Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1 (Moonlight, Pathetique, Appassionata)

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), John O'Conor (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: John O'Conor
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000003CTQ
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,872 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #81 in Music > Classical > Chamber Music > By Period > Romantic (c.1820-1910)

Track Listings

1. I. Grave - Allegro Di Molto E Con Brio

2. II. Adagio Cantabile

3. III. Rondo: Allegro

4. I. Adagio Sostenuto

5. II. Allegretto

6. III. Presto

7. I. Allegro Assai

8. II. Andante Con Moto

9. III. Allegro Ma Non Troppo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars lyrical pianist, November 19, 2001

By 

KIM Mi-sun (Seoul, Korea) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1 (Moonlight, Pathetique, Appassionata) (Audio CD)

John O'Conor is a lyrical pianist who plays with beautiful tone. He is not so aggressive as some other pianists and has made a beautiful recording of Beethoven piano sonatas. He keeps strict tempo. It is a wonderful introduction to Beethoven and John O'Conor. He has also recorded all of the sonatas in a complete set. But this single CD is a good introduction and not so expensive as the whole set.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Erin Go Ludwig!, August 11, 2007

By 

Moldyoldie (Motown, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1 (Moonlight, Pathetique, Appassionata) (Audio CD)

It's a classical music truism that when a composer's body of work is so vast and wide-ranging as is Beethoven's for solo piano, those works with sobriquets such as his Pathétique, Moonlight, and Appassionata sonatas are usually the most popular. What I've found to be a false truism, however, is that the most well-known names on the largest labels present the most compelling recorded performances; here's a case in point. Irish pianist John O'Conor is not nearly as well-known as justly famous Beethoven heavyweights such as Artur Schnabel, Wilhelm Kempff, Alfred Brendel, and Claudio Arrau; but his early '90s performances for the Cleveland-based Telarc label are of such all-encompassing understanding, technical adeptness, and sensitivity that vaunted reputations become immaterial. I've had this recording since it was first released and have never been compelled to search for another. Telarc's digital recording is exquisitely transparent as O'Conor elicits the most beautifully burnished sound from his Hamburg Steinway. What's more, these recordings are now budget-priced.

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly Accurate and Precise, July 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1 (Moonlight, Pathetique, Appassionata) (Audio CD)

I'm just an amateur pianist, but O'Conor is the most flawless I've ever heard on the Appasionata, particularly the 3rd movement. He also does well with expression, but Vladimir Ashkenazy is much more exciting in that sense.