BEETHOVEN: SONATAS & VARIATIONS - WILLIAM BACKHAUS (10 CDS)

10 CD box set celebrating the work of the German Beethoven-pianist of international renown, Wilhelm Backhaus. It contains all of his concert recordings, the most popular sonatas and waltz-variations. Wilhelm Backhaus (1884 - 1969) was internationally recognized and celebrated as an outstanding authority for classical-romantic piano music. Just how well deserved this admiration is, can especially be heard in the Beethoven-concerts and the Diabelli-variations, which are included in this 10-CD-Box and regarded as "trend setting" by critics until today. Early on, Backhaus had become a German pianist of world renown. As a sixteen-year-old he gave his first concert in London. In 1905 he won the coveted Anton Rubinstein Prize in Paris, pitted against Klemperer and Bartok. His US debut in 1912 was followed by tours across South America and Australia. Twenty-eight years later, he returned to New York, a period which is also impressively documented in this CD collection. As an interesting "encore" for collectors, there are also examples of rolls that Backhaus had recorded in the 1920s for use in player pianos, which were often preferred to the gramophone back then because of their superior sound quality.

CD1
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
Klavierkonzert Nr. 1, C-Dur, op. 15
I. I Allegro con brio 13‘42
2. II Largo 9‘18
3. III Rondo: Allegro scherzando 8‘50
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19
Klavierkonzert Nr. 2, B-Dur, op. 19
4. I Allegro con brio 13‘29
5. II Adagio 7‘46
6. III Rondo: Molto allegro 6‘18
Wilhelm Backhaus
Wiener Philharmoniker
Dirigent /conductor Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt
aufgenommen / recorded 1-3: 1958, 4-6: 1959
Total Time 59‘30
CD2
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
Klavierkonzert Nr. 3, c-Moll, op. 37
I. I Allegro con brio 16‘42
2. II Largo 8‘43
3. III Rondo: Allegro 9‘25
Piano Concerto No 4 in G major, Op. 58
Klavierkonzert Nr. 4, G-Dur, op. 58
BONUS
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Klavierkonzert Nr. 4, G-Dur, op. 58
4. I Allegro moderato 17‘44
5. II Andante con moto 4‘46
6. III Rondo: Vivace 10‘19
Wilhelm Backhaus
Wiener Philharmoniker
Dirigent /conductor Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt
aufgenommen / recorded 1-6: 1958
Total Time 67‘44
CD3
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73
Klavierkonzert Nr. 5, Es-Dur, op. 73
I. I Allegro 19‘40
2. II Adagio un poco mosso 7‘19
3. III Rondo: Allegro 10‘29
Wilhelm Backhaus
Wiener Philharmoniker
Dirigent /conductor Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt
aufgenommen / recorded 1-3: 1959
BONUS
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Klavierkonzert Nr. 4, G-Dur, op. 58
4. I Allegro moderato 17‘45
5. II Andante con moto 4‘47
6. III Rondo: Vivace 10‘23
Wilhelm Backhaus
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Dirigent /conductor Guido Cantelli
aufgenommen / recorded 4-6: 1956, Live
Total Time 70‘27
CD4
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Piano Sonata No. 6 in F major, Op. 10 No. 2
Klaviersonate Nr. 6, F-Dur, op. 10 Nr. 2
I. I Allegro 4‘37
2. II Allegretto 3‘37
3. III Presto 2‘36
aufgenommen / recorded 1-3: 1959, WDR, Beethovenhaus, Bonn, Live
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, “Pathétique”
Klaviersonate Nr. 8, c-Moll, op. 13
4. I Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio 6‘14
5. II Adagio cantabile 4‘47
6. III Rondo: Allegro 4‘24
aufgenommen / recorded 4-6: 1958
BONUS
Piano Sonate No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, “Pathétique”
Klaviersonate Nr. 8, c-Moll, op. 13
7. I Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio 6‘16
8. II Andante cantabile 4‘52
9. III Rondo : Allegro 4‘35
aufgenommen / recorded 7-9: 1954, Carnegie Hall, Live
Total Time 42‘06

CD5
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10 No. 1
Klaviersonate Nr. 5, c-Moll, op. 10 Nr. 1
I. I Allegro molto e con brio 4‘13
2. II Adagio molto 6‘06
3. III Finale: Prestissimo 3‘39
aufgenommen / recorded 1-3: 1956, Carnegie Hall, Live
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2, “Moonlight”
Klaviersonate Nr. 14, cis-Moll, op. 27 Nr. 2, „Mondscheinsonate“
4. I Adagio sostenuto 5‘42
5. II Allegretto & Trio 2‘19
6. III Presto 7‘22
aufgenommen / recorded 4-6: 1958
Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28, “Pastorale”
Klaviersonate Nr. 15, D-Dur, op. 28
7. I Allegro 6‘44
8. II Andante 6‘27
9. III Scherzo & Trio: Allegro vivace 1‘53
10. IV Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo. Più allegro quasi presto 4‘11
aufgenommen / recorded 7-10: 1961
Total Time 48‘43
CD6
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 33, “Waldstein”
Klaviersonate Nr. 21, C-Dur, op. 33, „Waldstein-Sonate“
I. I Allegro con brio 8‘50
2. II Introduzione: Adagio molto 3‘12
3. III Rondo: Allegretto moderato. Prestissimo 9‘36
aufgenommen / recorded 1-3: 1958
Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor , Op. 31 No. 2, “Tempest”
Klaviersonate Nr. 17, d-Moll, op. 31 Nr. 2, „Sturmsonate“
4. I Largo. Allegro 8‘09
5. II Adagio 6‘12
6. III Allegretto 6‘22
aufgenommen / recorded 4-6: 1954, Carnegie Hall, Live
Total Time 42‘27
CD7
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, op. 57, ”Appassionata”
Klaviersonate Nr. 23, f-Moll, op. 57
I. I Allegro assai 9‘35
2. II Andante con moto 5‘56
3. III Allegro ma non troppo. Presto 5‘25
aufgenommen / recorded 1-3: 1958
Piano Sonata No. 25 in G major, Op. 79 (Sonatine)
Klaviersonate Nr. 25, G-Dur,op.79
4. I Presto alla tedesca 4‘15
5. II Andante 2‘55
6. III Vivace 1‘49
Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat major, Op. 81A, “Les Adieux”
Klaviersonate Nr. 26, Es-Dur, op. 81A, „Das Lebewohl“
7. I The farewell / Das Lebewohl: Adagio. Allegro 6‘43
8. II Absence / Abwesenheit: Andante espressivo 3‘05
9. III The return / Das Wiedersehen: Vivacissimamente. 6‘08
Poco andante
aufgenommen / recorded 4-9: 1954, Carnegie Hall, Live
Total Time 46‘02
CD8
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106
Große Sonate für Hammer-Klavier, B-Dur, op. 106
I. I Allegro 12‘06
2. II Scherzo: assai vivace. Presto. Tempo I 2‘43
3. III Adagio sostenuto 15‘29
4. IV Largo. Allegro. Allegro risoluto 11‘11
aufgenommen / recorded 1-4: 1959, WDR, Beethovenhaus, Bonn, Live
Total Time 41‘30

CD9
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
Klaviersonate Nr. 30, E-Dur, op. 109
I. I Vivace, ma non troppo. Adagio espressivo 5‘15
2. II Prestissimo 7‘55
3. III Andante, molto cantabile ed espressivo 4‘29
Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung
Var. 1: Molto espressivo / Var. 2: Leggiermente / Var.3: Allegro vivace / Var. 4: Etwas
langsamer als das Thema / Var.5: Allegro, ma non troppo / Var. 6: Tempo I del tema
Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111
Klaviersonate Nr. 32, c-Moll, op. 111
4. I Maestoso. Allegro con brio ed appassionato 8‘15
5. II Arietta: Adagio molto semplice e cantabile 13‘06
aufgenommen / recorded 1-5: 1961
BONUS
7. Piano Sonata No. 8 (First movement) 6‘42
Klaviersonate Nr. 8 (Erster Satz)
aufgenommen / recorded 1926 from a Roll of Reproducing Piano
von einer Rolle für Reproduktionsklavier
Total Time 45‘50
CD10
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Variations on a Waltz of Diabelli, Op. 120
Variationen über einen Walzer von Diabelli, op. 120
I. Thema: Vivace 0‘47
2. Alla marcia, maestoso 1‘35
3. Poco allegro 0‘35
4. Poco allegro 1‘04
5. Un poco più vivace 0‘52
6. Allegro vivace 0‘50
7. Allegro ma non troppo e serioso 1‘28
8. Un poco più allegro 0‘57
9. Poco vivace 0‘57
10. Allegro pesante e risoluto 1‘26
11. Presto 0‘36
12. Allegretto 0‘46
13. Un poco più moto 0‘38
14. Vivace 0‘54
15. Grave e maestoso 2‘11
16. Presto scherzando 0‘38
17. Allegro 0‘56
18. Allegro 0‘50
19. Poco moderato 1‘12
20. Presto 0‘52
21. Andante 1‘29
22. Allegro con brio 1‘04
23. Allegro molto - alla „Notte e giorno faticar“ di Mozart 0‘39
24. Allegro assai 0‘48
25. Fughetta: Andante 2‘54
26. Allegro 0‘38
27. Allegretto 0‘57
28. Vivace 0‘58
29. Allegro 1‘01
30. Adagio ma non troppo 0‘59
31. Andante sempre cantabile 1‘42
32. Largo, molto espressivo 4‘08
33. Fuga: Allegro 2‘44
34. Tempo di minuetto moderato grazioso e dolce 3‘44
aufgenommen / recorded 1954
BONUS
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
35. Variations on a Theme 7‘59
of Paganini, op. 35, Variationen über ein Thema von Paganini, op. 35
(aus Heft 1 Nr. 1, 3, 7, 12, 13 aus Heft 2 Nr. 3-8, 10, 11, 14)
aufgenommen / recorded 1924
from a Roll of Reproducing Piano
von einer Rolle für Reproduktionsklavier
Total Time 51‘56