quality is excellent as well. Highly recommended. I can't wait to see what the venerable English Concert does under Manze's new leadership.

pure italian baroque.......2003-08-28

this is really fine music. corelli is the paragon of the "italian" style of baroque (at least until vivaldi caught bach's attention), and these sonatas are perhaps finer than the italianate sonatas by handel. there is marvelous poetry and variety in these pieces, brought forward by the spare instrumentation of violin, bass and harpsichord, and everything is wrapped in corelli's creamy, effortless, halcyon musical world.

my reservation is that manze at times takes these pieces with a raspy vigor that is better left for tartini. the "folias" variations in particular, while tremendous fun and inspiringly ornamented, omit that key (and historically correct) baroque attribute known as decorum. the equally virtuosic recordings by elizabeth wallfisch have the edge on that point.

by the way, if you enjoy this recording, i strongly urge you to get corelli's magnificent concerti grossi, a true pinnacle in the form and one of the great achievements of baroque music.

Average customer rating: Absolutely Exquisite! Technique isn't everything Superb Starker

Italian Cello Sonatas Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Boccherini | Boccherini, Luigi | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Corelli | Corelli, Arcangelo | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Locatelli, Pietro Antonio | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Vivaldi | Vivaldi, Antonio | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Cello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Starker, János | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Boccherini, Luigi | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Corelli, Arcangelo | ( C ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Locatelli, Pietro Antonio | ( L ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Vivaldi, Antonio | ( V ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Starker, János | ( S ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Janos Starker Brahms, Mendelssohn: Cello Sonatas Starker Encore Album Janos Starker Virtuoso Music for Cello The Road To Cello Playing ASIN: B0000057MG Release Date: 1994-09-20

Tracks:

1. Sonata In A Major: 1. Adagio
2. Sonata In A Major: 2. Allegro
3. Sonata In E Minor: 1. Largo
4. Sonata In E Minor: 2. Allegro
5. Sonata In E Minor: 3. Largo
6. Sonata In E Minor: 4. Allegro
7. Sonata In D minor: 1. Preludio
8. Sonata In D minor: 2. Allemanda
9. Sonata In D minor: 3. Sarabanda
10. Sonata In D minor: 4. Giga
11. Sonata In D Major: 1. Allegro - Locatelli Sonata in D Major
12. Sonata In D Major: 2. Adagio - Locatelli Sonata in D Major
13. Sonata In D Major: 3. Minuetto
14. Sonata In E Major: 1. Grave
15. Sonata In E Major: 2. Allegro
16. Sonata In E Major: 3. Allegro (tempo di gavotta)
17. Sonata In E Major: 4. Largo
18. Sonata In E Major: 5. Allegro
19. Sonata In G Minor, BWV 1029: 1. Vivace
20. Sonata In G Minor, BWV 1029: 2. Adagio
21. Sonata In G Minor, BWV 1029: 3. Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Exquisite!.......2006-10-06

This is a fabulous recording! The music and musicianship are superb. The Vivaldi is soulful and the Locatelli and Valentini sonatas are virtuoso pieces wonderfully played. The third Bach sonata was placed on this CD because it did not fit on the Mercury set with the Bach suites. It is a bit of a change of pace (certainly not an Italian cello sonata!). But Sebok is perhaps the best of Starker's collaborators. Their lifelong friendship and shared musical tastes make this one of the best recordings of this Bach sonata. You have to own this CD if you already own the Mercury edition of the Bach solo suites with the other two Bach sonatas.

I am not sure what the "one star" reviewer was thinking. Perhaps he was expecting Baroque a la Jacqueline DuPre...

Technique isn't everything.......2005-11-27

In this recording, Janos Starker proves what true musicians around the globe already know: technique is definitely not everything. These performances are so bland and dry, but you'll never hear him make a mistake. I'd really rather listen to someone who plays with expression but who makes little errors anyday over Janos. I know he's really highly esteemed in the cello world, but he really oughtta stay away from Baroque. These performances are about as gripping as a Slip-`N-Slide. Add to it that he plays all the music like it's Ravel or Brahms (i like both of them, but way different style); the vibrato machine is constantly on - TURN IT OFF! ARE YOU TRYING TO SOUND LIKE A BEL CANTO OPERA SINGER?, tuning is A440, clanky bright PIANO for accompaniment, no one playing continuo - the guy OBVIOUSLY doesn't give a flying fig about authenticity, or the composer's intentions. To sum it up, if you want a recording that sounds like the Suzuki Cello School tapes with way less expression and an even hokier sounding piano, buy this recording. Everyone else, beware.

Superb Starker.......2001-04-28

This collection of Italian Cello Sonatas by the great Janos Starker is one of the most delightful chamber albums I own. The world renowned cellist was joined on this 1966 recording by pianist Stephen Swedish on five of the selections, and by his frequent collaborator Gyorgy Sebok on the Bach Sonata in G minor, which was recorded in 1963 and added to this collection to increase its length (it is a welcome addition musically too). The selections here range from famous composers like Bach, Boccherini and Vivaldi, to the lesser known Corelli, Locatelli and Valentini. For me, the common thread of this recording is the passionate performances of Starker. Whether it is the happy bounce of the Vivaldi Allegro, the sublime rendering of the Boccherini Adagio, or the precise interplay with Sebok on the Bach Sonata, Starker plays masterfully and his cello is captured in rich, full sound by the Mercury Living Presence recording technique. This is an excellent purchase for all cello enthusiasts.

Average customer rating: Focus on the Recordings This is a fantastic deal! Excellent, Broad Selection $70....when was this??? $70/40... you do the math.

Vivaldi: The Masterworks (Box Set) Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Vivaldi | Vivaldi, Antonio | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Concertinos | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Trio Sonatas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Bassoon | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Flute | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Oboe | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piccolo | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Recorder | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Cello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Magnificats | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Vivaldi, Antonio | ( V ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Brilliant Classics | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Complete Works (170 CD Box Set) Bach: Complete Works - 155 CD Box Set Beethoven: The Masterworks (Box Set) Mendelssohn: The Masterworks [Box Set] Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set) ASIN: B00062FLHY Release Date: 2004-11-30

Customer Reviews:

Focus on the Recordings.......2007-07-23

I've made this small review of the Vivaldi Masterworks set because it is SO difficult to find a review of such a big collection.

The price is killer and you HAVE to buy it, but be warned: these are not the best recordings, you get what you pay for.

First of all, I'm not a Vivaldi expert, but I've heard his compositions throughout my life in so many different places and recordings and have a vague idea of how some have to be played. Secondly, I'm not a classical music connoisseur, but I love it and have over 300 discs of various composers and styles. Third, I know what a good audio recording should sound like and this will influence my critique of some discs in the collection. Finally, it's easy to get lost among all the tracks contained, so in some cases I will give you my favorite tracks in a disc.

I'm sorry, but I've only reached disc 20 of the box-set, as I listen to more this review will be expanded.


DISC 1:
Why would you use an AAD recording as a first impression for a 40 disc box-set and for the "Four Seasons", which is probably Vivaldi's best know work. The concertos are played enthusiastically, but lack any additional virtuosity to put it ahead of other much better recordings out there.

DISC 2:
Same as DISC 1, played and recorded by the same people.

DISC 3:
The pieces in this disc are VERY well played, nonetheless, you can hear heavy breathing from the soloist which can be a bit annoying.

DISC 4:
Very well performed as well, heavy breathing is less present.

DISC 5:
A very good recording, excellent execution by the hapsichord and good by the recorder.