Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 14 & 29

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The pulse of the Scherzo is rigorously even, but it has explosive energy; the sheer precisions of the articulation in the finale is a pleasure, as he takes us boldly through its labyrinth of... — BBC Music Magazine, May 2018, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 9th Feb 2018
Catalogue No: 4798353
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Length: 55 minutes

Presto Recording of the Week

9th February 2018
Gramophone Magazine

March 2018

Recording of the Month
BBC Music Magazine

May 2018

Instrumental Choice
Record Review

10th March 2018

Recording of the Week
Gramophone Awards

2018

Shortlisted - Instrumental
Presto Recordings of the Year

Finalist 2018
Diapason d’Or de l’Année

2018

Winner - Piano
Diapason d’Or

March 2018

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Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major, Op. 106 'Hammerklavier'

Work length40:47

$4.40

$6.00

$8.20

Murray Perahia (piano)
Recorded: 2016-11-12
Recording Venue: Funkhaus Berlin Nalepastraße

1. Allegro

Track length10:09

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

2. Scherzo. Assai vivace

Track length2:28

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

3. Adagio sostenuto

Track length16:21

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

4. Largo - Allegro risoluto

Track length11:49

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

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

Work length14:51

$3.30

$4.50

$6.15

Murray Perahia (piano)
Recorded: 2017-07-03
Recording Venue: Funkhaus Berlin Nalepastraße

1. Adagio sostenuto

Track length5:16

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

2. Allegretto

Track length2:10

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

3. Presto agitato

Track length7:25

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

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Recording of the Week, Murray Perahia plays Beethoven's Hammerklavier and Moonlight Sonatas

9th February 2018

For the first time in his illustrious career, Murray Perahia turns his attention to Beethoven's monumental Hammerklavier sonata, alongside the ever-popular Moonlight sonata.

Living legend of the piano Murray Perahia records two benchmark sonatas by Beethoven for the first time in his career.

Long renowned for his performances of this composer, Perahia’s brand new recording pairs together two of the most radically ground-breaking of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas, in a release that is sure to be a crown jewel of the Beethoven discography.

Murray Perahia stands in the tradition of the great keyboard virtuosi as an artist armed with consummate technical skills, boundless imagination and near-mystical eloquence.

Murray Perahia explored the “Hammerklavier” Sonata first when he was in his mid-twenties. While the work’s enormous technical and physical challenges fell within his grasp, its profound musical demands eluded him. He quietly dropped the “Hammerklavier” from his repertoire, recognising that he would need time to fathom its cosmic depths. Over four decades passed before he felt ready to programme the piece in recital.

After years of studying the original manuscripts, working sketches and editions published during the composer’s lifetime, and having edited the new Henle Urtext edition of The Complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Perahia now presents two of Beethoven’s most famous sonatas as a revelation.

“The challenge of this music is still alive because one can get deeper and deeper into the piece’s mysteries. That’s endless – both musicologically and emotionally. Everything in it is connected. There isn’t a random note, yet it feels improvisatory. So it’s a mystery that will intrigue and occupy musicians forever.” – Murray Perahia

Reviews

May 2018

The pulse of the Scherzo is rigorously even, but it has explosive energy; the sheer precisions of the articulation in the finale is a pleasure, as he takes us boldly through its labyrinth of furiously contending ideas…Perahia’s account of the Moonlight Sonata is no less exemplary. He brings out the grave poetry of the Adagio, presents a relaxed and conversational Allegretto, and the finale has charm, rather than the facetious excitement with which many pianists imbue it.

March 2018

Perahia is artist enough to know that great art is never, of itself, ugly. It may be Beethoven’s instinct to push every component of the dauntingly complex contrapuntal finale [of the Hammerklavier] to its logical conclusion (and beyond) but Perahia, though honouring the intent, declines to turn the music into a rout. In matters of musical diction, lucidity matters.

May 2018

The result of Perahia’s study is utterly compelling. Tempi are fast throughout...The impetus caught me by surprise at first, but...Perahia’s tempi and pacing come from the music...Every phrase is perfectly articulated, and at such speed, too. [The Moonlight Sonata] provides huge contrast and Perahia produces a beautifully shaped and absorbing performance. With great, naturally clear sound from DG, this recording deserves to go straight to the top of the Classical Charts.

9th February 2018

At just over forty minutes, it must be one of the swifter accounts [of the Hammerklavier] out there, and yet it never feels hurried or “too fast”, partly because of the clarity and conviction that Perahia brings, but also because of the care he takes over the ends of phrases...Perahia latches onto this idea of [the Moonlight] being more of a fantasy, and brings a wonderful freedom to his playing.

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Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 14 & 29

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Recording of the Week, Murray Perahia plays Beethoven's Hammerklavier and Moonlight Sonatas

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