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

author: Steven Isserlis asin: 0571206166 binding: Paperback list price: $7.96 USD amazon price: $7.96

Why did Bach's son call him 'The Old Wig'?What part did Stravinsky's parrot play at dinner parties?How did Mozart keep his pigtails styled?What did Schumann invent to make his fingers stronger?And why did Beethoven throw his stew?This book is a unique introduction for children to the world of classical composers and their music.Famous cellist Steven Isserlis brings six of his favorite composers to life in an irresistible manner, painting hilarious biographical portraits of each of them and describing their music in lively detail. Packed with facts, dates, anecdotes and illustrations, Why Beethoven Threw the Stew is an attractive and accessible read for children (and their parents!).

asin: B0000013JB binding: Audio CD list price: $8.99 USD amazon price: $9.14 USD

Beethoven's Farewell Sonata has three movements--departure, absence, and return--that perfectly capture the emotions they express. The first movement had a powerful influence on Mahler's Ninth Symphony, which quotes it literally on several occasions. The Waldstein and Tempest Sonatas are, in many respects, quintessential Beethoven: passionate, turbulent, but always formally perfect. Jeno Jando's survey of Beethoven sonatas on Naxos has been extremely successful--much more so than several other pianists on more expensive, full-priced labels. His second volume isn't just a good deal for the money, it's a good deal, period. --David Hurwitz

asin: B0001RVRFE binding: Audio CD list price: $11.98 USD amazon price: $10.22 USD

The average listener will never have heard most of the music on these discs, sets of variations Beethoven composed in his piano-playing days for casual use. All but one lack opus numbers, which means Beethoven didn't take them very seriously. There are no hidden masterpieces here, at least not in Ogdon's nine selections. But the music has charm and grace, and gives dedicated Beethoven-lovers a chance to experience the composer at his most informal. Ogdon, a great fire-breathing virtuoso during his brief prime, plays this music with modesty and subtlety, never inflating the music beyond its boundaries. These previously-rare recordings (if they were ever issued at all) expand our understanding of a great, tragic pianist, brought down at the height of his career by mental illness. The Gilels performances, of somewhat better-known music, are rescued from their original use as fillers on concerto LPs. Gilels plays the almost famous 32 Variations in C Minor with wonderful drama, and captures the humor in the "Turkish March" Variations. With EMI's excellently remastered sound and super-bargain price, this set is well worth acquiring for anyone interested in the music. --Leslie Gerber

asin: B000002S29 binding: Audio CD list price: $85.98 USD amazon price: $85.98 USD

Dating from 1932-35, this was the first complete cycle of Beethoven's piano sonatas ever recorded. It has remained available almost continuously since it was first issued, a testimonial to the staying power of these legendary performances. Other pianists may have approached Beethoven with more secure technique, and there are certainly other conceptions of this music that deserve our attention. But the intellectual comprehension and--especially!--the intense emotional projection of Artur Schnabel's performances will remain treasures as long as listeners love Beethoven's music. Competing editions of these recordings on other labels generally cost more and don't improve on EMI's transfers. Treat yourself to this set, ignore some technical struggles in the late sonatas, and you're in for a great voyage of Beethoven discovery. --Leslie Gerber

asin: B00005R5H9 binding: DVD list price: $24.99 USD amazon price: $24.99

Claudio Abbado conducts the Berlin Philharmonic in an evening of Beethoven. The program opens with soloist Mikhail Pletnev's performance of "Concerto No. 2 for Piano" and continues with Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony." Recorded during the Philharmonic's tenth European Concert, this live performance features guest artists from around the globe, including Karita Mattila, Violeta Urmana, Thomas Moser and Eike-Wilm Schulte.