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Track Listings

Disc: 1

1	Allegro - Piano Sonata No.1 in F minor, Op.2 No.1
2	Adagio
3	Menuetto (Allegretto)
4	Prestissimo
5	Piano Sonata No.2 in a, Op.2 No.2
6	1. Allegro Vivace
7	2. Largo Appassionato
8	3. Scherzo (Allegretto)
9	4. Rondo (Grazioso)
10	1. Allegro Con Brio
11	Piano Sonata No.3 in C, Op.2 No.3 - 1. Allegro Con Brio
12	2. Adagio
13	3. Scherzo (Allegro)
14	4. Allegro Assai

Disc: 2

1	Piano Sonata No.4 in E Flat, Op.7 - 1. Allegro Molto E Con Brio ((CD 2 ))
2	Largo, Con Gran Espressione
3	Allegro
4	Rondo (Poco Allegretto E Grazioso)
5	Piano Sonata No.9 in E, Op.14 No.1
6	1. Allegro
7	2. Allegretto
8	3. Rondo (Allegro Comodo)
9	Piano Sonata No.10 in G, Op.14 No.2
10	1. Allegro
11	2. Andante
12	3. Scherzo (Allegro Assai)
13	Piano Sonata No.11 in B Flat, Op.22
14	1. Allegro Con Brio
15	2. Adagio Con Molto Espressione
16	3. Menuetto
17	4. Rondo (Allegretto)

Disc: 3

1	Allegro Molto E Con Brio Piano Sonata No.5 in C minor, Op. 10 No.1 ((CD3))
2	Adagio Molto
3	Finale (Prestissimo)
4	Piano Sonata No.6 in F, Op.10 No.2
5	1. Allegro
6	2. Allegretto
7	3. Presto
8	Piano Sonata No.7 in D, Op.10 No.3
9	1. Presto
10	2. Largo E Mesto
11	3. Menuetto (Allegro)
12	4. Rondo (Allegro)
13	Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, Op.13 -"Pathétique"
14	1. Grave - Allegro Di Molto E Con Brio
15	2. Adagio Cantabile
16	3. Rondo (Allegro)

Disc: 4

1	Andante Con Variazioni Piano Sonata No.12 in a Flat, Op.26 ((CD4))
2	Scherzo (Allegro Molto)
3	Marcia Funebre Sulla Morte D'un Eroe
4	Allegro
5	Piano Sonata No.13 in E Flat, Op.27 No.1
6	1. Andante - Allegro - Tempo I
7	2. Allegro Molto E Vivace
8	3. Adagio Con Espressione
9	4. Allegro Vivace - Tempo I - Presto
10	Piano Sonata No.14 in C Sharp minor, Op.27 No.2 -"Moonlight"
11	1. Adagio Sostenuto
12	2. Allegretto
13	3. Presto Agitato
14	Piano Sonata No.15 in D, Op.28 -"Pastorale"
15	1. Allegro
16	2. Andante
17	3. Scherzo. Allegro Vivace
18	4. Rondo. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
19	Piano Sonata No.16 in G, Op.31 No.1
20	1. Allegro Vivace
21	2. Adagio Grazioso
22	3. Rondo (Allegretto)

Disc: 5

1	Largo - Allegro Piano Sonata No.17 in D minor, Op.31 No.2 -"Tempest" ((CD5))
2	Adagio
3	Allegretto
4	Piano Sonata No.18 in E Flat, Op.31 No.3 -"The Hunt"
5	1. Allegro
6	2. Scherzo (Allegretto Vivace)
7	3. Menuetto (Moderato E Grazioso)
8	4. Presto Con Fuoco
9	Piano Sonata No.19 in G minor, Op.49 No.1
10	1. Andante
11	2. Rondo (Allegro)
12	Piano Sonata No.20 in G, Op.49 No.2
13	1. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
14	2. Tempo Di Menuetto

Disc: 6

1	Piano Sonata No.21 in C, Op.53 -"Waldstein" ((CD 6))
2	1. Allegro Con Brio
3	2. Introduzione (Adagio Molto)
4	3. Rondo (Allegretto Moderato - Prestissimo)
5	Piano Sonata No.22 in F, Op.54
6	1. in Tempo D'un Menuetto
7	2. Allegretto
8	Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor, Op.57 -"Appassionata" Op. 57; Piano Sonata No.24 in F Sharp
9	1. Allegro Assai
10	2. Andante Con Moto
11	3. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
12	Piano Sonata No.24 in F Sharp, Op.78 "For Therese"
13	1. Adagio Cantabile - Allegro Ma Non Troppo
14	2. Allegro Vivace
15	Piano Sonata No.25 in G, Op.79
16	1. Presto Alla Tedesca
17	2. Andante
18	3. Vivace

Disc: 7

1	Piano Sonata No.26 in E Flat, Op.81A -"Les Adieux" ((CD7))
2	1. Das Lebewohl (Adagio - Allegro)
3	2. Abwesenheit (Andante Espressivo)
4	3. Das Wiedersehen (Vivacissimamente)
5	Piano Sonata No.27 in E minor, Op.90
6	1. Mit Lebhaftigkeit Und Durchaus Mit Empfindung Und Ausdruck
7	2. Nicht Zu Geschwind Und Sehr Singbar Vorgetragen
8	Piano Sonata No.29 in B Flat, Op.106 -"Hammerklavier"
9	1. Allegro
10	2. Scherzo (Assai Vivace - Presto - Prestissimo - Tempo I)
11	3. Adagio Sostenuto
12	4. Largo - Allegro Risoluto

Disc: 8

1	Piano Sonata No.28 in a, Op.101 ((CD 8))
2	1. Etwas Lebhaft Und Mit Der Innigsten Empfindung (Allegretto Ma Non Troppo)
3	2. Lebhaft, Marschmäßig (Vivace Alla Marcia)
4	3. Langsam Und Sehnsuchtsvoll (Adagio Ma Non Troppo, Con Affetto)
5	4. Geschwind, Doch Nicht Zu Sehr Und Mit Entschlossenheit (Allegro)
6	Piano Sonata No.30 in E Major, Op.109
7	1. Vivace, Ma Non Troppo - Adagio Espressivo - Tempo I
8	2. Prestissimo
9	3. Gesangvoll, Mit Innigster Empfindung (Andante Molto Cantabile Ed Espressivo)
10	Piano Sonata No.31 in a Flat Major, Op.110
11	1. Moderato Cantabile Molto Espressivo
12	2. Allegro Molto
13	3. Adagio Ma Non Troppo - Fuga (Allegro Ma Non Troppo)
14	Piano Sonata No.32 in C minor, Op.111
15	1. Maestoso - Allegro Con Brio Ed Appassionato
16	2. Arietta (Adagio Molto Semplice E Cantabile)

Editorial Reviews

8 CDs, Capbox. Maurizio Pollini's Beethoven Sonatas cycle has reached completion after nearly 40 years. The Beethoven cycle began in June 1975 with opp. 109 and 110, and reached completion this year with the final CD, of the three sonatas op. 31 and the two of op. 49. This latter recording will appear as a single CD simultaneously with the box set. This is the first Beethoven cycle on DG since those of Barenboim and Giles in the 1980s.

Product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.47 x 5.16 x 1.1 inches; 9.1 ounces
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Deutsche Grammophon
Item model number ‏ : ‎ 16136566
Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2015
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ September 26, 2014
Label ‏ : ‎ Deutsche Grammophon
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00NOB05ZW
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 8

Best Sellers Rank: #5,680 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #5 in Classical Sonatas
- #20 in Chamber Music (CDs & Vinyl)

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4.6 out of 5

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harry Carrey

Some of the greatest Beethoven playing in recorded performances

Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2024

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As the blurb states these recordings span forty years;the performances of the last five sonatas were the same that were available in 1976-no changes there. They still hold their own surpassed only by those recorded by Kempf ,in the stereo set . If you wanted to find a ground between the two Kempf sets,(the 1951-1956 set being the most lyric and intelligent) and Giesiking's rhythmic and organizational astuteness, this is the one. The best overall set I know on cd-now that all the sonatas are available.

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D. J. Leedham

Not my favorite, but these recording yield so much

Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2015

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I find it almost impossible to review Pollini. Two months since buying this recording and I'm still working back and forth listening to all the other artists whose recordings I own and who have recorded these extraordinary sonatas. Pollini is a marvelous, technially brilliant artist and, to my ears a true musician. And sometimes his performance is breathtaking. But not always. These recordings span forty years of Pollini's career. Even though it is clear after just a couple of times listening through them all that Pollini is extraordinarily consistent over those years at least in technical brilliance of execution... nevertheless... The more I listen through them, or pick out certain individual sonatas for a compare and contrast with other recordings.. Well, it amounts to this. The couple of live performances included on these recordings are wonderful. I do not doubt that his musical intelligence was on full throttle during preparation for the studio recordings. And one value of these recordings is that in every case they bring something out of the score. So that listening to other performers before and after listening to Pollini's version, changes one's perception. Nevertheless there are Beethoven sonatas that benefit from the purity musical intelligence, but others that really need to allow the emotions and feeling in the music to breath more. I can't think of any other way to put it. Always Pollini offers us insights into the music, if we are prepared to go along with him. Sometimes these are very compelling. Other times the insights crowd out or suppress the emotional aspect that must be included in the performance to make it complete. Five stars because this is a wonderful collection that can be used profitably for reference with other great performances. - It never hurts to revisit another artist's performance, especially a favorite performance, after listening to Pollini. - Over these past couple months and for the next couple I'm incorporating listening to Pollini with Gulda, Badura - Skoda, Richter, (various) Schnabel, Arrau, and various others...

19 people found this helpful

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DiesIraeVIX

Beethoven's Piano Sonatas at their most dynamic!

Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2015

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I know all about the common criticisms that Pollini is too "cold, calculating, precise, too perfect, that he's great for modern composers, but not for Beethoven." Well, I don't buy it. Anyone who has listened to his phenomenal (and extremely critically-acclaimed) recording of Beethoven's Late piano sonatas (#28 - #32) will know just hollow those criticisms ring. It is true, Pollini does exhibit an unmatched piano virtuosity, but there is plenty of personal expression to be had. To these ears, it can be difficult to listen to other pianists after listening to Pollini's style, I've never heard such a dynamic contrasts of sounds before, it's like I can clearly hear the shape and contour of every note played. For this reason, his playing sounds dynamic, vibrant, 3-D, while a lesser pianist can sound monochromatic by comparison. The Allegri are energetic, the "Presto Agitato" of the Moonllight Sonata truly sounds like it's going to break off its hinges! The Appassionata truly sounds impassioned, just listen to to those powerful outbursts at the beginning. The Adagi and Cantabili are full of expression and warmth.

Every great pianist contributed something unique to Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas, the keywords for Pollini's contribution are "Dynamic" and "Contrast". I've never heard such dynamic playing, rich in contrasts which makes each note pop. Each note sounds absolutely vital. The contrast is already inherent in Beethoven's sonatas, Pollini only puts extra emphasis on it and makes it a strong point, thereby adding another dimension to the music that you may have not heard with another pianist.

Pollini offers a wonderful and unique addition to the already rich history of Beethoven piano sonata cycles. He stands right there with the greatest, like Gilels and Kempff (to name a couple of my other favorites).

68 people found this helpful

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Erik D. LOFQUIST

Impressive, but something's missing

Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2023

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What many others have said about Pollini rings true. He is known as a very matter-of-fact performer, presenting the score strictly as written, while not allowing his own emotions to intrude on the performance. (In fact, he has been known to say "My emotions don't matter.") But I suspect Beethoven himself might disagree with this approach. As a result, the performances often have a degree of coldness or detachment that I find disappointing. In listening to these recordings, I often find myself longing for him to do a little more in the way of voicing or rubato, especially in the earlier sonatas, but it doesn't happen. The performer's emotions definnitely DO matter; it's what breathes life into the music.

Also, many of the tempi are very fast, maybe too fast. Take the Finale of Op.33 #3, for example. Is it really possible to play "presto con fuoco" TOO fast? Yes, I really think so. Many of the charming details of this movement get lost here due to the warp-speed playing.

In general Pollini is better in the later sonatas, where emotional playing is pretty much unavoidable. The "Appassionata" and the "Hammerklavier" are standouts. His technique throughout the set is brilliant, and the recorded sound is gorgeous.

3 people found this helpful

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munchkin

One of the best product.

Reviewed in Canada on February 21, 2024

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My Hubby is always one to have to complete Beethoven's sonatas, listening to it every day.

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fabuloso

Reviewed in Spain on March 14, 2019

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Me encanta. no tenía nada de este pianista y está a la altura de los grandes.

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最高

Reviewed in Japan on February 2, 2022

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私には高い買い物でしたので迷いましたが購入してよかったです。

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S. Rossitti

At last a complete Beethoven piano sonata cycle by Maurizio Pollini

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 22, 2017

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This review is addressed to those who are already familiar with Maurizio Pollini's approach to Beethoven's piano sonatas, and may be considering either buying the box or buying the missing album(s) to complete one's collection. The recordings were done between 1975 and 2014, and as a rule every sonata was played in concerts many times over many years before the recording. Needless to say that Mr. Pollini's mastery of the piano reached a level that is technically near perfection and thus very hard to exceed.

The product: The cover shows a nice photo, but the overall presentation is of the average (poor) quality that became standard now-a-days, that is a rather fragile card box containing 8 CDs in plain card sleeves and a booklet with a list of tracks, recording dates, and a well-written but rather superficial essay by Paolo Petazzi introducing Beethoven's sonatas. The liner notes of the original album releases were made available on-line at the Deutsche Grammophon site (how long will this information be available?). All recordings have been previously released (the latest album was released almost simultaneously with this box). One recording of each sonata was included, the latest recording being chosen when more than one was available (that was the case in Sonatas # 11, #17, and #21). Sonatas #12 and #21 were presented in live recordings, and the overall sonatas in studio recordings.

What you don't get in this box: The original albums (10 CDs in 9 albums, plus a bonus CD accompanying one of the albums) include studio recordings of Sonatas #17 and # 21, a live recording of Sonata #11, and a bonus CD with live recordings of Sonatas #23 and #24 that were not included in the box. The original album with live recordings of Sonatas #11, #12, and #21 includes the music scores with synchronized playing cursor ("CD-pluscore") that is also missing (Addendum: That album was released in 1998; the "CD-pluscore" function is not supported in recent Windows versions).

Summarizing, 5 stars for the music, interpretations, and recording quality, but only 3 stars for the physical product presentation, considering its durability and lack of extra material.

15 people found this helpful

Heinrich

Gott sei Dank nicht nur die "alten" Aufnahmen

Reviewed in Germany on August 5, 2016

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Um es gleich zu sagen: Den "alten" Pollini" aus den mittleren 70ern und den bekannten Aufnahmen hätte ich mir nicht gewünscht. Die ausgewogenen und technisch in allen Belangen saubern Präsentationen haben mich zu keiner Zeit innerlich berühmt. Die verschiedenen Sonaten sind über die Jahre ehrlich gesagt eingestaubt - Studiosterilität, und mir würden andere Attribute einfallen. Unfair einem solchen Künstler gegenüber, das ist mir bewusst, aber herzlich ehrlich gemeint. An Beethoven scheiden sich halt oft die Geister. Kontrastmittel dazu waren/sind immer Richter, Gilles, ...Gulda, im wesentlichen.
Umso erfreutet war ich, dass die Gesamtaufnahme jetzt auch viele spätere Aufnahmen bietet, und beim Hören hat mich die Begeisterung gepackt, die ich für P niemals auch nur entfernt hatte. Jenseits aller Klavierlehrer-Vorgaben gespielt, mit Leidenschaft - ungebremst!, wie es scheint - verzaubert ein Beethoven, den ich so selbstbewusst von P noch nicht kannte. Wie bei seinem Freund Abbado, dessen Aufnahmen nach 2000 auch zum Besten zählen, vor allem auch bei Beethoven und in den live-aufnahmen, bricht eine Empfindungsschicht auf, die einen, - mich zumindest - fasziniert zurück lässt. Dass dazwischen auch die Musterschüler-Präsentationen für die nötige Gefühlsabkühlung sorgen, sei verziehen.
In Summe: Süchtig machend!

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Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas

Box Set, 8 CD, Import

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