Beethoven: The Complete Wartime Piano Sonata Recordings
Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Awards:
-
Gramophone Magazine, November 2017, Editor's Choice
-
Diapason d’Or, July/August 2018, Collectionneur
The original recordings are sonically well balanced and give a good measure of Kempff’s sonority. While the rare shellac pressings are admittedly of poor quality, any extreme noise reduction...
Beethoven: The Complete Wartime Piano Sonata Recordings
Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Purchase product
Awards:
-
Gramophone Magazine, November 2017, Editor's Choice
-
Diapason d’Or, July/August 2018, Collectionneur
The original recordings are sonically well balanced and give a good measure of Kempff’s sonority. While the rare shellac pressings are admittedly of poor quality, any extreme noise reduction...
About
This important set contains the sixteen Beethoven sonatas that Wilhelm Kempff recorded for Grammophon in Germany between 1940 and 1943. Several are reissued here for the first time since their original release on 78rpm discs and none are currently available elsewhere. The sound is excellent for the period and all reveal the young Kempff at his best, in performances that compliment his later thoughts. The release is the companion of two previous APR releases of early Kempff Beethoven recordings the late sonatas (APR6018) and piano concertos 1, 3, 4 & 5 (APR6019), both of which received excellent reviews and were amongst APRs best sellers.
Contents and tracklist
- Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
- Recorded: 29 February 1940
- Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
- Recorded: 13/15 March 1940
- Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
- Recorded: 15 March 1940
- Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
- Recorded: 15 March 1940
- Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
- Recorded: 13 March 1940
- Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
- Recorded: 13 March 1940
- Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
- Recorded: 13 March 1940
- Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
- Recorded: 13 March 1940
- Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
- Recorded: 13 March 1940
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 "Pathétique": I. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio
Track length7:53
- Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
- Recorded: 21 March 1940
Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26 "Funeral March": I. Andante con variazioni
Track length8:29
Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26 "Funeral March": II. Scherzo: Molto allegro
Track length2:55
Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26 "Funeral March": III. Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un eroe
Track length6:13
- Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
- Recorded: 8 May 1941
- Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
- Recorded: 11/16 June 1943
- Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
- Recorded: 8 May 1941
Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major, Op. 27 No. 1 "Quasi una fantasia": II. Allegro molto e vivace
Track length2:01
Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major, Op. 27 No. 1 "Quasi una fantasia": III. Adagio con espressione
Track length3:18
- Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
- Recorded: 8 May 1941
- Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
- Recorded: 21 June 1943
Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31 No. 3 "La chasse": II. Scherzo: Allegretto vivace
Track length3:37
Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31 No. 3 "La chasse": III. Menuetto: Moderato e grazioso
Track length4:15
- Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
- Recorded: 7/21 June 1943
Awards and reviews
-
Gramophone MagazineNovember 2017Editor's Choice
-
Diapason d’OrJuly/August 2018Collectionneur
November 2017
The original recordings are sonically well balanced and give a good measure of Kempff’s sonority. While the rare shellac pressings are admittedly of poor quality, any extreme noise reduction on transfer agent Mark Obert-Thorn’s part would have compromised their frequency range and timbral virtues.
January 2018
This is wonderful Beethoven, lovingly presented, and a salutary reminder of why the interpretations of yesteryear matter so much today. Contrasting Kempff with the more pronounced longer-range vision of Schnabel is a fascinating exercise, and reminds us that multiple viewpoints on this great music can yield equally fascinating results. A mandatory purchase for all piano lovers and students.
