Beethoven- Music for Cello and Piano: Sonatas & Variations, Opp. 5:1,2;66;69;102:1,2; WoO 45,46 [Import]

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Wilhelm Kempff (Performer), Pierre Fournier (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Wilhelm Kempff, Pierre Fournier
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (August 15, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Dg Imports
• ASIN: B000001GY1
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,021 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #69 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Variations

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Sonata For Piano And Violoncello In F Major Op. 5 No. 1: 1. Adagio sostenuto - Allegro

2. Sonata For Piano And Violoncello In F Major Op. 5 No. 1: 2. Rondo. Allegro vivace

3. Sonata For Piano And Violoncello In G Minor Op. 5 No. 2: 1. Adagio sostenuto e expressivo - Allegro molto piu tosto presto

4. Sonata For Piano And Violoncello In G Minor Op. 5 No. 2: 2. Rondo. Allegro

5. Sonata For Piano And Violoncello In A Major Op. 69: 1. Allegro ma non tanto

6. Sonata For Piano And Violoncello In A Major Op. 69: 2. Scherzo. Allegro molto

7. Sonata For Piano And Violoncello In A Major Op. 69: 3. Adagio cantabile - Allegro vivace

Disc: 2

1. Sonata For Piano And Violoncello In C Major Op. 102 No. 1: 1. Andante-Allegro vivace

2. Sonata For Piano And Violoncello In C Major Op. 102 No. 1: 2. Adagio-Tempo d'Andante-Allegro vivace

3. Sonata For Piano And Violoncello In D Major Op. 102 No. 2: 1. Allegro con brio

4. Sonata For Piano And Violoncello In D Major Op. 102 No. 2: 2. Adagio con molto sentimento d'affetto-attacca:

5. Sonata For Piano And Violoncello In D Major Op. 102 No. 2: 3. Allegro - Allegro fugato

6. Twele Variations (In G Major) On A Them From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaeus' WoO 45: Thema. Allegretto

7. Twele Variations (In G Major) On A Them From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaeus' WoO 45: Variaion I

8. Twele Variations (In G Major) On A Them From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaeus' WoO 45: Variation II

9. Twele Variations (In G Major) On A Them From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaeus' WoO 45: Variation III

10. Twele Variations (In G Major) On A Them From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaeus' WoO 45: Variation IV

See all 39 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent Playing of Majestic Music, November 6, 2005

By 

Christopher Smith (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven- Music for Cello and Piano: Sonatas & Variations, Opp. 5:1,2;66;69;102:1,2; WoO 45,46 (Audio CD)

Apologies for the overly-alliterative title. I have been listening to this 2-CD set intensely for the last couple of weeks and my admiration for Kempff--already considerable--has grown in leaps and bounds. So too has my regard for Pierre Fournier, whose playing on this CD is bold and clearly articulated. Kempff is the most humane and visionary of pianists, and he is remarkable in that he is perfectly prepared to put his undoubted virtuosity on the back burner and let Fournier's cello fully sing and soar. I have noticed on other recordings of cello sonatas (the Kovacevich/Du Pre coupling of Beethoven's 3rd and 5th and the Ax/Ma Brahms for example)that the cello is often overwhelmed. This is definitely not the case here, where the projection of both instuments seems perfectly in balance, and if anything favors the cello. When it first arrived I was a little dismayed to see that these were listed as "Live Recordings," since I am not really a fan of this sub-genre--they usually end up having none of the spontaneity and energy of the concert arena while maintaining all the little annoyances (audience shuffling/flubbed notes). This recording however, is perfect for these pieces. The sound is spacious and you come away with the impression that these musicians are playing just for you in a rather large room.

Beethoven's cello sonatas come from his early, middle and late periods, and they're all masterpieces. I have always felt that Beethoven's earliest work is seriously underrated (the Opus 1 piano trios, the opus 2 piano sonatas and the opus 9 string trios are all glorious, fully realized creations of a composer who has truly arrived) and the two opus 5's here are no exception. They are also interesting in that they both have a two-movement structure. The opus 69 has the storm and stress of so much of Beethoven's middle period, while the two opus 102 sonatas have both the loose, fantasy-like elements and the demonic fugal vistas of Beethoven's later work. The variations that finish off this 2-CD set are light, pleasurable, filler fare that won't move you much, but they certainly won't offend.

The playing though, is simply sublime. This is no one-time, all-star coupling of two prominent soloists either. Kempff and Fournier also recorded, along with violinist Henryk Szeryng, all of Beethoven's piano trios, which I would also highly recommend (the "Ghost" and the "Archduke" are unbeatable), and Kempff also recorded all the Beethoven violin sonatas with Menuhin; one cannot doubt, therefore, Kempff's commitment to Beethoven's chamber music, and it shows time and time again. Just listen to the spiritualized playing of the opus 102/2 adagio, or the fiery exposition of both the opus 69 allegro and the first movement of the 102/1. You won't find better playing anywhere of a dimension of Beethoven that isn't played or listened to enough.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply Moving!!!, February 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Beethoven- Music for Cello and Piano: Sonatas & Variations, Opp. 5:1,2;66;69;102:1,2; WoO 45,46 (Audio CD)

Some performances leave a lasting impression.The Beethoven Cello sonatas are lesser known works not as popular as other well known sonatas.Fournier/Kempff reveal the matchless beauty in these works .The pacing is just right and these two great artists share their part with Grace and Spontaneity .The First sonata opens with a Broad Lyrical theme on the cello and the Piano sets off nimbly.The two parts perfectly complement each other and the playing is incredibly sensitive and evenly matched.

Truly a noble and soul stirring performance.The sound quality is quite good for a 1965 recording.
I recently heard the Maisky/Argerich recordings.The playing is virtuosic but they do not come anywhere close to Fournier/Kempff 's sensitive and poetic reading of these works.Deeply Moving and a perennial joy to listen to!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Beethoven Cello? . . ., November 15, 2005

By 

Sébastien Melmoth (Hôtel d'Alsace, PARIS) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beethoven- Music for Cello and Piano: Sonatas & Variations, Opp. 5:1,2;66;69;102:1,2; WoO 45,46 (Audio CD)

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As the piano work is at least as important to these pieces as the cello, Kempff is preferred in Beethoven.
Fournier was a great cellist with wonderful tone and great control.
In this set Fournier & Kempff omit excessive repeats.
And since the pieces themselves are rather expansive in air and tone, this reading gives the works a more direct and focused appearance.

Sound is wonderfully spatial. Cited as a "live recording" in Paris, 1965, there is very little noticeable audience noise and NO APPLAUSE--thankfully!
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