German pianist Walter Gieseking (1895-1956) features prominently among the finest keyboard virtuosi of the first half of the 20th c., especially noted for his superb pedal technique and unmatched subtlety and coloration, especially in, for example, his pre-WWII Debussy recordings. Personal and professional setbacks in the aftermath of the Allied Victory curtailed his career somewhat, yet he still managed a fairly prolific performance schedule, which included these famous Beethoven sonata broadcasts from Saarbru¨cken and London between 1949-56, which now see a return to availability.
1 Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2, No. 1: I. Allegro
2 Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2, No. 1: II. Adagio
3 Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2, No. 1: III. Menuetto: Allegretto
4 Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2, No. 1: IV. Prestissimo
5 Piano Sonata No. 2 in a Major, Op. 2, No. 2: I. Allegro Vivace
6 Piano Sonata No. 2 in a Major, Op. 2, No. 2: II. Largo Appassionato
7 Piano Sonata No. 2 in a Major, Op. 2, No. 2: III. Scherzo: Allegretto - Trio
8 Piano Sonata No. 2 in a Major, Op. 2, No. 2: IV. Rondo: Grazioso
9 Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3: I. Allegro Con Brio
10 Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3: II. Adagio
11 Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3: III. Scherzo: Allegro - Trio
12 Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3: IV. Allegro Assai
- Disc 2 -
1 Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-Flat Major, Op. 7: I. Molto Allegro
2 Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-Flat Major, Op. 7: II. Largo Con Gran Espressione
3 Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-Flat Major, Op. 7: III. Allegro
4 Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-Flat Major, Op. 7: Iv. Rondo: Poco Allegretto
5 Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10, No. 1: I. Molto Allegro E Con Brio
6 Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10, No. 1: II. Adagio Molto
7 Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10, No. 1: III. Finale: Prestissimo
8 Piano Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10, No. 2: I. Allegro
9 Piano Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10, No. 2: II. Allegretto
10 Piano Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10, No. 2: III. Finale: Presto
11 Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3: I. Presto
12 Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3: II. Largo E Mesto
13 Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3: III. Menuetto - Trio - Menuetto: Allegro
14 Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3: IV. Rondo: Allegro
- Disc 3 -
1 Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, "Pathétique": I. Grave - Allegro Di Molto E Con Brio
2 Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, "Pathétique": II. Adagio Cantabile
3 Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, "Pathétique": III. Rondo: Allegro
4 Piano Sonata No. 9 in E Major, Op. 14, No. 1: I. Allegro
5 Piano Sonata No. 9 in E Major, Op. 14, No. 1: II. Allegretto
6 Piano Sonata No. 9 in E Major, Op. 14, No. 1: III. Rondo: Allegro Comodo
7 Piano Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 14, No. 2: I. Allegro
8 Piano Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 14, No. 2: II. Andante
9 Piano Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 14, No. 2: III. Scherzo: Allegro Assai
10 Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22: I. Allegro Con Brio
11 Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22: II. Adagio Con Molto Espressione
12 Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22: III. Minuetto
13 Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22: Iv. Rondo: Allegretto
- Disc 4 -
1 Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26: I. Andante Con Variazioni
2 Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26: II. Scherzo: Molto Allegro
3 Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26: III. Marcia Funebre Sulla Morte D'un Eroe
4 Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26: Iv. Allegro
5 Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1: I. Andante
6 Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1: II. Allegro Molto E Vivace
7 Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1: III. Adagio Con Espressione
8 Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1: Iv. Allegro Vivace
9 Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2, "Moonlight": I. Adagio Sostenuto
10 Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2, "Moonlight": II. Allegretto
11 Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2, "Moonlight": III. Presto Agitato
12 Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28, "Pastoral": I. Allegro
13 Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28, "Pastoral": II. Andante
14 Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28, "Pastoral": III. Scherzo: Allegro Vivace
15 Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28
German pianist Walter Gieseking (1895-1956) features prominently among the finest keyboard virtuosi of the first half of the 20th c., especially noted for his superb pedal technique and unmatched subtlety and coloration, especially in, for example, his pre-WWII Debussy recordings. Personal and professional setbacks in the aftermath of the Allied Victory curtailed his career somewhat, yet he still managed a fairly prolific performance schedule, which included these famous Beethoven sonata broadcasts from Saarbru¨cken and London between 1949-56, which now see a return to availability.
