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Brilliant Classics

Beethoven: Early Piano Sonatas, Opp. 2-7-10

$16.99

Details

Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven
Artist
Simone El Oufir Pierini
Format
CD
Label
Brilliant Classics
Released
Mar 20, 2026
Catalog #
BRI96978
UPC
5063758969789

About

An experienced early-keyboard specialist brings his expertise to the 'New Testament' of the piano repertoire. 'Period' performances of Beethoven sonatas have become relatively mainstream during the present century, through artists such as Robert Levin and Ronald Brautigam. Through them, we have learnt, or rediscovered, that the turns of phrase in Beethoven's musical thinking take on a particular shape and agility when played and heard on the kind of instrument for which he was writing. All the same, most modern fortepianos are exactly that: modern. In this bold new project, Simone Pierini presents the first nine of Beethoven's sonatas-from Op.2 to Op.10-on fully original instruments of the period. These instruments are identified as the work of piano-makers Johann Haselmann (end of 18th century-early 19th century), Matthias Müller (1822), and Conrad Graf (1830). Simone Pierini complements the sonatas with several standalone pieces: the Allegretto in C minor WoO53, Andante Favori WoO57, Bagatelle in B flat WoO60, the Rondos Op.51, Variations in D Op.76 and the Polonaise in C Op.89. The set thus surveys the first 20 years of Beethoven's career as a composer, from the Op.2 sonatas of 1795 to the Polonaise which he wrote in 1814-15. During those two decades, his style underwent far-reaching changes, which in themselves have come to define the passage from the Classical to the Romantic style in music. All the same, Beethoven was and is Beethoven all the way through, as inimitable and distinct in the coursing momentum and sometimes surprising breadth of Op.2 as in the inward gaze of the Andante favori and the sideways look at popular dances in the Polonaise: all of them, in their way, inheritances from and developments of Haydn's style. Simone Pierini's previous fortepiano albums for Brilliant Classics include sets of sonatas by Luigi Cherubini, JB Cramer (Beethoven's publisher in London) and Helene de Montgeroult. He brings to this repertoire a deep understanding of both it's context and the nature of the instruments on which these composers were working at the turn of the 18th to the 19th centuries: equipped with a lighter touch than many modern pianos, and a more intimate tone. Reviewing the album of de Montgeroult, the Fanfare critic remarked that Pierini 'plays with tremendous energy and conviction.'

Tracklist 34 tracks

  1. 1 I. Allegro molto e con brio 08:06
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro molto e con brio
    Duration
    08:06
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  2. 2 II. Largo con gran espressione 07:29
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Largo con gran espressione
    Duration
    07:29
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  3. 3 III. Allegro 05:07
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    05:07
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  4. 4 IV. Rondo: Poco allegretto e grazioso 06:28
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Rondo: Poco allegretto e grazioso
    Duration
    06:28
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  5. 5 6 Ecossaises in E-Flat Major, WoO 83 02:23
    Track
    5
    Title
    6 Ecossaises in E-Flat Major, WoO 83
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  6. 6 Allegretto in C Minor, WoO 53 04:16
    Track
    6
    Title
    Allegretto in C Minor, WoO 53
    Duration
    04:16
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  7. 7 Rondo in C Major, Op. 51, No. 1 05:15
    Track
    7
    Title
    Rondo in C Major, Op. 51, No. 1
    Duration
    05:15
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  8. 8 Rondo in G Major, Op. 51, No. 2 08:32
    Track
    8
    Title
    Rondo in G Major, Op. 51, No. 2
    Duration
    08:32
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  9. 9 I. Allegro molto e con brio 05:43
    Track
    9
    Title
    I. Allegro molto e con brio
    Duration
    05:43
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  10. 10 II. Adagio molto 07:52
    Track
    10
    Title
    II. Adagio molto
    Duration
    07:52
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  11. 11 III. Finale: Prestissimo 04:10
    Track
    11
    Title
    III. Finale: Prestissimo
    Duration
    04:10
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  12. 12 I. Allegro 08:42
    Track
    12
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    08:42
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  13. 13 II. Allegretto 03:42
    Track
    13
    Title
    II. Allegretto
    Duration
    03:42
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  14. 14 III. Presto 04:02
    Track
    14
    Title
    III. Presto
    Duration
    04:02
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  15. 15 I. Presto 07:36
    Track
    15
    Title
    I. Presto
    Duration
    07:36
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  16. 16 II. Largo e mesto 09:07
    Track
    16
    Title
    II. Largo e mesto
    Duration
    09:07
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  17. 17 III. Menuetto: Allegro 03:03
    Track
    17
    Title
    III. Menuetto: Allegro
    Duration
    03:03
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  18. 18 IV. Rondo: Allegro 04:18
    Track
    18
    Title
    IV. Rondo: Allegro
    Duration
    04:18
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  19. 19 6 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 76 06:08
    Track
    19
    Title
    6 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 76
    Duration
    06:08
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  20. 20 Bagatelle in B-Flat Major, WoO 60 01:16
    Track
    20
    Title
    Bagatelle in B-Flat Major, WoO 60
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  21. 21 I. Allegro 06:33
    Track
    21
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    06:33
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  22. 22 II. Adagio 05:07
    Track
    22
    Title
    II. Adagio
    Duration
    05:07
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  23. 23 III. Menuetto: Allegretto 03:05
    Track
    23
    Title
    III. Menuetto: Allegretto
    Duration
    03:05
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  24. 24 IV. Prestissimo 06:36
    Track
    24
    Title
    IV. Prestissimo
    Duration
    06:36
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  25. 25 I. Allegro vivace 10:41
    Track
    25
    Title
    I. Allegro vivace
    Duration
    10:41
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  26. 26 II. Largo appassionato 05:53
    Track
    26
    Title
    II. Largo appassionato
    Duration
    05:53
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  27. 27 III. Scherzo: Allegretto - Trio 03:32
    Track
    27
    Title
    III. Scherzo: Allegretto - Trio
    Duration
    03:32
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  28. 28 IV. Rondo: Grazioso 06:45
    Track
    28
    Title
    IV. Rondo: Grazioso
    Duration
    06:45
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  29. 29 I. Allegro con brio 10:36
    Track
    29
    Title
    I. Allegro con brio
    Duration
    10:36
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  30. 30 II. Adagio 08:02
    Track
    30
    Title
    II. Adagio
    Duration
    08:02
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  31. 31 III. Scherzo: Allegro - Trio 03:19
    Track
    31
    Title
    III. Scherzo: Allegro - Trio
    Duration
    03:19
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  32. 32 IV. Allegro assai 05:19
    Track
    32
    Title
    IV. Allegro assai
    Duration
    05:19
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  33. 33 Andante in F Major, WoO 57, "Andante favori" 07:54
    Track
    33
    Title
    Andante in F Major, WoO 57, "Andante favori"
    Duration
    07:54
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  34. 34 Polonaise in C Major, Op. 89 05:54
    Track
    34
    Title
    Polonaise in C Major, Op. 89
    Duration
    05:54
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Simone Pierini