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

asin: B00000AFQJ binding: Audio CD list price: $11.98 USD amazon price: $11.98

This troika of piano sonatas shows off some of Beethoven's most crystalline writing: from the impressionistic, sensual Moonlight to the somewhat mournful Appassionata to the wonderful, intricate aural shoving match of Waldstein. On the grounds of their sheer power, these three took novelist and erstwhile liner notician John Fowles by quiet storm. He writes in his notes to the CD that he's easily brought to tears, and that Beethoven "knew how to move people quasi-divinely." What happens in Ashkenazy's performance may--or may not--be divine.

asin: B000002RMM binding: Audio CD list price: $16.98 USD amazon price: $16.98

Itzhak Perlman, Lynn Harrell, and Vladimir Ashkenazy combine majesty with a splendid sense of flow in the opening movement of the Archduke Trio, and treat the variations of the third movement in the manner of late Beethoven--with an emotive power that is all the more intense for being hushed and stilled. The digital recording, dating from February 1982, is fairly close-miked and dry, but quite acceptable. --Ted Libbey

asin: B00001IVOQ binding: Audio CD list price: $11.98 USD amazon price: $11.98

Hands down, this is the recording to own of two of Beethoven's chamber music masterpieces, the Kreutzer and Spring Sonatas. It captures one of classical music's greatest duos--Vladimir Ashkenazy and Itzhak Perlman--at the height of their powers, and the results are glorious, made only better by a great digital remastering. The 1973 recording of the Kreutzer is filled with impassioned playing (particularly in the case of Perlman) and spot-on tonality. The first movement is unbelievably riveting in the duo's capable hands.

asin: B0000041P9 binding: Audio CD list price: $16.98 USD amazon price: $16.98

Itzhak Perlman and Vladimir Ashkenazy play both of these pieces with unflagging virtuosity and impressive energy, bringing symphonic grandeur and scale to their account of the Kreutzer. The fingers and bow fly, yet Perlman never loses command of his tone. Recorded in 1973 and 1974, the readings are closely miked--so closely that one can literally hear the hair on Perlman's bow. The sound is weighty but clear, with excellent presence. --Ted Libbey