Alfred Brendel | Beethoven: Favourite Piano Sonatas | 2CD

Alfred Brendel is a pianist whose recordings centre on classical keyboard repertoire and carefully shaped musical structure. His performances give melodic detail, changing harmonies and expressive phrasing a clear presence, balancing individual passages with the broader movement of each work.

Beethoven: Favourite Piano Sonatas includes Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique”: I. Grave - Allegro Molto E Con Brio, Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique”: II. Adagio Cantabile, Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique”: III. Rondo (Allegro). The programme places Alfred Brendel’s distinctive performances within a sequence of contrasting musical passages, presented here in a 2CD edition.

Track List

Disc 1

1. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique”: I. Grave - Allegro Molto E Con Brio
2. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique”: II. Adagio Cantabile
3. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique”: III. Rondo (Allegro)
4. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight”: I. Adagio Sostenuto
5. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight”: II. Allegretto
6. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight”: III. Presto
7. Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28 “Pastoral”: I. Allegro
8. Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28 “Pastoral”: II. Andante
9. Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28 “Pastoral”: III. Scherzo (Allegro Assai)
10. Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28 “Pastoral”: IV. Rondo (Allegro Ma Non Troppo)
11. Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-flat Major, Op. 81a “Les Adieux”: Das Lebewohl (Adagio - Allegro)
12. Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-flat Major, Op. 81a “Les Adieux”: Abwesenheit (Andante Espressivo)
13. Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-flat Major, Op. 81a “Les Adieux”: Das Wiedersehen (Vivacissimamente)

Disc 2

1. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 “Tempest”: I. Largo - Allegro
2. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 “Tempest”: II. Adagio
3. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 “Tempest”: III. Allegretto
4. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 “Waldstein”: I. Allegro Con Brio
5. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 “Waldstein”: II. Introduzione (Adagio Molto)
6. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 “Waldstein”: III. Rondo (Allegretto Moderato - Prestissimo)
7. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata”: I. Allegro Assai
8. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata”: II. Andante Con Moto
9. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata”: III. Allegro Ma Non Troppo