Stephen Kovacevich - Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 8,14,17 & 21/Bagatelles Op. 126

Double LP

Simply one of the greatest versions of Beethoven's favorite Piano Sonatas.

"­Nobody plays this music more authoritatively and eloquently," wrote London's Sunday Times of Stephen Kovacevich in Beethoven. "He is in his element, responding wholeheartedly to the extreme physicality that Beethoven brought to music ... but the wit and delicacy of the playing are also remarkable." Kovacevich himself has spoken of his love for the "fun and virtuosity" of the composer's early sonatas, while in the often challenging later works he sees a "subtext of radiance and some sort of inherent faith in life."

LP 1

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. 6 Bagatelles, Op. 126: No. 1 in G Major, Andante con moto

5. 6 Bagatelles, Op. 126: No. 2 in G Major, Allegro

6. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 "Moonlight": I. Adagio sostenuto

7. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 "Moonlight": II. Allegretto

8. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 "Moonlight": III. Presto agitato

9. 6 Bagatelles, Op. 126: No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Andante

10. 6 Bagatelles, Op. 126: No. 4 in B Major, Presto

11. 6 Bagatelles, Op. 126: No. 5 in G Major, Quasi allegretto

LP 2

1. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 "The Tempest": I. Largo - Allegro

2. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 "The Tempest": II. Adagio

3. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 "The Tempest": III. Allegretto

4. 6 Bagatelles, Op. 126: No. 6 in E-Flat Major, Presto

5. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 "Waldstein": I. Allegro con brio

6. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 "Waldstein": II. Introduzione. Adagio molto

7. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 "Waldstein": III. Rondo. Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo

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