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Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. 7 Bagatelles, Op.33: 1. Andante Grazioso Quasi Allegretto

2. 7 Bagatelles, Op.33: 2. Scherzo (Allegro)

3. 7 Bagatelles, Op.33: 3. Allegretto

4. 7 Bagatelles, Op.33: 4. Andante

5. 7 Bagatelles, Op.33: 5. Allegro Ma Non Troppo

6. 7 Bagatelles, Op.33: 6. Allegretto Quasi Andante

7. 7 Bagatelles, Op.33: 7. Presto

8. 11 Bagatelles, Op.119: 1. Allegretto

9. 11 Bagatelles, Op.119: 2. Andante Con Moto

10. 11 Bagatelles, Op.119: 3. A L'Allamande

11. 11 Bagatelles, Op.119: 4. Andante Cantabile

12. 11 Bagatelles, Op.119: 5. Risoluto

13. 11 Bagatelles, Op.119: 6. Andante - Allegretto

14. 11 Bagatelles, Op.119: 7. Allegro, Ma Non Troppo

15. 11 Bagatelles, Op.119: 8. Moderato Cantabile

16. 11 Bagatelles, Op.119: 9. Vivace Moderato

17. 11 Bagatelles, Op.119: 10. Allegramente

18. 11 Bagatelles, Op.119: 11. Andante Ma Non Troppo

19. 6 Bagatelles, Op.126: 1. Andante Con Moto

20. 6 Bagatelles, Op.126: 2. Allegro

21. 6 Bagatelles, Op.126: 3. Andante Cantabile E Grazioso

22. 6 Bagatelles, Op.126: 4. Presto

23. 6 Bagatelles, Op.126: 5. Quasi Allegretto

24. 6 Bagatelles, Op.126: 6. Presto - Andante Amabile E Con Moto

Product Details

Performer: Stephen Bishop-Kovacevich
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Audio CD (November 10, 1990)
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Philips
ASIN: B00000E4BJ
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #352,900 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
- #50 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Short Forms > Bagatelles

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Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars

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Top Customer Reviews

An historically important set still with much to offer

By I. Giles TOP 500 REVIEWER on December 7, 2012

I have owned this recording of the Bagatelles for many years - ever since it first appeared way back in 1974. I have also owned a considerable number of alternatives as I have continued to look for a set that I really warmed to without reservation. Now, over 30 years later, I have just the one set left - that by Kovacevich as reviewed here.

What will readily be apparent from this evolving situation is that there have been considerable periods where I have been less than enthusiastic about this disc. The main cause of doubt has lain in the playing style which I have found, and still do to some extent, to be so forceful as to be downright aggressive. This aspect of Kovacevich's playing can be found elsewhere in his discography which is why he is not represented in my collection as much as he might be. No Beethoven sonatas (I have tried) but the complete set of concertos survives. I also prefer his latest and less aggressive Diabelli Variations to his earlier set.

I digress, so getting back to the bagatelles: These are called bagatelles and, as such, the very name gives plenty of reason to consider them as beautifully crafted but relatively small-scale compositions. Maybe they should have a gentle sense of fun, or at least good humour, about them too. There is little of this to be found in Kovacevich's readings. However, what there is is a great sense of structure, rhythmical tautness and opus group cohesion. The technique is rock solid and there are no liberties taken with tempi or phrasing so these pieces never stray into the later Romantic period. The recording is muscular but truthful and suits the concept.Read more ›

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Very fine performance of some interesting music by Beethoven

By jt52 on March 11, 2011

I have enjoyed this disc of Beethoven Bagatelles by the British pianist Kovacevich for a number of years and wanted to recommend it to other listeners.

The Bagatelles represent Beethoven's three phases, early (Op. 33), middle (the first few pieces of the remarkable Op. 119 set) and late (the rest of Op. 119 and Op. 126), so it's a good overview of Beethoven's career, but from the standpoint of the miniature piano piece, which was not exactly Beethoven's preferred form. The Op. 33 set are light but often very pleasant. The Op. 119 I'd characterize as an experimental set (a Beethoven scholar dubbed the Bagatelles "experiments in composition") made up of fragments, including one that is all of 10 seconds long. The Op. 126 set consist of longer miniatures. As the last two sets were composed in the 1820s, one can speculate that they reflect the influence of romantic composers, with their interest in fragment forms. A lot of attractive, unusual music by the Viennese master, though.

Kovacevich plays very well. Unlike alaskadoggie, I think Kovacevich respects the musical text and plays with great fidelity to the score. (I think the criticism is bizarre, to tell you the truth. Nothing weird about this interpretation at all.) The Op. 33 contains a little bit of banging but mostly the playing is high level with musicality and subtlety.

Also, sonics are very good, despite it being recorded in the mid-70s. A strong CD.

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Best

By Amir on December 3, 2003

Just THE Best. Very good music of Beethoven played by the very good pianist who also is good in Brahms. Buy and enjoy !

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BEETHOVEN'S BAGATELLEN SLIGHTLY UNDERESTIMATED TO PLAY

By alaskadoggie on November 19, 2004

At my house I have quite some Bagatellen played by Pletnev, Gould, Richter, Kovacevich, Jando... Let's stick to those five. As well the Variations as the Bagatellen of Beethoven are - certainly for Beethoven lovers - extraordinary, well-balanced classical stuff. BUT: on the contrary to what "bagatellen" means (as well as "variations") they are extremely difficult to play on the piano i.e. as required.

Specific for the Beethoven Bagatellen is the form, the concept of them: it concerns short but sharply contrasting movements. Yet the emphasis is on lyricism. They are built up in a way they want to tell something rethorical to the listener. Luxury for the ear ... if "well" played.
I had the Bagatellen Op. 33, 119 and 126 that are on this CD already before I acquired the Kovacevich-album. I was a bit disappointed by hearing this manner of playing. Every pianist has his/her own style, characteristics, touching the keyboard. BUT no one of them has the right to put his/her "vision, concept of playing" above what the composer meant, why he wrote this or that piece. I'm afraid the however reknown Stephen B. Kovacevich somehow underestimated these Bagatellen and put somewhat too much of his own 'philosophy' in his performance.

This is certainly not the case with f.e. Mikhail Pletnev, Glenn Gould or Svjatoslav Richter. Richter, to name one of those, well-known for his legato-playing, DOES play legato, but never forsakes to the demands of the composer (Beethoven as well as any other composer), nor as Pletnev and Gould do. A good album to start with. Once well-acquainted with the pieces you can still make the step to Pletnev, Gould or Richter...

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