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Igor Levit
To the Artist Igor Levit
Igor Levit - Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas

Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas

Artists
Igor Levit

Release Date: 09/13/2019

Igor Levit’s work on the 32 Beethoven Piano Sonatas has been the most important endeavour of the past 15 years of his life. This autumn will see his new studio recording of the complete sonata cycle released on Sony Classical on September 13 and represents the recorded testament to almost half his life spent in the study and performance of these sonatas. The release of this momentous 9-album cycle is one of the most eagerly awaited recordings for the 250-year Beethoven anniversary. 

No other composer has had such an important influence on Igor Levit’s life as that of Ludwig van Beethoven. He admits that this composer’s music is around him practically every day and in almost everything he does. The profound impact of Beethoven’s music - since his first emotional point-of-no-return with the Missa solemnis  at age 13, followed by his first dedicated work on Sonata op. 2/2–has subsequently shaped Levit’s approach to almost all music, whether he is playing Liszt, Shostakovich or Rzewski.    

Naturally Beethoven features prominently in Levit’s upcoming calendar – the summit being his performances over the next two seasons of the complete sonata cycle in the Lucerne Festival (launching in August), Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie (launching in September) and Stockholm’s Konserthuset (launching in February 2020). Levit will also present all-sonata recitals, amongst others, at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Washington’s Kennedy Center, Chicago Symphony Center and San Francisco Symphony’s Davies Hall in May 2020.

“One of the essential artists of our time” – The New York Times 

“Igor Levit guides the public to the heart of Beethoven” – Le Figaro 

“These two hands are a complete orchestra! The piano in an exceptional state: Igor Levit offers a shining moment of Beethoven to the Salzburg Festival. What a fantastic evening!”  – Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 

Tracklisting

All DiscsDisc 1Disc 2Disc 3Disc 4Disc 5Disc 6Disc 7Disc 8Disc 9

Disc 1

  1. Ludwig van Beethoven

    1. Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1
    2. Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1 / I. Allegro
    3. Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1 / II. Adagio
    4. Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1 / III. Menuetto. Allegretto
    5. Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1 / IV. Prestissimo
    1. Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 2, No. 2
    2. Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 2, No. 2 / I. Allegro vivace
    3. Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 2, No. 2 / II. Largo appassionato
    4. Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 2, No. 2 / III. Scherzo. Allegretto
    5. Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 2, No. 2 / IV. Rondo. Grazioso
    1. Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3
    2. Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3 / I. Allegro con brio
    3. Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3 / II. Adagio
    4. Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3 / III. Scherzo. Allegro
    5. Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3 / IV. Allegro assai

Disc 2

  1. Ludwig van Beethoven

    1. Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-Flat Major, Op. 7
    2. Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-Flat Major, Op. 7 / I. Allegro molto e con brio
    3. Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-Flat Major, Op. 7 / II. Largo, con gran espressione
    4. Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-Flat Major, Op. 7 / III. Allegro
    5. Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-Flat Major, Op. 7 / IV. Rondo. Poco allegretto e grazioso
    1. Piano Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 1
    2. Piano Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 1 / I. Allegro molto e con brio
    3. Piano Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 1 / II. Adagio molto
    4. Piano Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 1 / III. Finale. Prestissimo
    1. Piano Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10, No. 2
    2. Piano Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10, No. 2 / I. Allegro
    3. Piano Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10, No. 2 / II. Allegretto
    4. Piano Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10, No. 2 / III. Presto
    1. Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3
    2. Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3 / I. Presto
    3. Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3 / II. Largo e mesto
    4. Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3 / III. Menuetto. Allegro
    5. Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3 / IV. Rondo. Allegro

Disc 3

  1. Ludwig van Beethoven

    1. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13, "Pathétique"
    2. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13, "Pathétique" / I. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio
    3. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13, "Pathétique" / II. Adagio cantabile
    4. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13, "Pathétique" / III. Rondo. Allegro
    1. Piano Sonata No. 9 in E Major, Op. 14, No. 1
    2. Piano Sonata No. 9 in E Major, Op. 14, No. 1 / I. Allegro
    3. Piano Sonata No. 9 in E Major, Op. 14, No. 1 / II. Allegretto
    4. Piano Sonata No. 9 in E Major, Op. 14, No. 1 / III. Rondo. Allegro comodo
    1. Piano Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 14, No. 2
    2. Piano Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 14, No. 2 / I. Allegro
    3. Piano Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 14, No. 2 / II. Andante
    4. Piano Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 14, No. 2 / III. Scherzo. Allegro assai
    1. Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22
    2. Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22 / I. Allegro con brio
    3. Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22 / II. Adagio con molto espressione
    4. Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22 / III. Menuetto
    5. Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22 / IV. Rondo. Allegretto

Disc 4

  1. Ludwig van Beethoven

    1. Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26
    2. Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26 / I. Andante con variazioni
    3. Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26 / II. Scherzo. Allegro molto
    4. Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26 / III. Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un eroe
    5. Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26 / IV. Allegro
    1. Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1, "Quasi una fantasia"
    2. Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1, "Quasi una fantasia" / I. Andante - Allegro
    3. Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1, "Quasi una fantasia" / II. Allegro molto e vivace
    4. Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1, "Quasi una fantasia" / III. Adagio con espressione
    5. Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1, "Quasi una fantasia" / IV. Allegro vivace
    1. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2, "Moonlight"
    2. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2, "Moonlight" / I. Adagio sostenuto
    3. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2, "Moonlight" / II. Allegretto
    4. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2, "Moonlight" / III. Presto agitato
    1. Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28, "Pastorale"
    2. Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28, "Pastorale" / I. Allegro
    3. Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28, "Pastorale" / II. Andante
    4. Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28, "Pastorale" / III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
    5. Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28, "Pastorale" / IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo

Disc 5

  1. Ludwig van Beethoven

    1. Piano Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31, No. 1
    2. Piano Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31, No. 1 / I. Allegro vivace
    3. Piano Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31, No. 1 / II. Adagio grazioso
    4. Piano Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31, No. 1 / III. Rondo. Allegretto
    1. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2, "Tempest"
    2. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2, "Tempest" / I. Largo - Allegro
    3. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2, "Tempest" / II. Adagio
    4. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2, "Tempest" / III. Allegretto
    1. Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3, "The Hunt"
    2. Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3, "The Hunt" / I. Allegro
    3. Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3, "The Hunt" / II. Scherzo. Allegretto vivace
    4. Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3, "The Hunt" / III. Menuetto. Moderato e grazioso
    5. Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3, "The Hunt" / IV. Presto con fuoco

Disc 6

  1. Ludwig van Beethoven

    1. Piano Sonata No. 19 in G Minor, Op. 49, No. 1
    2. Piano Sonata No. 19 in G Minor, Op. 49, No. 1 / I. Andante
    3. Piano Sonata No. 19 in G Minor, Op. 49, No. 1 / II. Rondo. Allegro
    1. Piano Sonata No. 20 in G Major, Op. 49, No. 2
    2. Piano Sonata No. 20 in G Major, Op. 49, No. 2 / I. Allegro, ma non troppo
    3. Piano Sonata No. 20 in G Major, Op. 49, No. 2 / II. Tempo di Menuetto
    1. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53, "Waldstein"
    2. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53, "Waldstein" / I. Allegro con brio
    3. II. Introduzione. Adagio molto
    4. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53, "Waldstein" / III. Rondo. Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo
    1. Piano Sonata No. 22 in F Major, Op. 54
    2. Piano Sonata No. 22 in F Major, Op. 54 / I. In Tempo d'un Menuetto
    3. Piano Sonata No. 22 in F Major, Op. 54 / II. Allegretto - Più allegro
    1. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, "Appassionata"
    2. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, "Appassionata" / I. Allegro assai
    3. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, "Appassionata" / II. Andante con moto
    4. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, "Appassionata" / III. Allegro ma non troppo - Presto

Disc 7

  1. Ludwig van Beethoven

    1. Piano Sonata No. 24 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 78, "À Thérèse"
    2. Piano Sonata No. 24 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 78, "À Thérèse" / I. Adagio cantabile - Allegro ma non troppo
    3. Piano Sonata No. 24 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 78, "À Thérèse" / II. Allegro vivace
    1. Piano Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op. 79
    2. Piano Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op. 79 / I. Presto alla tedesca
    3. Piano Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op. 79 / II. Andante
    4. Piano Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op. 79 / III. Vivace
    1. Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-Flat Major, Op. 81a, "Les Adieux"
    2. Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-Flat Major, Op. 81a, "Les Adieux" / I. Das Lebewohl. Adagio - Allegro
    3. Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-Flat Major, Op. 81a, "Les Adieux" / II. Abwesendheit. Andante espressivo
    4. Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-Flat Major, Op. 81a, "Les Adieux" / III. Das Wiedersehn. Vivacissimamente
    1. Piano Sonata No. 27 in E Minor, Op. 90
    2. Piano Sonata No. 27 in E Minor, Op. 90 / I. Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck
    3. Piano Sonata No. 27 in E Minor, Op. 90 / II. Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorgetragen

Disc 8

  1. Ludwig van Beethoven

    1. Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101
    2. I. Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung
    3. II. Lebhaft. Marschmäßig
    4. III. Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll
    5. IV. Geschwind, doch nicht zu sehr, und mit Entschlossenheit
    1. Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-Flat Major, Op. 106 "Hammerklavier"
    2. I. Allegro
    3. II. Scherzo. Assai vivace
    4. III. Adagio sostenuto. Appassionato e con molto sentimento
    5. IV. Largo - Allegro risoluto

Disc 9

  1. Ludwig van Beethoven

    1. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109
    2. I. Vivace ma non troppo
    3. II. Prestissimo
    4. III. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung. Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo
    1. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110
    2. I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
    3. II. Allegro molto
    4. III. Adagio ma non troppo - Fuga. Allegro ma non troppo
    1. Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111
    2. I. Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato
    3. II. Arietta. Adagio molto semplice e cantabile

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