Alfred Brendel I: Great Pianists of the 20th Century, Vol. 12

Alfred Brendel (Artist), Haydn (Artist), Mozart (Artist), Schumann (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B00000DBU6
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,718 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Piano Sonate In E-Minor, Hob. XVI:34: 1: Presto

2. Piano Sonate In E-Minor, Hob. XVI:34: 2: Adagio

3. Piano Sonate In E-Minor, Hob. XVI:34: 3: Vivace Molto, Innocentemente

4. Piano Sonate In G, Hob. XVI:40: 1: Allegretto Ed Innocente

5. Piano Sonate In G, Hob. XVI:40: 2: Presto

6. Piano Sonate In D, Hob. XVI:42: 1: Andante Con Espressione

7. Piano Sonate In D, Hob. XVI:42: 2: Vivace Assai

8. Piano Sonate In E-Flat, Hob. XVI:52: 1: Allegro

9. Piano Sonate In E-Flat, Hob. XVI:52: 2: Adagio

10. Piano Sonate In E-Flat, Hob. XVI:52: 3: Finale, Presto

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Impromptus, D.899: No.1 in c: Allegro Molto Moderato

2. Impromptus, D.899: No.2 In E Flat: Allegro

3. Impromptus, D.899: No.3 In G Flat: Andante

4. Impromptus, D.899: No.4 In A Flat: Allegretto

5. Impromptus, D.935: No.1 In F: Allegro Moderato

6. Impromptus, D.935: No.2 In A Flat: Allegretto

7. Impromptus, D.935: No.3 In B Flat: Thema (Andante) Mit Var

8. Impromptus, D.935: No.4 In F: Allegro Scherzando

9. Fantasiestucke, Op.12: 1. Des Abends

10. Fantasiestucke, Op.12: 2. Warum?

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Haydn & Mozart society by Brendel., March 3, 2011

By 

Anna Shlimovich (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alfred Brendel I: Great Pianists of the 20th Century, Vol. 12 (Audio CD)

This is absolutely splendid pianism - and I discovered Alfred Brendel's mastery through his interpretation of Mozart's Fantasia in C minor, KV 475. It is a perennial favorite in piano repertoire, and plenty of recordings exist with many famous pianists playing this opus. I listened to all I could get, and my finalists were Claudio Arrau (the Fantasia can be found on the same series of Phiips Great Pianists: Claudio Arrau III) and Alfred Brendel. And Brendel's interpretation is to me more insightful, pensive and expressive; somehow his passagework also sounds more brilliant and distinct in Mozart's Fantasia than Arrau, who is also an incomparable master. But still, I give the laurel wreath of Mozart's Fantasia in C minor to Alfred Brendel.

The music itself is so overwhelming - the early Beethoven is all here, and indeed this piece is another testament of Mozart's genius - his boundless ability in creativity, where during the course of his musical development he leaped from Baroque to Romantic styles.

Mozart composed the Fantasia in C minor, K. 475 in 1785, three years later after his Fantasia in D minor, K397 which was composed in 1782 - the year when Mozart made a thorough study of the music of Bach and Handel. He uses a similar approach here as in Fantasia in D minor - there is no strict sonata form, although the opus has four tempi: Adagio, Allegro, Andantino, and Più Allegro, which defines every sections. Each change of tempo signals the introduction of new material. The Adagio departs from C minor immediately and ventures as far away as B minor over repeated figures in the left hand. The Allegro begins with a wobbling idea in the right hand that focuses on D major, eventually giving way to an area of continuous modulation. For the most part, the ensuing Andantino is so stable that it could almost be performed alone, but it, too, gives way to further modulation and the continuous C minor of the Più Allegro, which emphasizes rapid, expressive figuration.

Regarding Haydn, we should be so grateful to Brendle to bring us this composer who is somewhat in the shade today, yet one can appreciate his genius on this recording. Brendel brings us an innovative interpretation - one can compare his playing in 1985 of Haydn Piano Sonata in E flat major, Hob. XVI:52 with Horowitz' interpretation in 1932. Horowitz plays the same sonata in about 15 minutes (14'41''), while Brendel `s interpretation requires 21 minute, and I cannot say which one is better - perhaps Brendel's is more personal and less distant than Horowitz's; and both are equally virtuosic.

This is a must-have-hear recording.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deserves a 5, May 14, 2008

By 

Stefan C. Mazur (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alfred Brendel I: Great Pianists of the 20th Century, Vol. 12 (Audio CD)

Like all CDs in this series, this is a wonderful release. Brendel plays Schubert like no one else in terms of fluidity. Most pianists like Zimmerman, Lupu, et al play Schubert with much feeling but somewhat disjointed and one often gets the feeling one piece is actually 3 or 4 separate pieces. Brendel's Schubert flows like nothing I ever heard before. Just listen to the beautiful D899 Andante which is the finest version of the many I heard. Stunning and masterful. I wonder how Richter or Sokolov would have played it, I am still looking for those version if they exists. Brendel's Haydn is likewise very excellent, much like Richter and even Jando who is quite good with Haydn. This CDs shows that Brendel deserves to be ranked wiht the greatest.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, August 30, 2000

By 

Santiago Barcon "Santiago" (Mexico city) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Alfred Brendel I: Great Pianists of the 20th Century, Vol. 12 (Audio CD)

Alfred Brendel at his best in 80's recording as part of the 100 double CD collection of Great Pianist of the 20th century

The program is played flawlessly and with heart. The Schuber D. 899 is a perfect example.

The playing is particularly touching in the Mozart Fantasia.

I had the pleasure to listen recently, May 2000, Mr. Brendel perform with Mozart piano concerto 22. The recordings here make justice to his playing.

Highly recommended.