Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Volume 2

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One impressive Beethoven Piano Sonata cycle seems to follow another these days with great regularity, and Jonathan Biss's seems destined to rank highly among them...So infectious is Biss's love... — BBC Music Magazine, April 2013, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 14th Jan 2013
Catalogue No: ONYX4094
Label: Onyx
Series: Biss Beethoven Sonatas
Length: 61 minutes

Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 4 in E flat major, Op. 7

Work length27:58

Jonathan Biss

I. Allegro molto e con brio

Track length7:45

II. Largo - Con gran espressione

Track length8:10

III. Allegro

Track length5:08

IV. Rondo (Poco allegretto e grazioso)

Track length6:55

Excerpt, Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 ‘Moonlight'

Work length5:07

Jonathan Biss

I. Adagio sostenuto

Track length5:07

Excerpt, Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 ‘Moonlight'

Work length2:05

Jonathan Biss

II. Allegretto

Track length2:05

Excerpt, Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 ‘Moonlight'

Work length7:16

Jonathan Biss

III. Presto agitato

Track length7:16

Beethoven: Fantasia in G minor, Op. 77

Work length9:09

Jonathan Biss

Beethoven: Sonate pour Piano No. 24 en Fa Dièse Majeur, Op. 78 "à Thérèse"

Work length9:43

Jonathan Biss

I. Adagio cantabile - Allegro ma non troppo

Track length7:04

II. Allegro vivace

Track length2:39

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About

On the second volume in his complete cycle of all 32 sonatas, Jonathan Biss has chosen the early but large-scale ‘Grand Sonata’ op.7 from 1796, a work exceeded in length only by the ‘Hammerklavier’ sonata, and the most famous of all the sonatas – the ‘Moonlight’, along with the Fantasy and op.78.

Spanning the years 1795 to 1822, the piano sonatas contain some of Beethoven’s most profound musical utterances. Beethoven’s subtle transformation of the piano sonata form is extraordinary, from the classical style of the early sonatas to the freer multi-movement structures of the visionary late works. The rare Fantasy op.77 gives an insight to Beethoven’s improvisatory style, in which he was without equal. Moscheles and Czerny both said that this work reminded them of Beethoven’s famous improvisations. It dates from 1808, the same year as the delightful and compact op.78 sonata.

Reviews

April 2013

One impressive Beethoven Piano Sonata cycle seems to follow another these days with great regularity, and Jonathan Biss's seems destined to rank highly among them...So infectious is Biss's love for these works, so enviable his technique, that however many versions of them you have, you need to add this one.

April 2013

the first movement grabs your attention by virtue of the pianist's lean sonority, linear clarity and headlong yet controlled brio...Compared to the polished yet glib G major Fantasy that opened his 2005 EMI debut, Biss's remake digs deeper into detail...In sum, Biss's Beethoven has appreciably evolved and hopefully will continue to do so over the course of future volumes.

30th April 2013

Biss has built a well-deserved reputation as a Beethoven pianist of stature … Here is modern Beethoven pianism of high quality, in terms of musicianship, technical command and genuine grasp of Beethoven’s early and middle-period output. Very nicely recorded, too, with warm and satisfying sound.

20th January 2013

Biss makes clear his admiration for [Beethoven's youthful compositions]

Musical Opinion May/June 2013

Biss has built a well-deserved reputation as a Beethoven pianist of stature, and on this new disc he reinforces it … Here is modern Beethoven pianism of high quality … very nicely recorded too

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Volume 2

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