Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet
Number of Discs: 3
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Chandos
Catalogue: CHAN10798(3)
Release: 2014
Size: 3.22 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
Piano Sonata, Op. 22
01. I. Allegro con brio
02. II. Adagio con molta espressione
03. III. Minuetto – Minore – Minuetto D.C. senza replica
04. IV. Rondo. Allegretto
Piano Sonata, Op. 26 “Grande Sonate”
05. I. Andante con Variazioni
06. II. Scherzo. La prima parte senza repetizione. Allegro molto
07. III. Marcia funebre sulla morte d’un Eroe
08. IV. Allegro
Piano Sonata quasi una fantasia, Op. 27 No. 1
09. I. Andante – Allegro
10. II. Allegro molto e vivace
11. III. Adagio con espressione
12. IV. Allegro vivace – Tempo I – Presto
Piano Sonata quasi una fantasia, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight”
13. I. Adagio sostenuto. Si deve suonare tutto questo
14. II. Allegretto. La prima parte solamente una volta
15. III. Presto agitato – Adagio – Tempo I
CD 02
Piano Sonata, Op. 31 No. 1
01. I. Allegro vivace
02. II. Adagio grazioso
03. III. Rondo. Allegretto – Adagio
Piano Sonata, Op. 31 No. 2 “Tempest”
04. I. Largo – Allegro – Adagio – Largo – Allegro – Largo – Allegro
05. II. Adagio
06. III. Allegretto
Piano Sonata, Op. 31 No. 3
07. I. Allegro
08. II. Scherzo. Allegretto vivace
09. III. Menuetto. Moderato e grazioso – Trio – Coda
10. IV. Presto con fuoco
CD 03
Piano Sonata, Op. 28 “Pastoral”
01. I. Allegro – Adagio
02. II. Andante
03. III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace – Trio. La seconda parte una volta
04. IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo – Più Allegro quasi Presto
Piano Sonata, Op. 49 No. 1 “Sonate facile”
05. I. Andante
06. II. Rondo. Allegro
Piano Sonata, Op. 49 No. 2 “Sonate facile”
07. I. Allegro, ma non troppo
08. II. Tempo di Menuetto
Piano Sonata, Op. 53 “Waldstein”
09. I. Allegro con brio
10. II. Introduzione. Adagio molto
11. III. Rondo. Allegretto moderato – Prestissimo
12. Andante, WoO 57 “Andante favori”
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet returns for the second volume of his survey of Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas. The project, set to conclude with Vol. 3 in 2014, runs alongside his complete recording of Haydn’s Piano Sonatas. Vol. 1 of the Beethoven series was critically acclaimed, BBC Music calling the performances ‘distinguished and virtuosic’ and Fanfare remarking that ‘his readings will withstand the test of time’. In this release Bavouzet performs the sonatas published between 1800 and 1804.
This period marked a transitional stage in Beethoven’s work and the arrival of his middle period. Included are the two Op. 27 sonatas, both modified ‘quasi una fantasia’ that break away from traditional forms. One of these, the ‘Moonlight’ Sonata, features one of his best-known movements, the opening Adagio sostenuto, which unfolds like a baroque prelude with its famous rolling triplets and lamenting melody. The ‘Waldstein’ Sonata, Op. 53 is one of the glories of Beethoven’s middle period and surpasses all his previous sonatas in scope and scale. Also recorded here is the Andante in F, a piece originally intended as the slow movement to the ‘Waldstein’. Although later replaced by a shorter Adagio molto this is a charming piece in its own right and quickly became one of Beethoven’s most popular works after being published alone as the Andante favori.