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Gramola Records

Hammerklavier Live / Beth Levin

$21.99

Details

Composer
BEETHOVEN ELIASSON HANDEL
Artist
Beth Levin
Format
CD
Label
Gramola Records
Released
Nov 20, 2020
Catalog #
GRAM98011
UPC
9003643980112

About

When Beth Levin released her third live album seven years ago, she summed up Ludwig van Beethoven's last three piano sonatas under the motto 'A Single Breath'. At the time, a critic called her a titan and wrote that she played as if she was a contemporary of Eduard Erdmann, Artur Schnabel, Wilhelm Backhaus and Walter Gieseking. This has not changed. Since then, colleagues, admirers and connoisseurs have repeatedly asked her to present her interpretation of the Hammerklavier Sonata. She has now complied with this request, also with a 'Live in Concert' recording. And again she plays in a highly explosive manner, spontaneously as in an improvisation and at the same time with an incorruptible inner logic, with inexhaustible power and an immense dynamic spectrum of expression. The Hammerklavier Sonata forms the symphonic climax of Beethoven's piano work with its final fugue that transcends all boundaries. This concert program is introduced with a suite of George Frideric Handel, including a set of wonderful variations. Handel was Beethoven's favorite composer, and the motto "All power to the dominant" could stand above both composers. Between the works of the two old masters is the 3rd Disegno by the great Swedish composer Anders Eliasson, who died in 2013, entitled 'Carosello'. This free-tonal cantabile study in 5/4 time creates a sphere of weightlessness in contrast to the cadential purposefulness of Handel and Beethoven. "One may agree with it or not. No one plays Beethoven like Beth Levin." (Christoph Schlüren, 2013)

Tracklist 11 tracks

  1. 1 I. Prelude 01:09
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Prelude
    Duration
    01:09
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Performer
    Beth Levin
  2. 2 II. Allegro 03:05
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    03:05
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Performer
    Beth Levin
  3. 3 III. Allemande 01:59
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Allemande
    Duration
    01:59
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Performer
    Beth Levin
  4. 4 IV. Courante 01:47
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Courante
    Duration
    01:47
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Performer
    Beth Levin
  5. 5 V. Air and 5 variations 05:16
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. Air and 5 variations
    Duration
    05:16
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Performer
    Beth Levin
  6. 6 VI. Presto 02:44
    Track
    6
    Title
    VI. Presto
    Duration
    02:44
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Performer
    Beth Levin
  7. 7 Disegno No. 3, "Carosello" 09:44
    Track
    7
    Title
    Disegno No. 3, "Carosello"
    Duration
    09:44
    Composer
    Anders Eliasson
    Performer
    Beth Levin
  8. 8 I. Allegro 12:04
    Track
    8
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    12:04
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Beth Levin
  9. 9 II. Scherzo: Assai vivace - Presto - Tempo I 03:11
    Track
    9
    Title
    II. Scherzo: Assai vivace - Presto - Tempo I
    Duration
    03:11
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Beth Levin
  10. 10 III. Adagio sostenuto, appassionato e con molto sentimento 17:10
    Track
    10
    Title
    III. Adagio sostenuto, appassionato e con molto sentimento
    Duration
    17:10
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Beth Levin
  11. 11 IV. Largo - Allegro risoluto 14:11
    Track
    11
    Title
    IV. Largo - Allegro risoluto
    Duration
    14:11
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Beth Levin