{"product_id":"kempff-the-beethoven-piano-sonatas-volume-2-1951-56-pakm083","title":"KEMPFF The Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Volume 2 (1951-56) - PAKM083","description":"overviewfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003eBEETHOVEN \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003ePiano Sonatas Nos. 8 - 15\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eStudio recordings, 1951-56\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eTotal duration: 2hr 24:30\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eWilhelm Kempff\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003e, piano\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_titlefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_quotefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_bodyfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9main_samplefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fsamples\/PAKM083.mp3578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fProducer's Note578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcontent578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp style=\"margin-left: 25px;\"\u003e\"Had Beethoven composed nothing other than the 32 piano sonatas, his genius would have been acknowledged. These works are at the summit of the piano repertoire, and many of them are still represented in the core repertoire on the concert stage today.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBeethoven intended them as studies, and there is a reference to a concert performance of just one of them during Beethoven’s lifetime. Yet the finest pianists still are challenged to perform and\/or record all of them as a cycle.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Beethoven sonatas have become almost synonymous with the name of Artur Schnabel (1882-1951), a principal exponent of the German school of pianism (although he, like Gulda, was Austrian by birth). The performance style of pianists of this school (Backhaus, Serkin, and others) is said to be characterized by strict discipline, careful technique, and an intellectual approach to the music.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI would have agreed with this broad assessment of the pianism of the German Wilhelm Kempff (1895-1991), in particular. His recordings reflect immaculate technique, exquisite taste, and a certain emotional detachment. He is recognized as a master in particular of the piano works of Beethoven and Schubert.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe recorded the cycle of the Beethoven sonatas in 1951 at the Beethovensaal in Hanover. That recording, to my ears, sounded recessed, lacking in warmth, and affirmed the assessments I had read of Kempff’s pianism.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA remastering of those recordings, recently released on the French label Pristine Audio, however, proves how a substandard recording can lead to a misleading assessment. Andrew Rose, the label’s founder, has remastered Kempff’s recorded performances using his XR technology, which adds resonance, warmth, and stereophonic sound without a hint of artificiality.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe first release of the cycle (Pristine Audio PAKM 082) includes Sonatas 1-7, and what a wonder it is. Kempff’s deft, but tasteful use of the pedal is fully in evidence, as is a warm, singing tone to the piano. Technically, of course, they are beyond reproach, but the performances are fully engaging emotionally as well ... Judging by Volume One, this cycle by Kempff goes right to the top of the heap.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eTim Snider,\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cb\u003eWTJU 91.1FM\u003c\/b\u003e, August 2020\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe majority of the recordings in Kempff's 1950s complete Beethoven\nsonatas series were made in 1951 in sessions which must by today's\nstandards have seemed quite intensive: of the eight sonatas in this second volume, four were recorded on the same day, 20th December 1951.\nSome were later returned to - the \u003ci\u003ePathétique \u003c\/i\u003ein particular was recorded over three sessions in 1953 and 1956, a multiple re-recording unique to the series which suggests problems with the performances, unexpected technical issues or possibly both. The recordings took place in the Beethovensaal in Hannover and were\ndestined for release both on 12-inch long playing vinyl and, int he case of the 1951 recordings, 78rpm\nshellac. Although the recorded piano tone was more than adequate for its era\nit remained somewhat flat and hard to modern ears, especially in the 1951 recordings, something that these\nXR remasters have essentially cured, bringing to these fabulous\nperformances an enhanced, natural tone that really sings, allowing the\nyears to fall away and the original performances to be re-approached as\nif new.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eAndrew Rose\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fFull Track Listing578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5ftrack_listing578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 24px;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eKEMPFF \u003c\/b\u003eThe Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Volume 2\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDISC ONE\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 17px;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBEETHOVEN \u003c\/b\u003ePiano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, 'Pathétique'\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. 1st mvt. - Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio  (7:45)\u003cbr\u003e2. 2nd mvt. - Adagio cantabile  (4:04)\u003cbr\u003e3. 3rd mvt. - Rondo. Allegro  (4:45)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eRecorded [1] 4 May 1956; [2] 17 January 1956; [3] 23 January 1953\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 17px;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBEETHOVEN \u003c\/b\u003ePiano Sonata No. 9 in E major, Op. 14, No. 1\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e4. 1st mvt. - Allegro  (6:43)\u003cbr\u003e5. 2nd mvt. - Allegretto  (3:35)\u003cbr\u003e6. 3rd mvt. - Rondo. Allegro comodo  (3:49)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eRecorded 20 December 1951\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 17px;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBEETHOVEN \u003c\/b\u003ePiano Sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14, No. 2\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e7. 1st mvt. - Allegro  (7:31)\u003cbr\u003e8. 2nd mvt. - Andante  (5:27)\u003cbr\u003e9. 3rd mvt. - Scherzo. Allegro assai  (3:31)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eRecorded 20 December 1951\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 17px;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBEETHOVEN \u003c\/b\u003ePiano Sonata No. 11 in B flat major, Op. 22\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e10. 1st mvt. - Allegro con brio  (7:33)\u003cbr\u003e11. 2nd mvt. - Adagio con molto espressione  (7:38)\u003cbr\u003e12. 3rd mvt. - Minuet - Trio  (3:08)\u003cbr\u003e13. 4th mvt. - Rondo. Allegretto  (6:31)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eRecorded 4 \u0026amp; 5 May 1956\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDISC TWO\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 17px;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBEETHOVEN \u003c\/b\u003ePiano Sonata No. 12 in A flat major, Op. 26, 'Funeral March'\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. 1st mvt. - Andante con variazioni  (8:04)\u003cbr\u003e2. 2nd mvt. - Scherzo. Allegro molto - Trio  (2:59)\u003cbr\u003e3. 3rd mvt. - Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un eroe. Maestoso andante  (5:31)\u003cbr\u003e4. 4th mvt. - Allegro  (3:22)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eRecorded 20 December 1951\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 17px;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBEETHOVEN \u003c\/b\u003ePiano Sonata No. 13 in E flat major, Op. 27, No. 1, 'Quasi una fantasia'\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e5. 1st mvt. - Andante  (4:47)\u003cbr\u003e6. 2nd mvt. - Allegro molto e vivace  (2:20)\u003cbr\u003e7. 3rd mvt. - Adagio con espressione  (3:00)\u003cbr\u003e8. 4th mvt. - Allegro vivace  (6:01)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eRecorded 20 December 1951\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 17px;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBEETHOVEN \u003c\/b\u003ePiano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2, 'Moonlight'\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e9. 1st mvt. - Adagio sostenuto  (6:18)\u003cbr\u003e10. 2nd mvt. - Allegretto - Trio  (2:20)\u003cbr\u003e11. 3rd mvt. - Presto agitato  (6:04)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eRecorded 4 \u0026amp; 5 May 1956\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 17px;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBEETHOVEN \u003c\/b\u003ePiano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastoral'\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e12. 1st mvt. - Allegro  (7:29)\u003cbr\u003e13. 2nd mvt. - Andante  (6:39)\u003cbr\u003e14. 3rd mvt. - Scherzo. Allegro vivace  (2:29)\u003cbr\u003e15. 4th mvt. - Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo  (5:06)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eRecorded 21 December 1951\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWilhelm Kempff\u003c\/b\u003e, piano\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eXR remastering by  Andrew Rose\u003cbr\u003eCover artwork based on a photograph of Wilhelm Kempff\u003cbr\u003eRecorded at Beethovensaal, Hannover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal duration: \u003c\/b\u003e2hr 24:30  \u003cbr\u003eCD1: 72:02    CD2: 72:28\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fCover Art578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcover_art578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcovers\/thumbs\/PAKM083.jpg578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcovers\/PAKM083.pdf578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f","brand":"Pristine Classical","offers":[{"title":"Ambient Stereo 24-bit FLAC","offer_id":44064683524186,"sku":"gap1789303003001","price":25.62,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ambient Stereo 16-bit FLAC","offer_id":44064683556954,"sku":"bcs1789303003002","price":19.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"320kbps Ambient Stereo MP3","offer_id":44064683589722,"sku":"wwp1789303003003","price":15.04,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/3807\/0874\/files\/kempff-the-beethoven-piano-sonatas-volume-2-1951-56---pakm083_1.jpg?v=1789303010","url":"https:\/\/vestorawear.shop\/products\/kempff-the-beethoven-piano-sonatas-volume-2-1951-56-pakm083","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}