Maurizio Pollini - Beethoven: The Last Three Sonatas, Opp. 109-111 (2020) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

On the occasion of Ludwig van Beethoven's 250th Anniversary year one of the greatest pianist of our time, Maurizio Pollini, returns to the miracle and enigma of Beethoven's Last Sonatas: 42 years after the first recording of these masterpieces under studio conditions and with the fantastic acoustics of the Herkulessaal at the Residence in Munich, Maurizio Pollini came back to the very same place for this new and unique project.

Having spent all his life, almost 60 years on stage, with Beethoven, allowing over four decades to record in studio to the highest pianistic, artistic and technical level all of Beethoven's 32 Sonatas, it was his desire to record Beethoven's pianistic last will once more and this time in concert. With the emotional support of his loyal audience and allowing cameras to capture the performance for one of the rare audio-visual releases that exist."After playing these works many, many times over the last forty years, I have always discovered new riches in every detail.

In these masterpieces we see Beethoven moving away from conventional form - in addition to the sonata form, variation and fugue play a significant, even decisive role, and we see completely free episodes that seem like direct translations of the composer's subjective feeling", explains Maurizio Pollini and is convinced: "Music is a higher revelation than any wisdom or philosophy”.

Tracklist:
1. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109 : 1. Vivace, ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo (3:20)
2. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109 : 2. Prestissimo (2:15)
3. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109 : 3a. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung (Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo) (1:50)
4. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109 : 3b. Variation I: Molto espressivo (1:35)
5. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109 : 3c. Variation II: Leggiermente (1:27)
6. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109 : 3d. Variation III: Allegro vivace (0:25)
7. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109 : 3e. Variation IV: Etwas langsamer als das Thema (2:08)
8. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109 : 3f. Variation V: Allegro, ma non troppo (0:50)
9. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109 : 3g. Variation VI: Tempo I del tema (2:55)
10. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110 : 1. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo (5:28)
11. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110 : 2. Allegro molto (1:53)
12. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110 : 3a. Adagio ma non troppo (3:11)
13. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110 : 3b. Fuga (Allegro ma non troppo) (6:05)
14. Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111 : 1. Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato (7:40)
15. Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111 : 2a. Arietta. Adagio molto semplice e cantabile (2:14)
16. Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111 : 2b. Variation I (1:49)
17. Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111 : 2c. Variation II (1:48)
18. Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111 : 2d. Variation III (1:50)
19. Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111 : 2e. Variation IV (4:17)
20. Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111 : 2f. Variation V (3:10)