BEETHOVEN

 

The Piano Sonatas, Vol. IV

Sonatas opp. 26, 27 and 28

 

András Schiff: piano

 

Sonata No. 12 A-flat major op. 26

 (1) Andante con Variazioni 7.41

 (2) Scherzo. Allegro molto 2.42 *

 (3) Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un Eroe 5.05

 (4) Allegro 3,15

Sonata No. 13 E-flat major op. 27/1

Sonata quasi una fantasia

 (5) Andante – Allegro – Tempo I   5.19

 (6) Allegro molto e vivace 2.03

 (7) Adagio con espressione 2.36

 (8) Allegro vivace 5.53

Sonata No. 14 c-sharp minor op. 27/2 "Moonlight"

 (9)  Adagio sostenuto 4.28 *

 (10) Allegretto 2.25

 (11) Presto agitato 7.28

Sonata No. 15 D major op. 28 "Pastorale"

 (12) Allegro 10.29

 (13) Andante 6.58

 (14) Scherzo. Allegro vivace 2.13

 (15) Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo 5.45 *

 

Total time: 74.44         Recommended listening * 

 

Summary:    

The fourth release (including the popular ‘Moonlight’ Sonata) in András Schiff’s Beethoven sonata cycle of live recordings from Zürich Tonhalle follows consistent critical praise for the first three volumes: “This will be one of the great Beethoven sonata sets” (Fanfare); “An outstanding cycle” (The Observer). His immediate performances in the UK are of Bartók at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall from 5-10 June.

   

Selling Points:

•           Fourth album in Schiff’s complete Beethoven sonatas includes the most popular, the ‘Moonlight’ Sonata

•           Live recording from Zurich’s Town Hall, produced by Manfred Eicher

•           Consistent critical praise for the first three releases, issued in 2005 & 2006: “This will be one of the great Beethoven sonata sets” (Fanfare); “An outstanding cycle” (The Observer)

•           Lavish booklet includes an extensive and illuminating interview with András Schiff

           

 

Music /Artist Background:

International critics writing on the first three volumes of András Schiff’s Beethoven sonata cycle, recorded in strict chronological order, have praised a particularly “sharp attention to detail” (Gramophone on Vol II) and expressed their high expectations for the whole edition: for instance The Observer described Vol III as “a distinguished instalment in an outstanding cycle”. The new album, which takes the listener to the half-way stage of the cycle, includes the most popular of all Beethoven Sonatas, the ‘Moonlight’.

 

Schiff recently reiterated his reasons to record the sonatas live in the Zürich Tonhalle: “I’m fully convinced that vivid performances are possible only in front of an audience. I obviously don’t share Glenn Gould’s opinion that concerts are superfluous and that work in the recording studio is so much more important. Being an artist you live for those very moments when music really happens.”

 

Schiff’s Beethoven cycle on ECM New Series continues in the autumn of 2007 with Volume V including the three Op 31 Sonatas and the ‘Waldstein’. He has now completed his live cycle of Beethoven concerts but he recently gave the first concerts in an ongoing Schubert project with the Philharmonia Orchestra and played Bach at the Brighton Festival. From 5-10 June he curates and performs in the captivating Bartók Chamber Music Festival at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. 

 

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