Beethoven Piano Your resource for the piano music of Ludwig van Beethoven

asin: B000006O34 binding: Audio CD list price: $33.98 USD amazon price: $33.98 USD

Much of the repertoire here is new to Richter's ever-growing discography, notably 53 minutes worth of transcendent Liszt Années de Pelerinage excerpts, and a haunting Ravel Le Gibet. A live Beethoven Pathetique sonata proves more individual and arresting than Richter's excellent studio recording, as does this 1954 Weber 3rd Sonata to the better- recorded 1966 Philips version. Richter fans, however, will truly be floored by a whirling Ravel Alborado del gracioso and Rachmaninoff's Études- tableaux in E-flat, played better than humanly possible. Don't pass this set up! --Jed Distler

asin: B000003D1Q binding: Audio CD list price: $17.98 USD amazon price: $26.26 USD

These 26 "nuggets of momentary inspiration," written at various times from Beethoven's teenage years to his later maturity, show incredible variety of mood, inventiveness, and technical complexity. John O'Conor, one of the world's premier Beethoven interpreters, takes us on a thoroughly splendid adventure, revealing these pieces as far more than the "trifles" that some pianists mistake them for. --David Vernier

asin: B0000V86PA binding: Audio CD list price: $64.99 USD amazon price: $64.99

Artur Schnabel Complete Piano Sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven 8CD set

asin: B0000029CU binding: Audio CD list price: $7.99 USD amazon price: $10.08 USD

Surprisingly, this seems to be the only coupling of the three most popular Clarinet Trios in the repertoire. The all-star ensemble, all musicians who have frequently performed together, turns out extremely fine performances of all three works. If the Brahms seems like the most thoroughly understood, in its combination of warmth and impulse, the other two works are nearly as fine. Very good sound, resonant and very well balanced, completes a total winner of a disc. --Leslie Gerber