Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor ("Pathétique") Op. 13
[1] 1. Grave-Allegro di molto e con brio - 9:04
[2] 2. Adagio cantabile - 5:43
[3] 3. Rondo. Allegro - 5:02
Piano Sonata No. 13 in E flat major ("Quasi una fantasia") Op. 27/1
[4] 1. Andante-Allegro-Tempo I - 5:46
[5] 2. Allegro molto e vivace - 1:36
[6] 3. Adagion con espressione - 3:09
[7] 4. Allegro vivace-Presto - 5:29
Pano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor ("Moondschein"), Op. 27/2
[8] 1. Adagio sostenuto - 6:01
[9] 2. Allegretto - 2:28
[10] 3. Presto agitato - 7:05
WERNER MAYER - Recording Supervision
KLAUS SCHEIBE - Recording Engineer
H. WOLTER - Cover Photo
HENRY GROSSMANN - Photo Emil Gilels
PETER SCHUPPE - Art Direction
HELMUT FLADT - Liner Notes
LP 1981 Deutsche Grammophon 2532 008
CS 1981 Deutsche Grammophon 3302 008
CD 1996 Deutsche Grammophon 400 036-2
Exceptional recording
The sound quality of this digital recording is awesome. Its not too
closely miked or overlit as some other recordings from the yellow
label. This CD and Gilels coupling of the Tempest and Pastorale sonatas
is also first rate. Gilels is one of the biggest and best names in
classical piano along with Claudio Arrau, Jorge Bolet, Pollini,
Argerich, Lupu, Brendel and Michelangeli.
A music fan, July 30, 2001
Fabulous!
Gilels set of Beethoven Piano Sonatas is the pinnacle of artistry,
musicality, pianism and, above all humanism ! This particular recording
is my favourite ! Tempos are generally slightly slower then these days
but no force or momentum is lacking. Highly inspired grand performances
! Profoundly moving and soul touching ! Yes, I admit, I like Gilels
most of them all, especially in Beethoven's Sonatas. No other pianist
could make me laugh and bring me to tears so honestly! This is just one
disc of his cycle for Deutsche Grammophon and all of them are so
authoritative, so deeply felt that they reall are "must" for any
Beethoven lover ! Feeling that Gilels provokes highly exceed my
knowledge of English language. He should be heard and felt ! No words
could really describe his awsome artistry! Marvelous release, this one!
Not to be missed!!!
Zoran Avramovic (avram@phy.hr) from Zagreb, Croatia, July 14, 1999