Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 'Waldstein'

Reissue of the celebrated 1971 RCA LP set. Digitally refurbished.

11 CD & 1 DVD (NTSC, Region 0) Boxset

This is a superb, budget-priced box-set from one of the greatest & most recognized American pianists of the 20th century. Totalling x11 CD's & x1 DVD, this is the entire RCA Red Seal discography, with no fewer than x7 'first time on CD' releases, plus previously unreleased recordings of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, as well as works by Liszt. Each CD is newly remastered & includes facsimile sleeves & labels. Enclosed booklet contains an essay by Richard Dyer based on an interview with the pianist, plus unpublished photos & full discographical notes. The DVD is a Peter Rosen produced documentary, telling the story of Byron Janis' life, plus several exclusive interviews with artists, conductors & family.

Claudio Arrau was born on 6th February 1903. Such was his prodigious talent that he gave his first public recital in Santiago at the age of five.

When he was nine he was sent, with support of the Chilean Government, to study in Berlin where he was a pupil of Martin Krause at Stern’s Conservatory for six years, he never went to another teacher.

He received many awards during his student days such that his name was already in circulation when he gave extensive tours in Germany and Scandinavia following his first recital in Berlin in 1914. He embarked on a tour of Europe after WW1. Conductors of the highest calibre – Nikisch, Mengelberg and Furtwängler amongst them – accompanied him.

After a successful return visit to his homeland in 1921 he visited London the following year where he appeared in a concert with Dame Nellie Melba and Bronislaw Huberman, the violinist who, at the age of 14, had won Brahms admiration for his performance of his concerto. In 1923 he toured the USA.

He joined the staff of Stern’s Conservatory in 1924 and taught there until 1940. In Berlin he played the complete works of Bach over 12 concerts but decided that the piano was not the instrument for these works and never played them in public again. Leaving Berlin in 1940 he returned to

Chile, where in its capital, Santiago, he founded a piano school. It was whilst on a highly successful tour of the USA during the following year that he decided to settle his family in New York.

Arrau’s reputation is built on his special affinity for the music of Brahms, Schumann, Liszt, Chopin and, above all, Beethoven whose complete sonatas he played in many major cities. His performances had all the virtuoso technique required but it was accomplished without the least ostentation; for him the music was what should remain in the audience’s ear and should not be disturbed by the flamboyance of the pianist in the audience’s eye.

Twenty years have passed since he departed but these recordings will bring back happy memories for all those lucky enough ever to have attended his concerts.

As Alfred Brendel celebrates his 80th birthday on 5 January 2011, Decca is marking this momentous occasion with FOUR major catalogue releases.

He’s a legend of the piano world, revered and applauded the world over. For long an exclusive Philips Classics artist, Alfred Brendel is the recipient of the 2010 Gramophone Lifetime Achievement Award. Famed for his peerless interpretations of Viennese classics, 2011 sees Brendel celebrate his 80th birthday and for it we present four iconic sets – available at budget price for the first time.

This stunning collection of Beethoven’s entire Piano works, is a Beethoven and Brendel fan must -have. Brendel’s Beethoven is represented by his analogue traversal (1970 – 77) of the 32 Piano Sonatas and the 5 Piano Concertos, long unavailable and including the Choral fantasia [with LPO/Haitink, recorded 1976-77] and now packaged as a cap box.