Discs: 2 CDs

Essential works in timeless interpretations by the biggest names in classical music - from Lang Lang to Anne-Sophie Mutter and Daniel Barenboim to Herbert von Karajan

The perfect introduction to the music of Beethoven especially for the curious consumer taking their first steps into his universe: from the “Moonlight Sonata” to “Für Elise” and the complete Symphony No.5

Artists

Lang Lang (piano), Murray Perahia (piano), David Garrett (violin, Alexander Markovich (piano), Daniel Barenboim (piano), Emil Gilels (piano), Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin), Wilhelm Kempff (piano), Krystian Zimerman (piano)

Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan, Ferdinand Leitner, Leonard Bernstein, Karl Bohm, Carlos Kleiber

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Contents

Beethoven: Für Elise (Bagatelle in A minor, WoO59)
Lang Lang (piano)

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight': Adagio sostenuto
Murray Perahia (piano)

Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Op. 24 'Spring': Rondo
David Garrett (violin, Alexander Markovich (piano)

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 'Appassionata': 2. Andante con moto
Daniel Barenboim (piano)

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2 'Tempest' - Allegretto
Emil Gilels (piano)

Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 - Rondo
Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 58 (Andante con moto)
Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Ferdinand Leitner

Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 'Eroica' - Allegro con brio
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan

Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 'Pastoral' - III. Allegro
Wiener Philharmoniker
Leonard Bernstein

Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Allegro con brio
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 'Choral' - Ode to joy (excerpt)
Wiener Philharmoniker
Karl Böhm

Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
Wiener Philharmoniker
Carlos Kleiber

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 'Emperor'
Krystian Zimerman (piano)
Wiener Philharmoniker
Leonard Bernstein

Discs: 2 CDs

Awards
Presto Recording of the Week 25th August 2017
Presto Recordings of the Year Finalist 2017

Evgeny Kissin releases Beethoven album to launch new exclusive collaboration with Deutsche Grammophon after 25 years.

Evgeny Kissin skyrocketed to international fame as a piano sensation in the 1980s.

He entranced international audiences with captivating interpretations of Romantic masterworks during his teens, and has since flourished as one of the world's most charismatic and visionary performers. Today he is a living legend, one of the most iconic names and magnetic personalities in all of music..

Kissin's discography so far contains landmark recordings for Deutsche Grammophon, critically acclaimed collaborations with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan and Claudio Abbado among them.

Selected by the artist himself, this luxurious Beethoven double album represents Kissin's personal journey with the composer's solo work over the last decade and includes some of Beethoven's greatest and best-loved solo piano works such as the 'Moonlight' Sonata or the 'Appassionata' - most of them never released before.

This album is a first in a series of releases renewing the relationship between Kissin and Deutsche Grammophon.

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2 No. 3
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight'
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 'Appassionata'
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat major, Op. 81a 'Les Adieux'
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111
Beethoven: Variations (32) on an Original Theme in C minor, WoO 80

Awards
Presto Editor's Choice February 2020
Opus Klassik Awards 2020 Nominee - Conductor of the Year
Opus Klassik Awards 2020 Winner - Concerto (Violin)

Mirijam Contzen (violin), WDR Sinfonieorchester
Reinhard Goebel

Composers

Clement, Franz (1780-1842)

Works

Clement, F: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major
Clement, F: Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Minor

Alexandra Conunova (violin), Natalie Clein (cello) & David Kadouch (piano), Bertrand Chamayou (piano), Sandrine Piau (soprano), Anaïck Morel (mezzo), Stanislas de Barbeyrac (tenor) & Florian Sempey (bass)
Insula orchestra, Accentus, Laurence Equilbey

Awards
Opus Klassik Awards 2020 Nominee - Conductor of the Year
Opus Klassik Awards 2020 Nominee - Instrumentalist of the Year (Chamayou)

Conductor Laurence Equilbey is fascinated and inspired by the unconventional, hybrid character of Beethoven's Choral Fantasy and Triple Concerto. She sees it as “the root of their originality, which gives them a special place in Beethoven's output and in the history of music as a whole.” Their fusion of genres is reflected in performances that unite the period instruments of Equilbey's Insula orchestra and soloists - pianists Bertrand Chamayou and David Kadouch, violinist Alexandra Conunova and cellist Natalie Clein - who are best known for playing modern instruments.

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

Beethoven: Fantasia for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra in C minor, Op. 80
Beethoven: Triple Concerto for Piano, Violin, and Cello in C major, Op. 56

Discs: 2 CDs

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 'Pathetique'
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight'
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale'
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2 'Tempest'
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 'Waldstein'
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 'Appassionata'
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat major, Op. 81a 'Les Adieux'

Jonas Kaufmann (Florestan), Camilla Nylund (Leonore), Alfred Muff (Don Pizarro) & László Polgár (Rocco)
Orchestra and Chorus of The Zurich Opera House, Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Beethoven's only opera Fidelio never ceases to fascinate audiences with its spellbinding story of true love. Staged by renowned opera director Jürgen Flimm this production is the outstanding result of the teamwork of the orchestra and chorus of the Zurich Opera House with a cast of magnifi cent singer-actors. Finnish soprano Camilla Nylund in the title role presents a wonderful portrayal of the opposing characters of the loving wife, Leonore, and her alter ego, the young man Fidelio. The internationally renowned tenor Jonas Kaufmann is her counterpart Florestan - the attractive singer plays a convincing suffering prisoner, brought back to life by marital love. László Polgár is the jailer Rocco, torn between greed and sympathy and Alfred Muff takes on the sinister Don Pizarro to complete the setting.

Under the musical direction of Nikolaus Harnoncourt, this production became a highly memorable event. The Austrian conductor is universally celebrated for the structural transparency of his interpretations, his intellectual penetration and his emotional understanding of both music and opera plot. He once called this opera “a hymn of praise to marital love”. Although the work has a long tradition of being interpreted in political terms portraying oppression and liberation, imprisonment and freedom, Harnoncourt is adamant that, for Beethoven, these topics were only a means to an end: “What he was concerned about is love. The real action is between Leonore and Florestan. Essentially, the work is about what can be achieved by true love and the fact that a loving wife is ready to do anything for her husband.”

Sound Formats: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1

Picture Format: 16:9

Audio Language: DE

Subtitles: GB, DE, FR, ES, IT

DVD 9 / NTSC

Running Time: 128 mins

FSK: 0

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

Beethoven: Fidelio, Op. 72

Conductors

Harnoncourt, Nikolaus

Awards
Gramophone Magazine November 2014 Editor's Choice

Alessio Bax returns to disc on Signum with two masterworks of Beethoven's piano repertoire, as well as a new arrangement from 'Die Ruinen von Athen'.

Pianist Alessio Bax creates “a ravishing listening experience” (Gramophone) with his lyrical playing, insightful interpretations, and dazzling facility. First Prize winner at the Leeds and Hamamatsu international piano competitions - and a 2009 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient - he has appeared as soloist with over 100 orchestras.

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight'
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major, Op. 106 'Hammerklavier'
Beethoven: The Ruins of Athens Overture, Op. 113
Beethoven: The Ruins of Athens: Chorus of Dervishes
Beethoven: Turkish March (from The Ruins of Athens)

Awards
Gramophone Magazine Awards Issue 2017 Re-issue of the Month

Grigory Sokolov has gained an almost mythical status amongst music-lovers and pianophiles throughout the world. He is considered by many today to be the world's greatest living pianist. Ever since his first recital in Leningrad. He has amazed everyone again and again with the enormous breadth of his repertoire and his huge, almost physical musical strength. Grigory Sokolov was largely unknown in the West, however, until the late 1980's, but is now rightfully regarded as a giant of the piano. Sokolov's concerts are anticipated with eagerness where ever he travels. He's not been outside of Europe for several years now, preferring to tour Europe. His programmes change twice a year, Sokolov mining the music he plays for every jewel before he feels ready to consider a new work. Sokolov prefers his CD's to be recorded live is not surprising, since he likes to capture the sacred moments of a real, live concert and avoid the sterile atmosphere of a studio. Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major, Op. 106 (known as the Große Sonate für das Hammerklavier, or more simply as the Hammerklavier) is a piano sonata widely viewed as one of the most important works of the composer's third period and among the greatest piano sonatas. Completed in 1818, it is often considered to be Beethoven's most technically challenging piano composition and one of the most demanding solo works in the classical piano repertoire.

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

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

Awards
Gramophone Awards 2014 Finalist - Instrumental
BBC Music Magazine Awards 2014 Newcomer Award
Radio 3 Building a Library February 2018 Also Recommended

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.

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major, Op. 106 'Hammerklavier'
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111

Krassimira Stoyanova (soprano), Elīna Garanča (mezzo), Michael Schade (tenor), Franz-Josef Selig (bass)
Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden & Staatskapelle Dresden, Christian Thielemann

Features a cast of excellent soloists: Elīna Garanča, Krassimira Stoyanova, Michael Schade & Franz-Josef Selig

Performed on 13th & 14th February 2010 at the traditional memorial concert to commemorate the bombardment of Dresden during the last weeks of World War II.

Subtitles: L, G, E, F, Sp, Jp

Booklet: E, G, F

No. of Discs: 1

Run time: 90 minutes

Disc Format: DVD9

Picture: NTSC, 16:9

Audio: PCM Stereo, PCM 5.1

Region Code: 0 (worldwide)

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

Beethoven: Missa Solemnis in D major, Op. 123

Awards
Presto Recording of the Week 3rd June 2016
Presto Recordings of the Year Finalist 2016
Gramophone Magazine August 2016 Editor's Choice
Gramophone Awards 2016 Shortlisted - Choral

Laura Aikin (soprano), Bernarda Fink (alto), Johannes Chum (tenor) & Ruben Drole (bass)
Concentus Musicus Wien & Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Nikolaus Harnoncourt

When Nikolaus Harnoncourt retired from the stage in December last year, it was his express wish to release the broadcast recording of his last project, Beethoven's monumental “Missa solemnis” as his personal legacy.

The 'Missa solemnis' concerts at the Styriarte Festival Graz and the Salzburg Festival in summer 2015 were his last public performances. This recording of Beethoven's late masterpiece was made from material captured at the Graz concerts and rehearsals.

As a result of his life-long research on Beethoven, he conducted the work for the first time with the Concentus Musicus Wien on period instruments, the Concentus is joined by the Vienna based Arnold Schoenberg Choir and a handpicked solo quartet.

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

Beethoven: Missa Solemnis in D major, Op. 123

Arthur Grumiaux (violin), Stephen Kovacevich (piano)
Concertgebouw Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37

Yevgeny Sudbin (piano)
Tapiola Sinfonietta, Osmo Vänskä

On two previous discs, Yevgeny Sudbin and Osmo Vänskä have released Beethoven's three last piano concertos to critical acclaim. Distinctions include Editor's Choice in Gramophone and the performances have been described as 'electrifying' (classicfm.com), 'absolutely stunning' (Fanfare) and 'a Beethoven experience you will not want to miss' (ClassicsToday.com).

For the final disc in their cycle, Sudbin and Vänskä have travelled to Helsinki to team up with Tapiola Sinfonietta, one of the top Nordic ensembles, and well suited for these earlier and more classical of Beethoven's concertos. Of the two, the one we now know as the Second was actually begun several years before Concerto No. 1, and indeed even before Beethoven left Bonn for Vienna. During the following decade, Beethoven returned to the score repeatedly and made substantial revisions - including composing a new final movement - and ultimately the C major concerto reached publication first. Both concertos were conceived long before Beethoven's involvement with the symphonic genre, and the influence of Mozart and Haydn is evident in the interaction between the orchestra and the soloist - but Beethoven's individual spirit is nevertheless unmistakeable.

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19

Yevgeny Sudbin (piano)
Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä

Awards
Gramophone Magazine April 2011 Editor's Choice

After huge success with their cycle of Beethoven Symphonies on BIS, Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra return with the great composer's Piano Concertos performed by the sensational young pianist Yevgeny Sudbin.

Sudbin made his début on disc with a programme of sonatas by Scarlatti, but soon continued with recordings of music by later composers from his own country of birth, Russia. He has recorded the Tchaikovsky Piano Concertos No.1, Medtner's Concertos Nos. 1&2 and Rachmaninov No.4 2010 saw Sudbin's return to the 18th century, with a Haydn recital that confirmed his reputation as a highly versatile musician. “Few seem as fresh and necessary as this release from this wonder pianist” The Times (5 Star review) on Sudbin's Tchaikovsky/Medtner concertos

Opening with the composer's final two works in the genre, Sudbin shares the stage with Minnesota Orchestra and Osmo Vänskä, a team whose Beethoven credentials are assured after their recent cycle of the nine symphonies which critics claimed to be one of the great Beethoven Cycles.

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 'Emperor'