Wilhelm Backhaus Plays Beethoven, Mozart and Bach [Import]

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Wilhelm Backhaus (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Wilhelm Backhaus
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Audio CD (October 17, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Orfeo D'or
• ASIN: B0000508YU
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,179 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Prelude and Fugue, for keyboard No. 24 in B minor (WTC II/24), BWV 893 (BC L127)

2. Prelude and Fugue, for keyboard No. 15 in G major (WTC II/15), BWV 884 (BC L118)

3. Piano Sonata No. 5 in G major, K. 283 (K. 189h): Allegro

4. Piano Sonata No. 5 in G major, K. 283 (K. 189h): Andante

5. Piano Sonata No. 5 in G major, K. 283 (K. 189h): Presto

6. Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major ('Alla Turca') K. 331 (K. 300i): Theme, Andante grazioso

7. Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major ('Alla Turca') K. 331 (K. 300i): Menuetto & Trio

8. Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major ('Alla Turca') K. 331 (K. 300i): Alla Turca, Allegretto

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

10. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor ('Appassionata'), Op. 57

11. Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111: Maestoso / Allegro con brio ed appassionato

12. Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111: Arietta, Adagio molto semplice e cantabile

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful live performance from 1966!, May 24, 2007

By 

J. Gillon (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Wilhelm Backhaus Plays Beethoven, Mozart and Bach (Audio CD)

Modern Backhaus recordings are not as plentiful as one might think considering his longevity and productivity as a performer. This disc features works of Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven performed live in Salzburg in the summer of 1966. It is fun to hear the venerable pianist (82 at the time) in recital, playing with palpable enthusiasm and energy. Audience concentration is discernible, too: at the close of Beethoven's Opus 111, for example, listeners sit in silent awe until the Bosendorfer completely ceases to hum...it seems like an eternity!

Listening to this disc really is like sitting in the concert hall's best seats. The sound (mono, though it's not noticeable) is very good. Audience noise is present but not distracting. Even the program notes by critic Gottfried Kraus are interesting.

This little bit of music history is deeply satisfying and highly recommended!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Final Words of Backhaus and it is a Big Breakthrough, December 21, 2005

By 

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

This review is from: Wilhelm Backhaus Plays Beethoven, Mozart and Bach (Audio CD)

Backhaus' Well-tempered clavier here sounds almost like a mixture of a harpsichord and an organ, albeit sounds so natural. His Mozart 281 and 331, like most great artists in their last years, are sublime. It is so expressive, so colourful and dramatic. Mozart was obviously very talkative, albeit there is not one single note too many, as Backhaus's lyricism made it so clear. Furthermore, contrary to the general conception, it abounds with rubato which is quite definitive and decisive. And it is only after hearing him that we will notice how much we have missed by taking Geiseking's rendition. And his Beethoven, particularly his Appasionata, is even more lively and intriquing than his studio recording by Decca a few years back.

But this is a 1966 live but mono recording with some background noise. Furthermore, people who are accustomed to the Steinway sound may not find the piano sound very much to their taste. And in any event, the sound as a 1966 recording is not of particular good quality. But this reperoire is interesting covering these three greatest German composers and moreover it is a very good place to start learning more about the great master of the keyboard even though this is most untypical of Bachaus'usual style.