Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Volume 2 Piano Classical Chandos

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

(1770-1827)

COMPACT DISC ONE

Piano Sonata, Op. 22

24:31

in B flat major - in B-Dur - en si bémol majeur

Dem Grafen Johann Georg von Browne gewidmet

Allegro con brio

7:29

Adagio con molta espressione

7:27

Minuetto - Minore - Minuetto D.C. senza replica

3:27

Rondo. Allegretto

6:08

Piano Sonata, Op. 26 'Grande Sonate'

19:57

in A flat major - in As-Dur - en la bémol majeur

Dem Fürsten Carl von Lichnowsky gewidmet

Andante con Variazioni

8:23

[Andante -]

Variazione I -

Variazione II -

Variazione III -

Variazione IV -

Variazione V

Scherzo. La prima parte senza repetizione. Allegro molto -

2:57

Trio - Scherzo D.C. senza repetizione

Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un Eroe

5:37

Allegro

2:54

Piano Sonata quasi una fantasia, Op. 27 No. 1

15:50

in E flat major - in Es-Dur - en mi bémol majeur

Der Fürstin Josephine von Liechtenstein gewidmet

Andante - Allegro - Tempo I -

4:52

10.

Allegro molto e vivace -

2:09

11.

Adagio con espressione -

3:03

12.

Allegro vivace - Tempo I - Presto

5:43

Piano Sonata quasi una fantasia, Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight'

15:54

in C sharp minor - in cis-Moll - en ut dièse mineur

Der Gräfin Giulietta Guicciardi gewidmet

13.

Adagio sostenuto. Si deve suonare tutto questo

5:46

pezzo delicatissimamente e senza sordino -

14.

Allegretto. La prima parte solamente una volta -

2:34

Trio - Allegretto D.C.

15.

Presto agitato - Adagio - Tempo I

7:33

76:10

COMPACT DISC TWO

Piano Sonata, Op. 31 No. 1

23:24

in G major - in G-Dur - en sol majeur

Allegro vivace

6:39

Adagio grazioso

9:59

Rondo. Allegretto - Adagio - Tempo I -

6:46

Adagio - Presto

Piano Sonata, Op. 31 No. 2 'Tempest'

23:06

in D minor - in d-Moll - en ré mineur

Largo - Allegro - Adagio - Largo - Allegro - Largo - Allegro -

8:27

Adagio

7:50

Allegretto

6:47

Piano Sonata, Op. 31 No. 3

22:35

in E flat major - in Es-Dur - en mi bémol majeur

Allegro

8:12

Scherzo. Allegretto vivace

5:22

Menuetto. Moderato e grazioso - Trio - Coda

4:27

10.

Presto con fuoco

4:32

69:07

COMPACT DISC THREE

Piano Sonata, Op. 28 'Pastoral'

24:33

in D major - in D-Dur - en ré majeur

Joseph Edlem von Sonnenfels gewidmet

Allegro - Adagio - Tempo I

10:30

Andante

6:16

Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Trio. La seconda parte una volta -

2:28

Scherzo D.C.

Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo - Più Allegro quasi Presto

5:18

Piano Sonata, Op. 49 No. 1 'Sonate facile'

7:33

in G minor - in g-Moll - en sol mineur

Andante

4:00

Rondo. Allegro

3:31

Piano Sonata, Op. 49 No. 2 'Sonate facile'

7:51

in G major - in G-Dur - en sol majeur

Allegro, ma non troppo

4:22

Tempo di Menuetto

3:37

Piano Sonata, Op. 53 'Waldstein'

24:06

in C major - in C-Dur - en ut majeur

Dem Grafen Ferdinand von Waldstein gewidmet

Allegro con brio

10:27

10.

Introduzione. Adagio molto -

3:38

11.

Rondo. Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo

10:00

12.

Andante, WoO 57 'Andante favori'

8:16

in F major - in F-Dur - en fa majeur

Andante grazioso con moto

72:23

Solo: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet piano

16-18 January 2013 (Sonatas, Opp. 22, 26, and 27 Nos 1 and 2), 4-6 June 2013 (Sonatas, Op. 31 Nos 1-3), and 20-22 September 2013 (Sonatas, Opp. 28, 49 Nos 1 and 2, and 53, Andante in F)

Repertoire *** (Good) Sound **** (Very Good)

Ingo Harden - Fono Forum magazine (Germany) - May 2014

"Chandos has provided Bavouzet with a clear and bright recording that does not lack for warmth. The first-class production values are also what one expects from this label. William Drabkin has contributed detailed notes on each sonata, and Bavouzet himself provides a note on the reason he decided to record these sonatas and on his approach to the works. As a whole, while there are many recordings of these works from which to choose, Bavouzet’s belong up there with the best."

Leslie Wright - MusicWeb-International.com - 2 April 2014

“…The sound is as clear and realistic as on the earlier volume, while William Drabkin’s booklet notes are again informed by the latest research and Bavouzet’s reminiscences offer useful pointers as to his interpretative convictions. Those following his Beethoven cycle will not be disappointed by what is on offer here and the final volume can be only keenly awaited.”

Richard Whitehouse – International Record Review – February 2014

Performance **** Recording *****

"... he [Bavouzet] plays a rich-sounding modern instrument, and Chandos supplies its usual feather-bed acoustic. Yet whenever there’s a chance to be abrasive, Bavouzet seizes it, and he relishes the opportunities Beethoven gives him to sound wispy and ’French’ ..."

Michael Tanner - BBC Music magazine - February 2014

his playing is engaging and fresh; there’s never a hint of staleness about even the most familiar music, such as the Moonlight Sonata Op 27 No 2, while in Op 22, Op 26 and Op 28, the least-often heard of the sonatas in this collection, the tightly sprung rhythms and the unfussy phrasing mean that the performances are always dynamic, always focused " ****

Andrew Clements - The Guardian - 17 January 2014

“…Bavouzet’s three-CD box encompasses sonatas written between 1800 and 1804. The Moonlight is here, the Waldstein too, along with the three pungent Op 31 sonatas, particularly suited for this French pianist’s fingers. The nervous abrupt chords in the first movement of Op 31, No 1 jump out and bite us. He’s equally impressive capturing the music’s playful mischief and sudden poetic revelations. So much here is brilliantly achieved and so sharply polished… Chandos’s sound, as usual, is immaculate. More Beethoven, please.” ****

Geoff Brown - The Times – 10 January 2014

“The first volume of Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s projected traversal of all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas was an unqualified triumph. The only question was how could he maintain such a standard – mature in vision yet fresh in impulse – across such a challenging and diverse corpus of music? … the French pianist again justifies the faith Chandos has placed in him for such a significant project… Roll on Volume 3.” ****

Andrew Clark – The Financial Times - 11-12 January 2013

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