Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos 14, 23, 24, & 26

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Robert Casadesus (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Robert Casadesus
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (April 1, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00008PXA4
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #592,869 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor ('Moonlight'), Op. 27/2: I. Adagio sostenuto

2. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor ('Moonlight'), Op. 27/2: II. Allegretto

3. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor ('Moonlight'), Op. 27/2: III. Presto agitato

4. Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat major ('Les Adieux'), Op. 81a: I. Das Lebewohl (Les Adieux): Adagio; Allegro

5. Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat major ('Les Adieux'), Op. 81a: II. Abwesenheit (L'Absence): Andante espressivo

6. Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat major ('Les Adieux'), Op. 81a: III. Das Wiedersehn (La Retour): Vivacissimamente

7. Piano Sonata No. 24 in F sharp major ('A Thérèse'), Op. 78: I. Adagio cantabile; Allegro, ma non troppo

8. Piano Sonata No. 24 in F sharp major ('A Thérèse'), Op. 78: II. Allegro vivace

9. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor ('Appassionata'), Op. 57: I. Allegro assai

10. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor ('Appassionata'), Op. 57: II. Andante con moto

11. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor ('Appassionata'), Op. 57: III. Allegro, ma non troppo; Presto

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Sony Essential Classics Gem, July 4, 2003

By 

Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos 14, 23, 24, & 26 (Audio CD)

As I have stated in many of my previous reviews, I am a huge fan of the Sony Essential Classics (SEC) budget series. Most of the recordings feature classic and often definitive performances featuring the likes of Eugene Ormandy, George Szell, Isaac Stern and Rudolf Serkin among others. Here we get the great pianist Robert Casadesus performing some of the more popular Beethoven Piano Sonatas. To the best of my knowledge, Casadesus did not record all of the Beethoven Sonatas, but I do know that he recorded more than the four featured here on this disc because there is a Sony France CD that has also contains Sonatas 2, 28 and 31. Though between this title and the SEC of Beethoven Piano Sonatas 8 and 29 with Serkin, most will be satisfied. If you do decide that you need more Beethoven Piano Sonatas, or even all 32, the Wilhelm Kempff cycle is without peer.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Utmost Unjustice to the One of the Greatest Artist, February 28, 2004

By 

BLee "bpslee" (HK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos 14, 23, 24, & 26 (Audio CD)

A record that badly needs to be remastered.

Otherwise, it's a unjustice both to the pianist and these sonatas. The recording, as it stands, sounds categorically worse than most records in the 50's, far worse than Oistrakh's Beethoven Violin Sonatas (with Lev Oberin), way worse than those recordings done in Moscow in the same period. Nowadays, we have a lot of transfers from the 78s which sound much better than this one. I happen to own another Sony record by the same artist playing Bach. Likewise, it is impossible? What rough treatment on our invaluable musical heritage!!