Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.)
Reissue Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Ward Marston
Hailed as ‘the new Anton Rubinstein’ early in his career, Walter Gieseking sought to convey all the excitement and drama in Beethoven’s piano sonatas. This 1939 recording of the Waldstein Sonata was described in Gramophone as ‘distinguished by an amazing range of tone-colour, a neverfailing sensitiveness to the demands of the music, and tremendously vital rhythm.’ The ‘Appassionata’ was received in America as ‘a superb recording that conveys the most subtle nuances as well as emotional vigour’, and the Sonata Op. 101 as ‘one of the finest interpretations and recording... the work emerges with a balance and clarity that could not be improved upon.’.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49, No. 2
I. Allegro ma non troppo
II. Tempo di menuetto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53, "Waldstein"
I. Allegro con brio
II. Introduzione: Adagio molto
III. Rondo: Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, "Appassionata"
I. Allegro assai
II. Andante con moto
III. Allegro ma non troppo - Presto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101
I. Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung
II. Lebhaft. Marschmassig
III. Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll
IV. Geschwind, doch nicht zu sehr, und mit Entschlossenheit
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
I. Vivace ma non troppo
II. Prestissimo
III. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung: Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo
December 2011
“Gieseking creates his own distinctive ambience and, like a river in full spate, sweeps all before him. Here with a vengeance are reminders that pianists of a past generation invariably chose tempi faster than their successors; a quality dictated by the lighter instruments of the day...All lovers of an entirely individual pianistic genius will have to have this and, once again, Ward Marston's restoration is exemplary.”
March 2012
“whilst you never forget you are listening to 78 rpm records, you are conscious that they are in pristine condition and that they are not going to wear out! The piano sound itself is clean and immediate...Do listen to these performances. They are not mainstream, but they are very satisfying indeed.”
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
I. Allegro ma non troppo
