Artur Schnabel: Beethoven (Great Pianists of the 20th Century)

Artur Schnabel (Artist), Beethoven (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 9, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B00000I0LL
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,226 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Piano Sonata No. 21 In C, Op. 53 'Waldstein': 1. Allegro con brio

2. Piano Sonata No. 21 In C, Op. 53 'Waldstein': 2. Introduzione. Adagio molto

3. Piano Sonata No. 21 In C, Op. 53 'Waldstein': 3. Rondo. Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo

4. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli In C, Op. 120: Tema. Vivace

5. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli In C, Op. 120: Variation I. Alla marcia maestoso

6. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli In C, Op. 120: Variation II. Poco allegro

7. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli In C, Op. 120: Variation III. L'istesso tempo

8. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli In C, Op. 120: Variation IV. Un poco piu vivace

9. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli In C, Op. 120: Variation V. Allegro vivace

10. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli In C, Op. 120: Variation VI. Allegro ma non troppo e serioso

See all 37 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Piano Sonata No. 30 In E, Op. 109: 1. Vivace, ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo - Tempo I

2. Piano Sonata No. 30 In E, Op. 109: 2. Prestissimo

3. Piano Sonata No. 30 In E, Op. 109: 3. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung

4. Piano Sonata No. 32 In C Minor, Op. 111: 1a. Maestoso

5. Piano Sonata No. 32 In C Minor, Op. 111: 1b. Allegro con brio ed appassionato

6. Piano Sonata No. 32 In C Minor, Op. 111: 2. Arietta. Adagio molto semplice e cantabile

7. Piano Concerto No. 4 In G, Op. 58: 1. Allegro moderato

8. Piano Concerto No. 4 In G, Op. 58: 2. Andante con moto

9. Piano Concerto No. 4 In G, Op. 58: 3. Rondo. Vivace

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Though not novel, quite satisfying, March 16, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Artur Schnabel: Beethoven (Great Pianists of the 20th Century) (Audio CD)

This pair of CDs is most important for bringing back to general circulation Schnabel's 1942 US recordings of Beethoven's 30th and 32d sonatas. Though not dramatically different from those recorded 10 years earlier, the sound is marginally clearer, and Phillips has done a good job in remastering without imposing excessive filtering or noise reduction. The same is true of the famous recording of the Diabelli variations, never reissued by EMI on CD, but available on Pearl in a slightly noiser (though perhaps minimally more present) transfer. The concerto performance is transcendent, and should be heard by all who love this music. I call on EMI (perhaps on their Testament label) to reissue Beethoven's bagatelles and Mozart piano concertos #s 20 & 24.

Jeffrey F. Lipton

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is what meeting God sounds like!!!, January 22, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Artur Schnabel: Beethoven (Great Pianists of the 20th Century) (Audio CD)

Schnabels Beethoven Opus 111 is one of the greatest examples of the recorded piano repertoire of the 20th Century. I am so glad Phillips reintroduced this 1942 recording in the catalog. The recording wasn't immediately released in 1942 due to the shortage of shellac due to wartime constraints. As a result, RCA had lost the plates for many years in their vaults. It appeared briefly on RCA's budget "Victrola" series on vinal back in the '70's.

I have both Schnabels, both Serkin, Solomon, Richter, Horszowski, Kempff, Brendel, and probably one that I'm forgetting. No one plays with as much of a feeling of the sublime as did Schnabel. This is a truly great recording.

5.0 out of 5 stars Smarter Than The Average Bear, January 5, 2010

By 

achdukleidustein "none" (Vladivistock) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Artur Schnabel: Beethoven (Great Pianists of the 20th Century) (Audio CD)

For those who like their Mr.B. intelligent, sensitive, and phrased to perfection this the man, and what a fine recording it is, great sound.