Between 2003 and 2015, Ronald Brautigam recorded all of Beethoven’s music for solo piano – a huge undertaking resulting in a grand total of 15 highly acclaimed albums. Choosing to perform the works on the fortepiano, Brautigam began with a sonata cycle which caused one reviewer to talk of a challenge to ‘the very notion of playing this music on modern instruments, a stylistic paradigm shift.’ In 2010, after nine albums of sonatas, he went on to record the composer’s variations, bagatelles and other piano pieces – a staggering array of works ranging from a Bagatelle lasting 11 seconds to the monumental Diabelli Variations, and from a charming Rondo in C major composed by a 13-year old Beethoven, to what is often referred to as the composer's ‘Last Musical Thought’, an Andante maestoso dated 1826. Brautigam’s sonata recordings were released in a box set in 2014, and they are now followed by this 6-album set of the remaining works for solo piano, in the original hybrid format, and with full documentation in the form of the original booklets. Composed over the course of more than 40 years, the music is performed on three different instruments, all by the master builder Paul McNulty, demonstrating the rapid development that the fortepiano underwent during Beethoven’s lifetime.

REVIEWS:

This is a wonderful set, in which Ronald Brautigam excels in his conclusion to his survey of the complete solo piano music of Beethoven. I appreciate that some people do not like the sound of the fortepiano, but the instruments chosen for this set and edition as a whole, show the breadth of sound that was available at the time, and some people will be surprised by just how full a sound it is. Brautigam’s choice of tempos is well-measured and thoughtful, and his playing is nuanced throughout, resulting in this set being one that I have found difficult to take off my CD player. The performances certainly mark Brautigam out as a leading interpreter of Beethoven’s music regardless of the style and type of piano used.

– MusicWeb International

Brautigam’s fortepiano survey is magnificent, comprising four full discs of variations (including Eroica and Diabelli), the complete bagatelles, rondos and other miscellaneous pieces. Disc 1 begins with a charming rendition of the Op 33 set followed by a tranche of pieces dating mainly from the 1790s; the late sets Opp 119 and 126 are delivered with a sense of simplicity that can only come from depth of knowledge.

– International Piano

On Vol. 13 of Beethoven's Complete Works for Solo Piano on BIS, pianist Ronald Brautigam offers a disc of rondos and piano pieces, including a Rondo in C by the 13-year old Beethoven, a revised version of ‘Für Elise’, the ever-popular Rondo ‘The Rage Over a Lost Penny’ and the composer's ‘Last Musical Thought’, an Andante in C from 1826. +Together with this generally lighter fare are some weightier works such as the Andante favori and the Fantasia Op.77.

Import Hybrid-SACD pressing.

Biret grasps the size of Beethoven' style. The polyphony is laid out in a relaxed way with little indulgence in point making. She keeps the big line and yet is thankfully sparing in her use of fortissimos. The piano tone is sumptuous.

Biret grasps the size of Beethoven' style. The polyphony is laid out in a relaxed way with little indulgence in point making. She keeps the big line and yet is thankfully sparing in her use of fortissimos. The piano tone is sumptuous.

From the outset of the 1st Symphony one feels that Idil Biret grasps the size of Beethoven' style. The polyphony is laid out in a relaxed way with little indulgence in point-making.

Biret grasps the size of Beethoven' style. The polyphony is laid out in a relaxed way with little indulgence in point making. She keeps the big line and yet is thankfully sparing in her use of fortissimos. The piano tone is sumptuous.

Classical Music

Turkish pianist Idil Biret' series of Beethoven Sonatas is emerging as a major statement in the field, entirely different in emphasis from that of AndrAs Schiff and the other cycles that have appeared in recent years.

Classical Music

The Turkish pianist Idil Biret was one of the greatest child prodigies of the 20th century. Her recital at the Boston Conservatory demonstrated that she is no less prodigious today. She played a long and demanding program with the power, concentration. 747313127177 NXS8571271.2 14507984 .00 14.99 .21 NAXOS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 06/30/2009 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/a/500/2/8/2/5/1525282.jpg 4 1 N FAURE / RAVEL / HERSANT / MOZART / TRIO CERES TRIO CERES 812864018226 OEHM730.2 14554551 .00 14.99 .23 OEHMS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 06/30/2009 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/b/500/6/9/2/5/1525296.jpg 93 1 N DUN / AUDI / WORKMAN / CASTLE / RICHARDSON / LUNDY MARCO POLO Charles Workman, Sarah Castle, Stephen Richardson, and Nancy Allen Lundy star in this production of the Tan Dun opera with the composer conducting the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and Cappella Amsterdam. 809478070290 BOPU7029BR 14508608 .00 42.99 .25 BBC / OPUS ARTE BLU-RAY CLASSICAL OPERA / OPERETTA / ORATORIO 06/30/2009 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/a/500/3/4/3/5/1525343.jpg 66 1 N HANDEL / MAUCH / L'ARPA FESTANTE / VOSKULIEN NINE GERMAN ARIAS 409350834264 CARU83426.2 14155383 .00 20.99 .14 CARUS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 12/09/2008 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/7/2/8/8/1448827.jpg 4 1 N PALESTRINA / DE RORE / MUSICA SECRETA SACRED HEARTS & SECRET MUSIC This CD stands on it's own merits as an exceptional program of early sacred music, transcribed for and performed by the ethereally beautiful voices of Musica Secreta and Celestial Sirens. However, like their earlier CD (dda25062) it has an added rationale, as the 'virtual sound-track' to the superb new novel 'Sacred Hearts', by Sarah Dunant. The music on the CD refers directly to many of the scenes and events in the book, allowing the reader/listener to more fully absorb themselves into the ancient world and characters so wonderfully portrayed. 809730507724 DVRT25077.2 14724916 .00 19.99 .20 DIVINE ART COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 10/13/2009 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/8/9/5/1/1561598.jpg 3 1 N DVORAK / PRIMAKOV PIANO CONCERTO IN G MINOR 090404930928 BRI9309.2 14722790 .00 18.99 .25 BRIDGE COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 10/13/2009 https://mediacdn.aent-m.com/prod-img/500/87/1345587-2553005.jpg 7 1 N DEBUSSY / SCHUBERT / VOLK SOLO PIANO WORKS 044747291321 CAV2913.2 13982690 .00 18.99 .20 CENTAUR COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 09/30/2008 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/a/500/0/0/8/1/1421800.jpg 12 1 N SIBELIUS / GRIEG / NIELSEN / SVANBERG ROMANZA 7392004410484 SWED1048.2 20383299 .00 20.99 .21 SWEDISH SOCIETY COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL ORCHESTRAL & SYMPHONIC 04/22/1992 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/a/500/1/4/1/0/1910141.jpg 3 1 N SAMUELSSON,ULF ORGELROMANTIK 7391959190724 PRCP9072.2 20566739 .00 20.99 .22 PROPRIUS RECORDS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 05/25/1993 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/7/5/1/0/1910157.jpg 6 1 N SANDEN / EGGEHORN / HOLM / SCHEIN MARIAORATORIUM 7391959190298 PRCP9029.2 07162534 .00 20.99 .24 PROPRIUS RECORDS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL OPERA / OPERETTA / ORATORIO 05/08/2000 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/9/5/1/0/1910159.jpg 5 1 N OLSSON / LUNDKVIST PRELUDE & FUGUE IN C SHARP MINOR / CANTILENA 7391959190250 PRCP9025.2 20312749 .00 20.99 .24 PROPRIUS RECORDS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 01/29/1994 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/a/500/0/7/1/0/1910170.jpg 8 1 N INTEGRALE-PIANO WORKS / VARIOUS INTEGRALE-PIANO WORKS / VARIOUS 7391959190922 NXS9092.2 23306653 .00 20.99 .25 NAXOS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL ORCHESTRAL & SYMPHONIC 02/01/1995 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/8/9/1/0/1910198.jpg 5 1 N OLSSON / SJOGREN / TORVALD TOREN SWEDISH ORGAN MUSIC 7391959191233 PRCP9123.2 20312770 .00 20.99 .25 PROPRIUS RECORDS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 07/01/1995 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/8/0/2/0/1910208.jpg 0 1 N MOZART / HUNTGEBURTH / HUNTGEBURTH / LARSSON FIVE FLUTE QUARTET 7391959190397 PRCP9039.2 20218164 .00 20.99 .24 PROPRIUS RECORDS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 02/19/1996 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/7/2/2/0/1910227.jpg 5 1 N ALBERG,SVEN OKNYTT 7392004100293 PROP293.2 18707601 .00 20.99 .23 PROPHONE COMPACT DISCS POP JAZZ 07/01/1997 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/9/4/2/0/1910249.jpg 3 1 N JOHANSSON / GUNNARSON / NUTHOUSE / STROMKVIST BASIC DESIGN 7330658000187 STEL9252.2 20278120 .00 20.99 .15 SITTEL COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 11/03/1998 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/a/500/2/1/3/0/1910312.jpg 5 1 N SODERSTROM / STOCKHOLM PHILHARMONIC ORCH FLICKAN UNDER NYMANEN 7392004411177 SWED1117.2 20383329 .00 20.99 .24 SWEDISH SOCIETY COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL ORCHESTRAL & SYMPHONIC 10/01/1999 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/7/2/3/0/1910327.jpg 6 1 N PETERSON-BERGER / OLOF HOJER PIANO WORKS 2: LAST SUMMER 7392004410873 SWED1087.2 20312930 .00 20.99 .25 SWEDISH SOCIETY COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 02/21/2001 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/8/4/3/0/1910348.jpg 4 1 N ERSTRAND,LARS LIVE IN JAPAN Lars Erstrand - Live in Japan - Kobe Jazz Street 7392004100774 PROP77.2 18708059 .00 20.99 .22 PROPHONE COMPACT DISCS POP JAZZ 02/01/2005 https://mediacdn.aent-m.com/prod-img/500/78/1357878-2700890.jpg 4 1 N LUNDIN,CARIN SONGS THAT WE ALL RECOGNIZE 822359000780 PROP78.2 18708066 .00 20.99 .25 PROPHONE COMPACT DISCS POP JAZZ 03/14/2005 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/9/0/4/0/1910409.jpg 5 1 N LINDBERG / PAULSSON / DALASINFONIETTAN / ENGESET SPEGLINGAR-MYTOLOGISKA BILDER 822659011400 SWED1140.2 20258856 .00 20.99 .20 SWEDISH SOCIETY COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 09/08/2008 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/a/500/0/5/4/0/1910450.jpg 5 1 N HOLGERSSON,HANNAH DECEMBER LAUDES 822359020504 PRCP2050.2 20558833 .00 20.99 .23 PROPRIUS RECORDS COMPACT DISCS POP ROCK 11/21/2008 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/a/500/1/8/4/0/1910481.jpg 9 1 N AHLEN / JOHNSSON SYMPHONIC SWEDISH ORGAN 822359020528 PRCP2052.2 20037321 .00 20.99 .20 PROPRIUS RECORDS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL ORCHESTRAL & SYMPHONIC 09/07/2009 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/9/8/4/0/1910489.jpg 8 1 N TELEMANN / LINDAL / REBAROQUE TELEMANNIA 822359020597 PRCP2059.2 20373535 .00 20.99 .21 PROPRIUS RECORDS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 12/27/2010 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/b/500/6/0/5/0/1910506.jpg 4 1 N SMITH,STUFF FIVE FINE VIOLINS: CELEBRATING 100 YEARS 717101840922 SYE1018409.2 15138644 .00 17.99 .13 STORYVILLE RECORDS COMPACT DISCS POP JAZZ 08/10/2010 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/b/500/6/8/6/4/1674686.jpg 2 1 N CACHAO SOUNDS LA DESCARGA CONTINUA 608917330021 CHLL73300.2 15138446 .00 18.99 .21 CHALLENGE COMPACT DISCS POP JAZZ 08/10/2010 12/02/2024 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/b/500/4/1/7/4/1674714.jpg 1 1 N BACH,J.S. / STEENS GOLDBERG VARIATION 5425008377209 EVPG7.2 15135285 .00 18.99 .20 EVIL PENGUIN RECORDS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 08/10/2010 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/a/500/3/2/7/4/1674723.jpg 2 1 N ARENSKY / SCHERBAKOV / RUSSIAN PO / YABLONSKY PIANO CONCERTO IN F MINOR / FANTASIA ON RUSSIAN A student of Rimsky-Korsakov and later a teacher of Rachmaninov, Scriabin and Gliere, Anton Arensky was a precocious composer whose youthful Piano Concerto combines Lisztian dramatic bravura with Chopin' virtuosic lyricism, the 5/4 metre. 747313052677 NXS8570526.2 14375040 .00 19.99 .20 NAXOS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL ORCHESTRAL & SYMPHONIC 04/28/2009 https://mediacdn.aent-m.com/prod-img/500/59/1391059.jpg 6 1 N WEBERN / ARNOLD / BOOTH / WILSON-JOHNSON VOCAL & ORCHESTRAL WORKS Robert Craft' abiding love and understanding of Anton Webern' music have made him an internationally renowned champion of this elusive composer' oeuvre. It's utter originality, pristine architecture and refined emotionalism yield rich rewards indeed. 747313253128 NXS8557531.2 14548475 .00 19.99 .21 NAXOS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL ORCHESTRAL & SYMPHONIC 07/28/2009 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/a/500/1/6/2/9/1539261.jpg 128 1 N QUANTZ / FISCHER / BRANDT / BERBEN FLUTE SONATAS NOS 272-277 Johann Joachim Quantz was one of the 18th century' most prolific composers, yet most of his music remains unpublished. 747313280520 NXS8557805.2 14547713 .00 19.99 .22 NAXOS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 07/28/2009 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/a/500/2/6/2/9/1539262.jpg 0 1 N WAGNER / MODL / VON ROHR / NEIDLINGER / SENTPAUL PARSIFAL 881488900958 PROL9009.2 14557958 .00 34.99 .47 PROFIL - G HAENSSLER COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL OPERA / OPERETTA / ORATORIO 07/28/2009 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/8/9/2/9/1539298.jpg 0 4 N BEETHOVEN / BIRET IDIL BIRET BEETHOVEN EDITION 16 - SONATAS 7 Biret grasps the size of Beethoven' style. The polyphony is laid out in a relaxed way with little indulgence in point making. She keeps the big line and yet is thankfully sparing in her use of fortissimos. The piano tone is sumptuous. Biret' gentle.

Biret grasps the size of Beethoven' style. The polyphony is laid out in a relaxed way with little indulgence in point making. She keeps the big line and yet is thankfully sparing in her use of fortissimos. The piano tone is sumptuous.

To play Beethoven' Piano Sonata in G major, op.31 no. 1 in front of and 'in the shadow of' Wilhelm Backhaus, on his 85th birthday, must certainly be the highest demand on a young interpreter.

Classical Music

As one of the finest pianists of his era and an improviser of genius, Ludwig van Beethoven’s preferred vehicle for musical exploration was the piano. His earliest composition, from 1782, was a set of piano variations and he continued to compose for solo piano until the last years of his life. His interest in the concerto form diminished as his deafness forced him to retire from performing. Nonetheless, with his five piano concertos composed between 1788 and 1809, Beethoven not only achieved a brilliant conclusion to the Classical piano concerto, but also established a new model for the Romantic era: a sort of symphony with obbligato piano which remained a reference point well into the beginning of the twentieth. Ronald Brautigam has already recorded these seminal works with the Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra, in acclaimed performances released between 2008 and 2010. Since then he has also released all of Beethoven’s solo piano music on the fortepiano to universal praise. When Brautigam now returns to the concertos, it is in the company of conductor Michael Alexander Willens and Die Kolner Akademie playing on period instruments. The same team has previously partnered him in an 11-album survey of Mozart’s piano concertos and it is plain to hear that all involved clearly relish the opportunity to congratulate Beethoven on the eve of his 250th anniversary.

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REVIEW:

Textures are bracingly lean, with a lightness and transparency that seems airborne. There’s nothing pompous or heavyhanded in these readings. Both Brautigam and Willens are alive to Beethoven’s every indication on the page, and that most precious of all commodities in music, the life of the phrase, is sacrosanct. Original, stylish and authoritative, this concerto set is a worthy and thought-provoking contribution to the recordings marking the Beethoven year.

– Gramophone