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

asin: B00008WQAH binding: Audio CD list price: $36.97 USD amazon price: $36.97 USD

10CD box set.

asin: B000006NKV binding: Audio CD list price: $16.98 USD amazon price: $16.98

Vladimir Feltsman has definite ideas about the Hammerklavier and the ability to carry them out, not something we can take for granted. He plays the first movement with emphasis on rhetoric, occasionally sacrificing forward motion, but certainly making his points. There is no sacrifice of motion in the horrendously difficult finale, though, where the pianist keeps the music going with great power and impressive clarity. Only the slow movement requires the degree of eloquence that we hear throughout No. 28, a treasure of a performance. This is some very impressive Beethoven playing, very well recorded. --Leslie Gerber

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