Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer: Walter Gieseking
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Naxos
Catalogue: 8112063
Release: 2011
Size: 153 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Piano Sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49 No. 2
01. I. Allegro ma non troppo
02. II. Tempo di menuetto
Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 ‘Waldstein’
03. I. Allegro con brio
04. II. Introduzione. Adagio molto
05. III. Rondo. Allegretto moderato – Prestissimo
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 ‘Appassionata’
06. I. Allegro assai
07. II. Andante con moto
08. III. Allegro ma non troppo – Presto
Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101
09. I. Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung
10. II. Lebhaft. Marschmassig
11. III. Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll
12. IV. Geschwind, doch nicht zu sehr, und mit Entschlossenheit
Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
13. I. Vivace ma non troppo
14. II. Prestissimo
15. III. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung: Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo
Hailed as ‘the new Anton Rubinstein’ early in his career, Walter Gieseking sought to convey all the excitement and drama in Beethoven’s piano sonatas. This 1939 recording of the Waldstein Sonata was described in Gramophone as ‘distinguished by an amazing range of tone-colour, a neverfailing sensitiveness to the demands of the music, and tremendously vital rhythm.’ The ‘Appassionata’ was received in America as ‘a superb recording that conveys the most subtle nuances as well as emotional vigour’, and the Sonata Op. 101 as ‘one of the finest interpretations and recording… the work emerges with a balance and clarity that could not be improved upon.’.