Customer Reviews

Beethoven: Bagatelles & Dances, Vol. 3

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The purpose of this review is to convince readers that this CD, despite its title, is not a collection of mere trifles. Some of Beethoven's shorter piano pieces are here, but several of them are equal in stature and quality to movements from the great 32 piano sonatas. Indeed, one of them, the so-called "Andante favori" originally formed the second movement of the "Waldstein" Sonata, Op 53. The Beethoven striving to extend the boundaries can be heard at work here - striving to extend the possibilities of the musical form he selects (the rondo, principally) and striving to extend the possibilities for music making offered by the piano.

I have always found Jeno Jando's Beethoven CDs to be amongst his most successful. This one is no exception. The piano tone is lifelike and well-focused. Jando avoids monotony in his playing of the series of 12 minuets by providing some well-graded dynamics and subtle variations of tempo.

A bargain not to be missed!

The pieces are excellent, the playing is excellent, and the recordings are excellent. Whether it's rock and roll, classical, jazz, or any type of music, I always find some of my favorite works in a composer's "B-side" stuff, items that aren't always the best known pieces in their repetoire. Jeno Jando and Naxos deliver exactly that here. I also have the "Beethoven: Bagatelles," also performed by Jando. Neither are to be missed.