Pathétique. Moonlight. Appassionata. Hammerklavier. Ludwig van Beethoven wrote his first piano sonata at the age of 25 and his last at the age of 52, and together these 32 sonatas have been called “The New Testament” of music. Artur Schnabel was the first pianist to record a complete set and since then this feat has been reached by Daniel Barenboim, Alfred Brendel, Claude Frank, Maurizio Pollini, and Claudio Arrau – twice! This week we’ll sample as many as we possibly can that captivate us in some special way, and we hope you will share in our wonder and amazement at Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas.
Beethoven Piano Sonatas
Playlist
Episode 1
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2, No.1
I. Allegro
IV. Presto
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
02:00
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2, No.1
II. Adagio
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
5:59
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2, No.1
IV. Presto
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
4:43
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Piano Sonata No.14 in C Minor, K. 457
I. Molto Allegro
Maria João Pires
Klaviersonaten
DG 479 3049
8:13
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 2, No. 2
II. Largo appassionato
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
6:26
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 2, No. 2:
II. Largo appassionato
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
7:21
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 1
I. Allegro molto e con brio
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
4:38
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13, “Pathetique”
I. Grave – Allegro molto e con brio
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
8:29
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13, “Pathetique”
II. Adagio cantabile
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
5:55
Episode 2
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13, “Pathetique”:
III. Rondo: Allegro
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
4:06
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 7 in D, Op. 10/3
II. Largo E Mesto
III. Menuetto: Allegro
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
14:08
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 9 in E, Op. 14/1
I. Allegro
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
6:47
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 9 in E, Op. 14/1
II. Allegretto
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
4:03
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2, “Moonlight”:
I. Adagio sostenuto
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
4:55
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op.27/2, “Moonlight” –
I. Adagio Sostenuto
II. Allegretto
III. Presto Agitato
Rudolf Serkin, piano
Plays Beethoven
CBS 37219
15:41
Episode 3
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2, “The Storm” Largo – Allegro
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
8:48
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2, “The Storm” III. Allegretto
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
5:43
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C, Op. 53, “Waldstein”
I. Allegro Con Brio
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
10:02
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata #21 in C, Op. 53, “Waldstein”
II. Adagio molto
III. Rondo: Allegretto moderato
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
13:59
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata #23 in F Minor, Op. 57, “Appassionata”
I. Allegro Assai
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
9:00
Episode 4
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 24 in F-Sharp, Op. 78, “A Thérèse”
I. Adagio Cantabile, Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
7:01
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Sonata no. 26 in E-Flat Major, op. 81a:
I. Adagio: Allegro (Les Adieux)
Richard Goode, piano
The Complete Sonatas
Nonesuch 561659
6:36
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Sonata no. 26 in E-Flat Major, op. 81a:
II. Vivacissimamente (Le Retour)
Richard Goode, piano
The Complete Sonatas
Nonesuch 561659
5:20
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 25 in G, Op. 79, “Cuckoo” –
I. Presto Alla Tedesca
II. Andantel
III. Vivace
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
8:33
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-Flat, Op. 106 “Hammerklavier”
I. Allegro
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
8:50
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-Flat, Op. 106 “Hammerklavier”
IV. Introduzione: Largo – Fuga: Allegro resoluto
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
11:16
Episode 5
Mahler, Gustav: Symphony #2 in C Minor, “Resurrection”-
9. Molto Ritenuto, Maestoso
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/ Leonard Bernstein
Mahler Symphony No. 2
DG 423395
1:02
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111
I. Maestoso, Allegro Con Brio Appassionato (excerpt)
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
1:48
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E, Op. 109
III. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
14:22
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A Flat, Op. 110
I. Moderato Cantabile, Molto Espressivo
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
6:35
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A Flat, Op. 110
III. Adagio Ma Non Troppo
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
9:51
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111
II. Arietta: Adagio Molto Semplice E Cantabile
Artur Schnabel, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Warner Classics 556698
17:52