Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 21, 23, 26

On this CD:

1. Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat major ("Les Adieux") Op. 81a
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Melvyn Tan

2. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major ("Waldstein") Op. 53
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Melvyn Tan

3. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor ("Appassionata") Op. 57
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Melvyn Tan

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No.8 In C Minor, Op.13 'Pathetique'
Piano Sonata No.14 In C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight'
Piano Sonata No.23 In F Minor, Op.57 'Appassionata'
Piano Sonata No.26 In E Flat Major, Op.81a 'Les Adieux'
Piano Sonata No.15 In D Major, Op.28 'Pastoral'
Piano Sonata No.17 In D Minor, Op31 No.2 'Tempest'
Piano Sonata No.21 In C Major, Op.53 'Waldstein'

Customer Reviews:

Historic recordings by a legendary pianist.......2007-02-16

The veteran Beethovenian Wilhelm Backhaus (b. 1884, just two years after Schnabel) was in his mid 70s when the earliest of these wonderful stereo recordings was made in 1959. so what we get in this two-disc set is a rare, hi-fi glimpse of a prolific and legendary performer with 19th century roots and a ton of 20th century experience. Backhaus rewards his listeners with a mature, even autumnal artistic sensibility which suffers no corresponding lack of youthful vibrancy. I would describe these as authoritative performances. Nice sound, too.

Incidentally, in my set, Disc 1 is mislabeled Disc 2, and vice-versa. This minor glitch notwithstanding, the set earns my most enthusiastic recommendation!

Listen and understand.

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 21, 23, 26

Average customer rating:

Another perspective
Historical fortepiano with lots of mechanical noise

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 21, 23, 26

Manufacturer: EMI Records [All429]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000DO0J
Release Date: 2001-01-09

Tracks:

Pno Son No.26 in E flat, Op.81a 'Les Adieux': I. Das Lebewohl: Adagio - Allegro
Pno Son No.26 in E flat, Op.81a 'Les Adieux': II. Abwesenheit: Andante Espressivo -
Pno Son No.26 in E flat, Op.81a 'Les Adieux': III. - Das Wiedersehen: Vivacissamente
Pno Son No.21in C, Op.53 'Waldstein': I. Allegro Con Brio
Pno Son No.21in C, Op.53 'Waldstein': II. Intro: Adagio Molto -
Pno Son No.21in C, Op.53 'Waldstein': III. - Rondo: Allegretto Moderato - Prestissimo
Pno Son No.23 in f, Op.57 'Appassionata': I. Allegro Assai - Piu Allegro
Pno Son No.23 in f, Op.57 'Appassionata': II. Andante Con Moto -
Pno Son No.23 in f, Op.57 'Appassionata': III. - Allegro Ma Non Troppo - Presto

Customer Reviews:

Another perspective.......2004-12-16

I disagree in general with the first reviewers remarks. Fortepianos are not modern pianos - of course they have noise. They have limitations as well such as notes are not able to repeat as quikly. The public is used to hearing works on a Steinway D and to compare any Fortepiano to a modern concert grand really doesn't make sense. If you don't wish to hear Beethoven on a reproduction of a period instrument don't buy this CD. As a pianist I have to say I'm rather impressed with Maestro Tan's comand of this instrument I don't feel he played the 26th sonata "choppily" All of the performances I found gripping and exciting as opposed to how borring some performers are who insit on using period or reproduction instruments.
Thomas Martin
www.thomasnathanielmartin.com

Historical fortepiano with lots of mechanical noise.......2004-10-09

This CD contains three of the glorious piano sonatas that Beethoven wrote while he was in his thirties, and Melvyn Tan, playing a fortepiano by Derek Adlam after Nannette Streicher, certainly gives them a good rendering, especially the breathtaking 'Appassionata', but if you are new to this repertoire or looking for a 'standard' version I recommend you look elsewhere: this recording has a number of features that could either spoil your listening pleasure or put you off Beethoven altogether, which would be a great pity. First of all, there is the instrument itself: the 'fortepiano' is, unlike the modern 'pianoforte', made almost entirely of wood, and its comparatively primitive structure means that it sounds both wooden and, at least in the lower notes, somewhat muffled. This can lead to a 'singing' effect, for which Beethoven himself was famous, but Melvyn Tan nowhere really achieves this; instead he tends to play a little 'choppily', particularly in 'Les Adieux', which not only, on occasion, interrupts the flow of the music but also produces mechanical noises that might, if you are used to a modern instrument, get on your nerves. Added to this are deficits in the engineering: In the 'Waldstein', the crossover section from the Adagio molto to the Prestissimo is marred by high-pitched sounds that, if I am not mistaken, are not mechanical noises emitting from the piano but 'feedback' emanating from the sound equipment being used. If you want to hear this music on a historical fortepiano, here it is; if you want to hear this music period, choose either a modern instrument or a better recording: there are several around.

Beethoven: Die Klaviersonaten/Piano Sonatas/Les Sonates pour Piano Nos. 16-32

Average customer rating:

Beethoven: Die Klaviersonaten/Piano Sonatas/Les Sonates pour Piano Nos. 16-32

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001G5F
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Sonate No. 16 G-dur Op. 31 No. 1(In G Major): 1. Allegro vivace
Sonate No. 16 G-dur Op. 31 No. 1 (In G Major): 2. Adagio grazioso
Sonate No. 16 G-dur Op. 31 No. 1 (In G Major): 3. Rondo. Allegretto
Sonate No. 17 d-moll Op. 31 No. 2 'Sturm-Sonate' (In D Minor 'The Tempest'): 1. Largo - Allegro
Sonate No. 17 d-moll Op. 31 No. 2 'Sturm-Sonate' (In D Minor 'The Tempest'): 2. Adagio
Sonate No. 17 d-moll Op. 31 No. 2 'Sturm-Sonate' (In D Minor 'The Tempest'): 3. Allegretto
Sonate No. 19 G-moll Op. 49 No. 1 (In G Minor): 1. Andante
Sonate No. 19 G-moll Op. 49 No. 1 (In G Minor): 2. Rondo. Allegro
Sonate No. 20 G-dur Op. 49 No. 2 (In G Major): 1. Allegro, ma non troppo
Sonate No. 20 G-dur Op. 49 No. 2 (In G Major): 2. Tempo di Menuetto

Tracks:

Sonate No. 18 Es-dur Op. 31 No. 3 (In E Flat Major): 1. Allegro
Sonate No. 18 Es-dur Op. 31 No. 3 (In E Flat Major): 2. Scherzo. Allegretto vivace
Sonate No. 18 Es-dur Op. 31 No. 3 (In E Flat Major): 3. Menuetto. Moderato e grazioso
Sonate No. 18 Es-dur Op. 31 No. 3 (In E Flat Major): 4. Presto con fuoco
Sonate No. 21 C-dur Op. 53 'Waldstein-Sonate' (In C Major): 1. Allegro con brio
Sonate No. 21 C-dur Op. 53 'Waldstein-Sonate' (In C Major): 2. Introduzione. Adagio molto - attacca:
Sonate No. 21 C-dur Op. 53 'Waldstein-Sonate' (In C Major): 3. Rondo. Allegretto moderato
Sonate No. 22 F-dur Op. 54 (In F Major): 1. In tempo d'un Menuetto
Sonate No. 22 F-dur Op. 54 (In F Major): 2. Allegretto

Tracks:

Sonate No. 23 f-moll Op. 57 ' Appassionata (In F Minor): 1. Allegro assai
Sonate No. 23 f-moll Op. 57 ' Appassionata (In F Minor): 2. Andante con moto - attacca:
Sonate No. 23 f-moll Op. 57 ' Appassionata (In F Minor): 3. Allegro, ma non troppo - Presto
Sonate No. 24 Fis-dur Op. 78 (In F Sharp Major): 1. Adagio cantibile - Allegro, ma non troppo
Sonate No. 24 Fis-dur Op. 78 (In F Sharp Major): 2. Allegro vivace
Sonate No. 25 G-dur Op. 79 (In G Major): 1. Presto alla tedesca
Sonate No. 25 G-dur Op. 79 (In G Major): 2. Andante
Sonate No. 25 G-dur Op. 79 (In G Major): 3. Vivace
Sonate No. 26 Es-dur Op. 81a 'Les Adieux' (In E Flat Major): 1. Das Lebewohl (Les Adieux). Adagio - Allegro
Sonate No. 26 Es-dur Op. 81a 'Les Adieux' (In E Flat Major): 2. Abwesenheit (L'Absence). Andante espressivo
Sonate No. 26 Es-dur Op. 81a 'Les Adieux' (In E Flat Major): 3. Das Wiedersehn (Le Retour). Vivacissimamente

Tracks:

Sonate No. 27 e-moll, Op. 90 (In E Minor): 1. Mit Lebhaftigkein und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck
Sonate No. 27 e-moll, Op. 90 (In E Minor): 2. Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorzutragen
Sonate No. 28 A-dur Op. 101 (In A Major): 1. Etwas lebhaft und mit dre innegsten Empfindung. Allegretto, ma non troppo
Sonate No. 28 A-dur Op. 101 (In A Major): 2. Lebhaft, marschmassig. Vivace alla Marcia
Sonate No. 28 A-dur Op. 101 (In A Major): 3. Langsam und sehnuchtsvoll. Adagio, ma non troppo, con affeto - attacca:
Sonate No. 28 A-dur Op. 101 (In A Major): 4. Geschwinde, doch nicht zu sehr und mit Entschlossenheit. Allegro
Sonate No. 30 E-dur Op. 109 (In E Major): 1. Vivace, ma non troppo
Sonate No. 30 E-dur Op. 109 (In E Major): 2. Prestissimo
Sonate No. 30 E-dur Op. 109 (In E Major): 3. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung (Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo)

Tracks:

Sonate No. 29 B-dur Op. 106 'Grosse Sonate fur das Hammerklavier' (In B Flat Major): 1. Allegro
Sonate No. 29 B-dur Op. 106 'Grosse Sonate fur das Hammerklavier' (In B Flat Major): 2. Scherzo. Assai vivace
Sonate No. 29 B-dur Op. 106 'Grosse Sonate fur das Hammerklavier' (In B Flat Major): 3. Adagio sostenuto. Appassionato e con molto sentimento
Sonate No. 29 B-dur Op. 106 'Grosse Sonate fur das Hammerklavier' (In B Flat Major): 4. Largo - Allegro risoluto

Tracks:

Sonate No. 31 As-dur Op. 110 (In A Flat Major): 1. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
Sonate No. 31 As-dur Op. 110 (In A Flat Major): 2. Allegro molto
Sonate No. 31 As-dur Op. 110 (In A Flat Major): 3. Adagio, ma non troppo - Fuga. Allegro, ma non troppo
Sonate No. 32 c-moll Op. 111 (In C Minor): 1. Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassioinato
Sonate No. 32 c-moll Op. 111 (In C Minor): 2. Arietta. Adagio molto semplice e cantabile