Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas

Those who are searching for perfection can stop here...this set, the first solo recording from Russo-German pianist Igor Levit, sets a new standard that will be very difficult to surpass...I... — BBC Music Magazine, January 2014, More…

Release Date: 19th Aug 2013
Catalogue No: 88883747352
Label: Sony
Length: 2 hours 8 minutes

Gramophone Awards

2014

Finalist - Instrumental
BBC Music Magazine Awards

2014

Newcomer Award
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February 2018

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

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Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109

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II. Prestissimo

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III. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung. Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo

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Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110

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II. Allegro molto

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Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111

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II. Arietta. Adagio molto semplice e cantabile

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Igor Levit has recently given highly acclaimed debuts in major musical centres across Europe and is being hailed by international critics as one of the most outstanding pianists of our time. Levit is a BBC Young Generation Artist and currently features in the “ECHO Rising Star” program of the European Concert House Organization. Not just another young aspiring pianist releasing his debut album, he is an outstanding artist who meets the exceptionally high technical and interpretative demands of this extraordinary repertoire. Despite his young age, Levit’s interpretations display a rare depth and maturity, making for extremely well-balanced renderings on an artistic level of the great piano masters of our age. The Russian-German pianist performs one of the largest chunks of piano repertoire – Beethoven much-revered five late sonatas opp. 101, 106 and 109–111. Here, Beethoven’s late piano sonatas can be discovered in a most natural & tonally beautiful way. Written between 1816 - 1822 when the composer was completely deaf, Beethoven’s last sonatas are highly subjective artistic and personal confessions. The sonatas constitute one of the cornerstones of Beethoven's mysterious late style next to the five last quartets.

Reviews

January 2014

Those who are searching for perfection can stop here...this set, the first solo recording from Russo-German pianist Igor Levit, sets a new standard that will be very difficult to surpass...I guarantee that you will only stop when you are sated with sublimity. Revelatory experiences like this don’t come often in a lifetime.

it quickly emerges that this is neither reckless nor arrogant but a debut of true significance. Everywhere you turn, you encounter thoughtfulness, an utter engagement with the composer and a clear sense of Levit’s personality, though never in a shouty ‘look at me, I’m playing the Hammerklavier fugue’ sort of way.

December 2014

Levit's is [a first choice], and he demands to be heard.

21st August 2013

there's certainly nothing callow or immature about any of them. And it's certainly hard to imagine that he will ever make these sonatas seem any more beautiful than they do here, for the evenness of the sound Levit produces is astonishing...It's all hugely impressive.

Classics Today

Levit’s affinity for the composer’s essentially linear style and intense expressivity borders on clairvoyance, if you’ll forgive the cliché...In short, this is Beethoven playing of the highest distinction, not to be missed.

The New Yorker 14th April 2014

After a few minutes, I was transfixed. Here was playing of technical brilliance, tonal allure, intellectual drive, and an elusive quality that the Germans indicate with the word Innigkeit, or inwardness.

classicalsource.com

There is some scintillating playing here – and it all serves the music...It would be idle to suggest that these are definitive readings of these works...but they are full of character and insights and thus to be included in any library shortlist, and the immediate recording lucidly relays Levit’s palpable and deep-seated commitment to the music.

Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas

2 CDs

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