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Beethoven Unbound

Llŷr Williams (piano)

Beethoven Unbound

Awards:

With Williams…expressiveness is all. He paradoxically achieves this through emotional restraint, and in a style which you might call ‘plain’, but which allows the individual character of each...

BBC Music Magazine, August 20185 out of 5 stars

More reviews

Beethoven Unbound

Llŷr Williams (piano)

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12 CDs

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Awards:

With Williams…expressiveness is all. He paradoxically achieves this through emotional restraint, and in a style which you might call ‘plain’, but which allows the individual character of each...

BBC Music Magazine, August 20185 out of 5 stars

More reviews

About

A stunning 12-CD box set, Beethoven Unbound, will be released to mark the completion of Llŷr Williams’ monumental Beethoven cycle at Wigmore Hall and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) – recorded live at Wigmore Hall over three years and nine recitals.

As well as the complete piano sonatas, the box set also features other works including the 32 Variations in C minor, Eroica Variations, Opus 126 Bagatelles and the Diabelli Variations, a total of almost 14 hours of music. This is Williams’ fourth album on Signum Classics. Beethoven Unbound is presented in a beautiful hinged box with extensive notes by Mischa Donat, and personal notes by Williams and the album’s award-winning producer Judith Sherman, with whom Williams worked previously on his Wagner without Words release.

Williams comments on the box set and the partnership with Sherman: “Rather than adopt the chronological approach, I have arranged the works roughly in the order that I played them in the concerts, and each CD has been devised as a mini-recital programme. This has sometimes allowed for creativity in putting the pieces together. Working with Judy on this project has been a joy and a privilege. It was sad to reach the end – but at least we still have a Schubert cycle to look forward to!”

Williams has developed a reputation as one of the finest exponents of Beethoven, since giving his first Beethoven cycle in Perth in 2010, and winning a South Bank Sky Arts Award in 2012 for an epic two-week marathon in Edinburgh. The Guardian said of one of his RWCMD cycle recitals in 2016: “Williams’ already considerable stature as a Beethoven interpreter seems to grow with every performance” (Rian Evans, 25 March 2016) and The Independent commented on a Wigmore recital: “Williams treats it [the keyboard] as an extension of his body, and with the three Opus 10 sonatas plus the Diabelli Variations he took us onto an altogether higher plane” (Michael Church, 12 October 2016). 2017 saw the conclusion not only of the solo series at Wigmore Hall and the RWCMD, but also of a complete concerto cycle with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Contents and tracklist

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2 No. 1
Work length18:02
I. Allegro
Track length3:54
II. Adagio
Track length5:18
III. Menuetto, Allegretto
Track length3:36
IV. Prestissimo
Track length5:14
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 2 No. 2
Work length24:26
I. Allegro vivace
Track length7:32
II. Largo appassionato
Track length6:42
III. Scherzo. Allegretto
Track length3:17
IV. Rondo. Grazioso
Track length6:55
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2 No. 3
Work length27:43
This work is only available as an album download.
I. Allegro con brio
Track length10:16
This track is only available as an album download.
II. Adagio
Track length8:54
III. Scherzo. Allegro
Track length3:10
IV. Allegro assai
Track length5:23
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 'Appassionata'
Work length25:46
This work is only available as an album download.
I. Allegro assai
Track length10:50
This track is only available as an album download.
II. Andante con moto
Track length6:46
III. Allegro ma non troppo - Presto
Track length8:10
Beethoven: Variations (6) for Piano on an Original Theme in F major, Op. 34
Work length13:12
This work is only available as an album download.
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 9 in E major, Op. 14 No. 1
Work length14:28
I. Allegro
Track length6:51
II. Allegretto
Track length3:57
III. Rondo. Allegro comodo
Track length3:40
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14 No. 2
Work length16:42
I. Allegro
Track length7:20
II. Andante
Track length5:55
III. Scherzo. Allegro assai
Track length3:27
Beethoven: Fantasia in G minor, Op. 77
Work length9:37
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 13 in E flat major, Op. 27 No. 1 'Quasi una fantasia'
Work length16:56
I. Andante. Allegro
Track length5:41
II. Allegro molto e vivace
Track length2:10
III. Adagio con espressione
Track length3:12
IV. Allegro vivace
Track length5:53
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 ‘Moonlight'
Work length16:16
I. Adagio sostenuto
Track length6:24
II. Allegretto
Track length2:22
III. Presto agitato
Track length7:30
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101
Work length22:43
This work is only available as an album download.
I. Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung
Track length4:56
II. Lebhaft. Marschmassig
Track length6:44
III. Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll – Zeitmaß des ersten Stückes – Geschwinde, doch nicht zu sehr, und mit Entschlossenheit
Track length11:03
This track is only available as an album download.
Beethoven: Für Elise (Bagatelle in A minor, WoO 59)
Work length3:16
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 16 in G major, Op. 31 No. 1
Work length24:34
This work is only available as an album download.
I. Allegro vivace
Track length6:50
II. Adagio grazioso
Track length10:59
This track is only available as an album download.
III. Rondo. Allegretto
Track length6:45
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2 'Tempest'
Work length24:58
I. Largo - Allegro
Track length8:50
II. Adagio
Track length8:52
III. Allegretto
Track length7:16
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 18 in E flat major, Op. 31 No. 3 'The Hunt'
Work length23:18
I. Allegro
Track length8:52
II. Scherzo. Allegretto vivace
Track length5:04
III. Menuetto. Moderato e grazioso - Trio
Track length4:42
IV. Presto con fuoco
Track length4:40
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 11 in B flat major, Op. 22
Work length26:26
I. Allegro con brio
Track length7:51
II. Adagio con molto espressione
Track length8:50
III. Minuetto
Track length3:32
IV. Rondo. Allegretto
Track length6:13
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 22 in F major, Op. 54
Work length12:56
I. In tempo d'un minuetto
Track length6:22
II. Allegretto - Più allegro
Track length6:34
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 'Waldstein'
Work length26:37
This work is only available as an album download.
I. Allegro con brio
Track length10:56
This track is only available as an album download.
II. Introduzione. Adagio molto
Track length4:43
III. Rondo. Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo
Track length10:58
This track is only available as an album download.
Beethoven: Andante Favori in F, WoO 57
Work length10:02
This work is only available as an album download.
Beethoven: Eroica Variations, Op. 35
Work length24:56
This work is only available as an album download.
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 12 in A flat major, Op. 26 'March Funebre'
Work length20:29
I. Andante con variazioni
Track length8:10
II. Scherzo. Molto allegro
Track length2:45
III. Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un eroe
Track length6:25
IV. Allegro
Track length3:09
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat major, Op. 81a 'Les Adieux'
Work length18:17
I. Das Lebewohl. Adagio - Allegro
Track length7:43
II. Abwesenheit. Andante espressivo
Track length4:27
III. Das Wiedersehn. Vivacissimamente
Track length6:07
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 'Pathetique'
Work length19:47
I. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio
Track length9:23
II. Adagio cantabile
Track length5:18
III. Rondo. Allegro
Track length5:06
Beethoven: Bagatelles (7), Op. 33
Work length20:07
No. 1 in E-flat Major. Andante grazioso, quasi allegretto
Track length4:05
No. 2 in C Major. Scherzo allegro
Track length2:48
No. 3 in F Major. Allegretto
Track length2:15
No. 4 in A Major. Andante
Track length3:10
No. 5 in C Major. Allegro, ma non troppo
Track length3:09
No. 6 in D Major. Allegretto quasi Andante
Track length2:35
No. 7 in A-flat Major. Presto
Track length2:05
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90
Work length14:39
I. Mit lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck
Track length6:18
II. Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorgetragen
Track length8:21
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 25 in G major, Op. 79
Work length9:37
I. Presto alla tedesca
Track length4:38
II. Andante
Track length2:47
III. Vivace
Track length2:12
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major, Op. 106 'Hammerklavier'
Work length46:35
This work is only available as an album download.
I. Allegro
Track length11:22
This track is only available as an album download.
II. Scherzo. Assai vivace - Presto - Tempo I
Track length2:40
III. Adagio sostenuto, appassionato e con molto sentimento
Track length19:58
This track is only available as an album download.
IV. IV. Largo - Allegro risoluto
Track length12:35
This track is only available as an album download.
Beethoven: Bagatelles (6), Op. 126
Work length19:26
No. 1 in G Major. Andante con moto
Track length3:08
No. 2 in G Minor. Allegro
Track length2:54
No. 3 in E-Flat Major. Andante
Track length2:32
No. 4 in B Minor. Presto
Track length3:57
No. 5 in G Major. Quasi allegretto
Track length2:42
No. 6 in E-Flat Major. Presto - Andante amabile e con moto - Tempo I
Track length4:13
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10 No. 1
Work length20:50
I. Molto allegro e con brio
Track length6:34
II. Adagio molto
Track length9:26
III. Finale. Prestissimo
Track length4:50
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 6 in F major, Op. 10 No. 2
Work length14:36
I. Allegro
Track length6:10
II. Allegretto
Track length4:34
III. Finale. Presto
Track length3:52
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10 No. 3
Work length25:12
This work is only available as an album download.
I. Presto
Track length7:01
II. Largo e mesto
Track length10:56
This track is only available as an album download.
III. Menuetto - Trio - Menuetto. Allegro
Track length2:59
IV. Rondo. Allegro
Track length4:16
Beethoven: Variations (32) on an Original Theme in C minor, WoO 80
Work length10:57
This work is only available as an album download.
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 19 in G minor, Op. 49 No. 1
Work length8:13
I. Andante
Track length4:40
II. Rondo. Allegro
Track length3:33
Beethoven: Diabelli Variations, Op. 120
Work length55:26
Theme. Vivace
Track length0:53
Variation 1. Alla Marcia, maestoso
Track length2:02
Variation 2. Poco allegro
Track length0:54
Variation 3. L'istesso tempo
Track length1:18
Variation 4. Un poco più vivace
Track length1:05
Variation 5. Allegro vivace
Track length0:58
Variation 6. Allegro ma non troppo e serioso
Track length1:42
Variation 7. Un poco più allegro
Track length1:05
Variation 8. Poco vivace
Track length1:15
Variation 9. Allegro pesante e risoluto
Track length1:47
Variation 10. Presto
Track length0:40
Variation 11. Allegretto
Track length1:11
Variation 12. Un poco più mosso
Track length0:54
Variation 13. Vivace
Track length1:20
Variation 14. Grave e maestoso
Track length4:07
Variation 15. Presto scherzando
Track length0:41
Variation 16. Allegro
Track length0:57
Variation 17. [Allegro]
Track length1:02
Variation 18. Poco moderato
Track length2:10
Variation 19. Presto
Track length0:49
Variation 20. Andante
Track length2:46
Variation 21. Allegro con brio
Track length1:38
Variation 22. Allegro molto
Track length0:50
Variation 23. Allegro assai
Track length0:57
Variation 24. Fughetta - Andante
Track length3:03
Variation 25. Allegro
Track length0:48
Variation 26. [Piacevole]
Track length0:57
Variation 27. Vivace
Track length0:57
Variation 28. Allegro
Track length1:00
Variation 29. Adagio ma non troppo
Track length1:14
Variation 30. Andante, sempre cantabile
Track length2:11
Variation 31. Largo, molto espressivo
Track length5:06
Variation 32. Fuga - Allegro
Track length3:02
Variation 33. Tempo di Menuetto, moderato
Track length4:07
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49 No. 2
Work length8:36
I. Allegro ma non troppo
Track length4:40
II. Tempo di menuetto
Track length3:56
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 4 in E flat major, Op. 7
Work length31:18
I. Molto allegro
Track length8:31
II. Largo con gran espressione
Track length9:36
III. Allegro
Track length5:24
IV. Rondo. Poco allegretto
Track length7:47
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 24 in F sharp major, Op. 78
Work length10:36
I. Adagio cantabile - Allegro ma non troppo
Track length7:23
II. Allegro vivace
Track length3:13
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale'
Work length28:08
This work is only available as an album download.
I. Allegro
Track length11:52
This track is only available as an album download.
II. Andante
Track length8:06
III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
Track length2:37
IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo
Track length5:33
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
Work length20:54
This work is only available as an album download.
I. Vivace ma non troppo
Track length3:54
II. Prestissimo
Track length2:38
III. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung. Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo
Track length14:22
This track is only available as an album download.
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110
Work length21:30
This work is only available as an album download.
I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
Track length7:16
II. Allegro molto
Track length2:18
III. Adagio ma non troppo - Fuga. Allegro ma non troppo
Track length11:56
This track is only available as an album download.
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111
Work length28:38
This work is only available as an album download.
I. Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato
Track length9:06
II. Arietta. Adagio molto semplice e cantabile
Track length19:32
This track is only available as an album download.

Awards and reviews

  • BBC Music Magazine
    August 2018
    Recording of the Month

August 2018

With Williams…expressiveness is all. He paradoxically achieves this through emotional restraint, and in a style which you might call ‘plain’, but which allows the individual character of each sonata to emerge vividly…[He] has a marvellous transparency of sound, and his articulation even at the fastest tempos is phenomenally clean. He never overdoes his effects…By and large his approach is massively persuasive…A stunning achievement.
5 out of 5 stars
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