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, 5 out of 5 stars 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. 28 in A major, Op. 101

Work length21:19

$5.20

$6.80

$8.00

Igor Levit (piano)

I. Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung

Track length4:27

$1.30

$1.70

$2.00

II. Lebhaft. Marschmäßig

Track length6:07

$1.30

$1.70

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III. Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll

Track length3:28

$1.30

$1.70

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IV. Geschwind, doch nicht zu sehr, und mit Entschlossenheit

Track length7:17

$1.30

$1.70

$2.00

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

Work length41:42

Album only

Igor Levit (piano)

I. Allegro

Track length10:18

Album only

II. Scherzo. Assai vivace

Track length2:34

$1.30

$1.70

$2.00

III. Adagio sostenuto. Appassionato e con molto sentimento

Track length17:13

Album only

IV. Largo - Allegro risoluto

Track length11:37

Album only

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

Work length18:36

Album only

Igor Levit (piano)

I. Vivace ma non troppo

Track length3:51

$1.30

$1.70

$2.00

II. Prestissimo

Track length2:18

$1.30

$1.70

$2.00

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

Track length12:27

Album only

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

Work length19:33

Album only

Igor Levit (piano)

I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo

Track length6:44

$1.30

$1.70

$2.00

II. Allegro molto

Track length2:13

$1.30

$1.70

$2.00

III. Adagio ma non troppo - Fuga. Allegro ma non troppo

Track length10:36

Album only

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

Work length27:30

Album only

Igor Levit (piano)

I. Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato

Track length9:28

$1.30

$1.70

$2.00

II. Arietta. Adagio molto semplice e cantabile

Track length18:02

Album only

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About

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.

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.

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Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas

2 CDs

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