Alfred Brendel, The Legendary Mozart & Beethoven Recordings - CD

ENGLISH

<br><br>Until his retirement in 2009, Alfred Brendel was renowned the world over for his mastery of the Classical repertoire that pushed forwards the boundaries of the piano at the turn of the 18th century. Here are his early recordings of these subtle and dramatic concertos and sonatas, all stereo and all as fresh and dynamic in impact as when they were recorded over 50 years ago.<br /> <br /> Alfred Brendel’s early recordings for Vanguard may long have been scorned by the pianist himself as he sought ever to refine in particular his mastery of the Classical repertoire, but they have stood the test of time. Brendel’s way with Beethoven back then was perhaps more eruptive, his Mozart less suave, and in the concertos he was accompanied by stalwarts of the music scene in postwar Vienna. <br /> <br /> This set includes Beethoven’s complete sonatas and concertos as well as the Choral Fantasy, various bagatelles and many of the more obscure variation sets as well as a splendid early traversal of the Diabelli variations. Eight Mozart concerto recordings include his favourite ‘Jeunehomme’ K271, which he returned to many times during the course of his career, including his very last concert and recording; smaller Mozart works in size rather than expressive content include the masterly quintet for piano and winds, the C minor Fantasy and endlessly consoling A minor Rondo.<br /> <br /> Other information:<br /> - The greatest and most popular works of Mozart and Beethoven, performed by Alfred Brendel, one of the best pianists of all time.<br /> - Besides these two great composers, Brendel also plays Haydn’s Piano Concerto in D on this release.<br /> - “One sees in this pianist the extra-musical appeal of an outsider, a self-made man and an anti-star who has achieved a star status of his own.” (Bernard Holland, New York Times)<br /> - “Brendel’s way with the E flat Concerto, K449, while self-effacing at one level, is a marvel of discretion and natural joy in performance… there is an uncompromising clarity and directness and a refusal to succumb to the sort of immature posturing or pseudo-profundity beloved of other pianists over-anxious to display their credentials in Beethoven.” (Gramophone, April 2009)<br /> - Includes extensive profile of the pianist by Ates Orga.