Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)

Hyperion Records CDA68220

Piano Sonata in F minor Op 2 No 1 [21’44] 1 Allegro [5’29] 2 Adagio [4’43] 3 Menuetto: Allegretto [3’22] 4 Prestissimo [8’10] Piano Sonata in G major Op 14 No 2 [16’28] 5 Allegro [7’10] 6 Andante [5’31] 7 Scherzo: Allegro assai [3’47] Piano Sonata in C major ‘Waldstein’ Op 53 [26’27] 8 Allegro con brio [11’24] 9 Introduzione: Adagio molto [4’12] 10 Rondo: Allegretto moderato – Prestissimo [10’51] Piano Sonata in F major Op 54 [11’59] 11 In tempo d’un menuetto [5’36] 12 Allegretto – Più allegro [6’23]

The penultimate release in Angela Hewitt’s cycle of the complete Beethoven piano sonatas. The listener’s understanding is again enhanced by Angela’s illuminating booklet notes, in which she sets out her approach to performing these most canonic of works in the entire piano literature.

‘Clarity is the key quality of the recording as much as of these performances … Angela Hewitt evidently works hard to make every detail, however tiny, tell, while at the same time striving for perfection of overall form … Hewitt also has an ability to relish surprise, while making sure that the thing we’re led to expect makes more sense than what was anticipated’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘[Hewitt] is consistently illuminating, vibrant and intensely ‘in the moment’. She brings a wonderful spontaneity of direct interaction’ (MusicWeb International)

„Detailfreudig, ungewöhnlich: Angela Hewitt schaut genau auf Beethovens Dynamik-und Tempo-Angaben—und schafft in seinen Klaviersonaten spannend neue Hör-Einsichten“ (HR 2 Kultur, Germany)