Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas

L.V. Beethoven, Wilhelm Kempff - Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas

Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
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CD Details

Artist: L.V. Beethoven, Wilhelm Kempff
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Box set, Import
CD Release Date: 2002-05-08
Music Label: Dg Imports
Soundtracks:
  1. Sonata No. 1 In F Minor Op. 2 No. 1 - 01 Allegro
  2. Sonata No. 1 In F Minor Op. 2 No. 1 - 02 Adagio
  3. Sonata No. 1 In F Minor Op. 2 No. 1 - 03 Menuetto. Allegretto
  4. Sonata No. 1 In F Minor Op. 2 No. 1 - 04 Prestissimo
  5. Sonata No. 2 In A Major Op. 2 No.2 - 01 Allegro Vivace
  6. Sonata No. 2 In A Major Op. 2 No.2 - 02 Largo Appassionato
  7. Sonata No. 2 In A Major Op. 2 No.2 - 03 Schrzo.Allegretto
  8. Sonata No. 2 In A Major Op. 2 No.2 - 04 Rondo. Grazioso
  9. Sonata No 4 In E Flat Major Op. 7 - 01 Allegro Molto E Con Brio
  10. Sonata No. 4 In E Flat Major Op. 7 - 02 Largo, Con Gran Espressione
  11. Sonata No. 4 In E Flat Major Op. 7 - 03 Allegro
  12. Sonata No. 4 In E Flat Major Op. 7 - 04 Rond. Poco Allegretto E Grazioso
  13. Sonata No. 3 In C Major Op. 2 No. 3 - 01 Allegro Con Brio
  14. Sonata No. 3 In C Major Op. 2 No. 3 - 02 Adagio
  15. Sonata No. 3 In C Major Op. 2 No. 3 - 03 Scherzo, Allegro
  16. Sonata No. 3 In C Major Op. 2 No. 3 - 04 Allegro Assai
  17. Sonata No. 5 In C Minor Op. 10 No. 1 - 01 Allegro Molto E Con Brio
  18. Sonata No. 5 In C Minor Op. 10 No. 1 - 02 Adagio Molto
  19. Sonata No. 5 In C Minor Op. 10 No. 1 - 03 Finale, Prestissimo
  20. Sonata No. 6 In F Major Op. 10 No. 2 - 01 Allegro
  21. Sonata No. 6 In F Major Op. 10 No. 2 - 02 Allegretto
  22. Sonata No. 6 In F Major Op. 10 No. 2 - 03 Presto
  23. Sonata No. 7 In D Major Op. 10 No. 3 - 01 Presto
  24. Sonata No. 7 In D Major Op. 10 No. 3 - 02 Largo E Mesto
  25. Sonata No. 7 In D Major Op. 10 No. 3 - 03 Menuetto, Allegro
  26. Sonata No. 7 In D Major Op. 10 No. 3 - 04 Rondo, Allegro
  27. Sonata No.8 In C Min Op.13 -Pathetique- Grave
  28. Sonata No.8 In C Min Op.13 -Pathetique- Adagio Cantabile
  29. Sonata No.8 In C Min Op.13 -Pathetique- Rondo, Allegro
  30. Sonata No.9 In E Maj Op.14 No.1 Allegro
  31. Sonata No.9 In E Maj Op.14 No.1 Allegretto
  32. Sonata No.9 In E Maj Op.14 No.1 Rondo, Allegro Comodo
  33. Sonata No.10 In G Maj Op.14 No.2 Allegro
  34. Sonata No.10 In G Maj Op.14 No.2 Andante
  35. Sonata No.10 In G Maj Op.14 No.2 Scherzo, Allegro Assai
  36. Sonata No.11 B-Flat Maj Op.22 Allegro Con Brio
  37. Sonata No.11 B-Flat Maj Op.22 Adagio Con Molta Espressione
  38. Sonata No.11 B-Flat Maj Op.22 Menuetto
  39. Sonata No.11 B-Flat Maj Op.22 Rondo, Allegretto
  40. Sonata No. 12 In A Flat Major Op. 26 - 01 Andante Con Variazioni
  41. - 2 - Scherzo. Allegro Molto
  42. - 3 - Marcia Funebre Sulla Morte D'un Eroe
  43. - 4 - Allegro
  44. No.13 - 1 - Andante
  45. - 2 - Allegro Molto E Vivace
  46. - 3 - Adagio Con Expressione
  47. - 4 - Allegro Vivace
  48. No.14 Moonlight - 1 - Adagio Sostenuto - Attacca-
  49. - 2 - Allegretto - Attacca-
  50. - 3 - Presto Agitato
  51. No.15 - 1 - Allegro
  52. - 2 - Andante
  53. - 3 - Scherzo. Allegro Vivace
  54. - 4 - Rondo. Allegro, Ma Non Troppo
  55. 01 - Sonata No. 16 In G Major Op. 31 No. 1 - 01 Allegro Vivace
  56. 02 - Sonata No. 16 In G Major Op. 31 No. 1 - 02 Adagio Grazioso
  57. 02 - Sonata No. 16 In G Major Op. 31 No. 1 - 03 Rondo, Allegretto
  58. 04 - Sonata No. 17 In D Minor Op. 31 No. 2 'Tempest' - 01 Largo - Allegro
  59. 05 - Sonata No. 17 In D Minor Op. 31 No. 2 'Tempest' - 02 Adagio
  60. 06 - Sonata No. 17 In D Minor Op. 31 No. 2 'Tempest' - 03 Allegretto
  61. 07 - Sonata No. 18 In E Flat Major Op. 31 No. 3 - 01 Allegro
  62. 08 - Sonata No. 18 In E Flat Major Op. 31 No. 3 - 02 Scherzo, Allegretto Vivace
  63. 09 - Sonata No. 18 In E Flat Major Op. 31 No. 3 - 03 Minuetto, Moderato E Grazio
  64. 10 - Sonata No. 18 In E Flat Major Op. 31 No. 3 - 04 Presto Con Fuoco
  65. 11 - Sonata No. 19 In G Minor Op. 49 No. 1 - 01 Andante
  66. 12 - Sonata No. 19 In G Minor Op. 49 No. 1 - 02 Rondo, Allegro
  67. 01 - Sonata No. 20 In G Major Op. 49 No. 2 - 01 Allegro, Ma Non Troppo
  68. 02 - Sonata No. 20 In G Major Op. 49 No. 2 - 02 Tempo Di Minuetto
  69. 03 - Sonata No. 21 In C Major Op. 53 'Waldstein' - 01 Allegro Con Brio
  70. 04 - Sonata No. 21 In C Major Op. 53 'Waldstein' - 02 Introduzione, Adagio Molto
  71. 05 - Sonata No. 21 In C Major Op. 53 'Waldstein' - 03 Rondo, Allegretto Moderato
  72. 06 - Sonata No. 22 In F Major Op.54 - 01 In Tempo D'un Menuetto
  73. 07 - Sonata No. 22 In F Major Op.54 - 02 Allegretto
  74. 08 - Sonata No. 23 In F Minor Op. 57 'Appassionata' - 01 Allegro Assai
  75. 09 - Sonata No. 23 In F Minor Op. 57 'Appassionata' - 02 Andante Con Moto - Atta
  76. 10 - Sonata No. 23 In F Minor Op. 57 'Appassionata' - 03 Allegro, Ma Non Troppo
  77. 11 - Sonata No. 24 In F Sharp Major Op. 78 - 01 Adagio Cantabile - Allegro, Ma N
  78. 12 - Sonata No. 24 In F Sharp Major Op. 78 - 02 Allegro Vivace
  79. Sonata No. 25 In G Major Op. 79 - 01 Presto Alla Tedesca
  80. Sonata No. 25 In G Major Op. 79 - 02 Andante
  81. Sonata No. 25 In G Major Op. 79 - 03 Vivace
  82. Sonata No. 26 In E Flat Major Op. 81a 'Les Adieux' - 01 Adagio - Allegro
  83. Sonata No. 26 In E Flat Major Op. 81a 'Les Adieux' - 02 Andante Espressivo
  84. Sonata No. 26 In E Flat Major Op. 81a 'Les Adieux' - 03 Vivacissimamente
  85. Sonata No. 27 In E Minor Op. 90 - 01
  86. Sonata No. 27 In E Minor Op. 90 - 02
  87. Sonata No. 29 In B Flat Major Op. 106 'Hammerklavier' - 01 Allegro
  88. Sonata No. 29 In B Flat Major Op. 106 'Hammerklavier' - 02 Scherzo, Assai Vivace
  89. Sonata No. 29 In B Flat Major Op. 106 'Hammerklavier' - 03 Adagio Sostenuto, App
  90. Sonata No. 29 In B Flat Major Op. 106 'Hammerklavier' - 04 Largo, Molto Risoluto
  91. Sonata No. 28 In A Major Op. 101 - 01 Allegretto Ma Non Troppo
  92. Sonata No. 28 In A Major Op. 101 - 02 Vivace Alla Marcia
  93. Sonata No. 28 In A Major Op. 101 - 03 Adagio, Ma Non Troppo, Con Affetto - Attac
  94. Sonata No. 28 In A Major Op. 101 - 04 Allegro
  95. Sonata No. 30 In E Major Op. 109 - 01 Vivace
  96. Sonata No. 30 In E Major Op. 109 - 02 Prestissimo
  97. Sonata No. 30 In E Major Op. 109 - 03 Andante Molto Cantabile Ed Espressivo
  98. Sonata No. 31 In A Flat Major Op. 110 - 01 Moderato Cantabile Molto Espressivo
  99. Sonata No. 31 In A Flat Major Op. 110 - 02 Allegro Molto
  100. Sonata No. 31 In A Flat Major Op. 110 - 03 Adagio, Ma Non Troppo - Fuga, Allegro
  101. Sonata No. 32 In C Minor Op. 111 - 01 Maestoso - Allegro Con Brio Ed Appassionat
  102. Onata No. 32 In C Minor Op. 111 - 02 Arietta, Adagio Molto Semplice E Cantabile
  103. Die Glocken Der Weltfriendskirehe In Hiroshima
  104. Ich Ruf Zu Dir Herr Jesu Christ
  105. Ansprache Anlablich Der Orgeleinweihung In Der Weltfriendenskirehe Hiroshima
  106. Wenn Ich Einmal Soll Scheiden
  107. Aus Meinem Leben
  108. 3. Scherzo- Allegro Energico
  109. Urber Das Klavier Und Das Klavierspielen
  110. Allegretto
  111. Begegnung Mit Ferruccio Busoni
  112. Es Ist Gewiblich An Der Zeit
  113. Uber Meine Beethoven Interpretation
  114. 1. Grave Allegro Di Molto E Con Brio
  115. 2. Adagio Cantabile
  116. 3. Rondo Allegro
  117. 1. Liederseelen Op. 56 No.1
  118. Alle Op. 56 No. 2
  119. Der Gesang Des Meeres Op. 56 No. 3
  120. In Einer Sturmnacht Op. 55 No. 1

Music reviews of Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas

Music Review: A fantastic cycle...
Rating: 4 Stars

Wilhelm Kempff is most certainly among the most humane pianists in recorded history. This cannot be denied - even apart from his luminescent interpretations, you will hear him play a Bach chorale on the organ in the Church of Peace at Hiroshima on the bonus disc of this cycle. Sibelius once told him that he did not play "like a pianist, but like a human being". From his personality, one may already see what to expect in his playing...

First I'll get through his late sonatas. I am one of the few people I know of who is neither absolutely enthralled nor put off by his renditions of the final five sonatas. The last five of Beethoven's are works almost infinite in their range of emotion, spirituality, and even technicality, and no pianist I have ever heard plays all five of them equally well. As for Kempff, I notice two big keys in the way he plays them, one positive and one not so much. Bad news first: When it comes to the slow movements, he simply plays them too fast and too lightly. While he lets every note ring out beautifully, he does not allow his listener time to soak in the slower parts, such as the beginnings of the final movements of Op. 109 and Op. 111 as well as (and much more imporantly so) the adagio in Hammerklavier. This Adagio is undeniably a masterpiece - it goes through periods where it floats along pensively and wistfully to points where it bleeds with dark eroticism. Kempff's adagio has credit as a nocturnal whisper, but I do not feel it fully captures these elements of that work, mostly because of the speed at which he plays it (only about 15 minutes long, as opposed to its average length of about 17 - 19 minutes). However, Kempff's luminenscence provides us with an almost unique experience in many other parts of the late Beethovens... he almost seems to capture in his playing of certain parts the hours Ludwig spent at the keyboard improvising until he was content with what he heard. The fugues of Op. 110 and Hammerklavier, as well as the variations in Op. 111 are so magnificently and brightly portrayed, that it is impossible for me not to be taken by them every time I hear them.

As for the middle period sonatas (in my view those are Nos. 12 - 27 with the exception of Nos. 19 & 20 which were written much earlier than they were published, though most academics start the middle period at No. 21), I have not a single complaint with Kempff. These sonatas do not share the same spirituality as the late ones do, instead they are the product of a unity of Beethoven's fertile mind and soul... the middle work portrays Beethoven's dreams and fantasies put to music, for example the Waldstein sonata starts out playful and almost bluesy and ends in a flash of sparkling divinity; Sonata No. 12 begins pensively before sinking into the strange darkness of its funeral march and ending on the waterfalls and moonlit plains of its quick finale. Considering the dreamlike and ever-changing spirituality of these works, it is clear that few are apt to play them better than Kempff does, and I would have paid the price of this cycle for Nos. 12, 15, 21, and 24 alone!

In terms of the early sonatas, they are not as similar to Mozart as many will have you believe, though they do have their share of Mozartine moments. However, one of the reasons that they are seen as in line with the work of the 18th century classical composers is because of the way in which they should be played. These sonatas are like Beethoven's childhood dreams as opposed to his adulthood ones represented by the middle sonatas, and should be played with smooth flow and great intensity, where it is required (for example in the opening movement of Pathetique or Op. 10/1). In this case, Kempff's renditions do not bother me, but do not excite me either, and I must admit I rarely listen to the first two discs of his cycle... look to Emil Gilels, Solomon Cutner, or even Artur Schnabel for better interpretations of these early sonatas.

On the whole, this cycle is one of the best I own and the lovely box is already showing signs of serious wear and tear after only a year of ownership (I carry it around with me quite a lot), and I would even recommend it as a starter cycle for someone not well acquainted with Beethoven's sonatas. For the early sonatas, look for the pianists I listed above (as well as Grigory Sokolov for Sonata No. 4, unfortunately he has only recorded two Beethoven sonatas in his life). For different (and in some cases better) perspectives on the last five, I'd recommend Maurizio Pollini (ESPECIALLY for Hammerklavier), Stefan Kovacevich, Alfred Brendel (mostly for Op. 109), Claudio Arrau, and many others...

All in all, this cycle definitely has my enthusiastic recommendation.
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