‘Raptly revelatory and deeply communicative’ (Fanfare): the earlier volumes of this Beethoven sonata cycle by Giovanni Bellucci have received an enthusiastic welcome in the international press, for the Italian pianist’s depth of insight and his individual, dynamic response to this ‘New Testament’ of the keyboard.
Now the newly recorded late sonatas are added to the previous two volumes to present a modern cycle, at a super-budget price, to set alongside distinguished pianists of former generations. The recordings have been made in the superb acoustics of the Salle de Musique at La Chaux de Fonds in Switzerland – the source of several previous and notable Beethoven recordings such as Claudio Arrau’s late and magisterial address to most of the sonatas, on Philips.
For this recording, Bellucci himself has acted as recording producer, assisted by sound engineering from Fabio Ferri, and the result is a sonata cycle of remarkable interpretative integrity, tracing in the most vivid terms Beethoven’s evolution as a composer, from 18th-century rebel to 19th-century visionary. In this way the new set joins Bellucci’s recordings of the nine symphonies as transcribed by Liszt, and the piano concertos, as a complete and artistically satisfying portrait of the composer.
This box of sonatas is enhanced by an extensive introduction to the oeuvre by Bellucci, who discusses Beethoven in biographical and spiritual as well as musical terms. ‘What exactly is the momentous decision that must be addressed by anyone wishing to perform Beethoven in the 21ist century?’ asks Bellucci. ‘In my view there can be no neglecting the life-giving flexibility of rhythm, a pliancy that eludes codification. Such flexibility calls for a deep understanding of musical syntax as well as perfect psychophysical coordination’ – and in this regard he places himself in a distinguished interpretative tradition leading back to Artur Schnabel.
The critics have agreed: ‘Bellucci has a way through his approach to rhythm that makes the music inhale and exhale, rise and fall, in a totally natural way… [that] transcended considerations of technical execution, the exquisite tone Bellucci draws from his Model D Steinway, and the exceptionally beautiful recording.,’ (Fanfare)
- This 9-CD set marks the completion of the Beethoven Piano Sonatas by Giovanni Bellucci.
- Bellucci’s Beethoven is highly personal, yet deeply searching for the meaning of the notes. His playing is free, with a strong sense of rhetoric and improvisation, adhering nevertheless strictly to the score and its intentions. The result is fresh, exhilarating and illuminating, letting us marvel at the originality and genius of the music. Bellucci’s humane vision of the music relates to Beethoven’s own statement: “From the heart, may it return into the heart”.
- “Exhilarating, brilliant..never a dull moment..grandiosity of vision..”, as Fanfare wrote enthusiastically.
- Giovanni Bellucci is one of the most interesting and extraordinary pianists of today. Described by Piero Rattalino as “a force of nature, vast and palpitating”, his playing is highly original, striving to recreate the original impact of the works he is playing: “he takes us back to the Golden Age of the Piano” wrote Le Monde.
- His recordings, notably with works by Liszt, were showered with prizes such as Diapason d’Or, Choc, Editor’s Choice, CD Maestro etc.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: I. Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: II. Adagio
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: III. Menuetto. Allegretto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: IV. Prestissimo
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 2 No. 2: I. Allegro vivace
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 2 No. 2: II. Largo appassionato
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 2 No. 2: III. Scherzo. Allegretto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 2 No. 2: IV. Rondo. Grazioso
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2 No. 3: I. Allegro con brio
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2 No. 3: II. Adagio
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2 No. 3: III. Scherzo. Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2 No. 3: IV. Allegro assai
Disk 2
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-Flat Major, Op. 7: I. Allegro molto e con brio
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-Flat Major, Op. 7: II. Largo e con gran espressione
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-Flat Major, Op. 7: III. Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-Flat Major, Op. 7: IV. Rondo. Poco allegretto e grazioso
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 19 in G Minor, Op. 49 No. 1: I. Andante
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 19 in G Minor, Op. 49 No. 1: II. Rondo. Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 20 in G Major, Op. 49 No. 2: I. Allegro, ma non troppo
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 20 in G Major, Op. 49 No. 2: II. Tempo di menuetto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 9 in E Major, Op. 14 No. 1: I. Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 9 in E Major, Op. 14 No. 1: II. Allegretto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 9 in E Major, Op. 14 No. 1: III. Rondo. Allegro comodo
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 14 No. 2: I. Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 14 No. 2: II. Andante
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 14 No. 2: III. Scherzo. Allegro assai
Disk 3
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 10 No. 1: I. Allegro molto e con brio
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 10 No. 1: II. Adagio molto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 10 No. 1: III. Finale. Prestissimo
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10 No. 2: I. Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10 No. 2: II. Allegretto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10 No. 2: III. Presto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10 No. 3: I. Presto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10 No. 3: II. Largo e mesto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10 No. 3: III. Menuetto. Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10 No. 3: IV. Rondo. Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13: I. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13: II. Adagio cantabile
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13: III. Rondo. Allegro
Disk 4
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22: I. Allegro con brio
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22: II. Adagio con molta espressione
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22: III. Minuetto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22: IV. Rondo. Allegretto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26: I. Andante con variazioni
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26: II. Scherzo. Allegro molto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26: III. Marcia funebre sulla morte d’un eroe. Maestoso andante
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26: IV. Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major, Op. 27 No. 1: I. Andante - Allegro - Tempo I
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major, Op. 27 No. 1: II. Allegro molto e vivace
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major, Op. 27 No. 1: III. Adagio con espressione
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major, Op. 27 No. 1: IV. Allegro vivace - Tempo I – Presto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2: I. Adagio sostenuto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2: II. Allegretto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2: III. Presto agitato
Disk 5
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31 No. 1: I. Allegro vivace
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31 No. 1: II. Adagio grazioso
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31 No. 1: III. Rondo. Allegretto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2: I. Largo. Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2: II. Adagio
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2: III. Allegretto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31 No. 3: I. Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31 No. 3: II. Scherzo. Allegretto vivace
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31 No. 3: III. Menuetto. Moderato e grazioso
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31 No. 3: IV. Presto con fuoco
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 22 in F Major, Op. 54: I. In tempo d’un menuetto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 22 in F Major, Op. 54: II. Allegretto
Disk 6
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28: I. Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28: II. Andante
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28: III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28: IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53: I. Allegro con brio
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53: II. Introduzione. Adagio molto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53: III. Rondo. Allegretto moderato – Prestissimo
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57: I. Allegro assai
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57: II. Andante con moto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57: III. Allegro ma non troppo – Presto
Disk 7
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 24 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 78: I. Adagio cantabile – Allegro ma non troppo
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 24 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 78: II. Allegro vivace
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op. 79 “Sonatina”: I. Presto alla tedesca
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op. 79 “Sonatina”: II. Andante
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op. 79 “Sonatina”: III. Allegro vivace
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-Flat Major, Op. 81° “Les adieux” : I. Das Lebewohl (Les Adieux). Adagio – Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-Flat Major, Op. 81° “Les adieux” : II. Abwesenheit (L’Absence). Andante espressivo
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-Flat Major, Op. 81° “Les adieux” : III. Das Wiedersehen (Le retour). Vivacissimamente
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 27 in E Minor, Op. 90: I. Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 27 in E Minor, Op. 90: II. Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorgetragen
Disk 8
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major. Op. 101: I. Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung (Allegretto, ma non troppo)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major. Op. 101: II. Lebhaft, Marschmäßig (Vivace alla marcia)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major. Op. 101: III. Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll (Adagio, ma non troppo, con affetto)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major. Op. 101: III. Geschwinde, doch nicht zu sehr, und mit Entschlossenheit (Allegro)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-Flat Major, Op. 106 “Große Sonate für das Hammerklavier”: I. Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-Flat Major, Op. 106 “Große Sonate für das Hammerklavier”: II. Scherzo. Assai vivace
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-Flat Major, Op. 106 “Große Sonate für das Hammerklavier”: III. Adagio sostenuto (Appassionato e con molto sentimento)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-Flat Major, Op. 106 “Große Sonate für das Hammerklavier”: IV. Introduzione. Largo –Allegro risoluto (Fuga a tre voci, con alcune licenze)
Disk 9
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109: I. Vivace ma non troppo – Adagio espressivo
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109: II. Prestissimo
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109: III. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung (Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110: I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110: II. Allegro molto
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110: III. Adagio ma non troppo –Recitativo più adagio – Klagender Gesang (Arioso dolente). Adagio ma non troppo – Fuga. Allegro ma non troppo
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111: I. Maestoso – Allegro con brio ed appassionato
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111: II. Arietta. Adagio molto semplice e cantabile