The recordings for this album were made on different pianos: a Bösendorfer for Op. 109, a Steinway for Opp. 110 and 111, and a Bösendorfer Imperial for the live recording of Op. 106.
Composition History
Beethoven's last three piano sonatas (Opp. 109, 110, 111) were composed between 1820 and 1822, during his work on the Missa Solemnis, and he considered them a unified set.
Compositional Technique
These last sonatas (Opp. 109, 110, 111) are characterized by a lean, taut form, avoiding excess, and an unusual orientation towards vocal qualities, evident in movement titles like 'Gesangvoll' (songful) and 'Arietta' (a little song).
Composer's Artistic Vision
Beethoven's use of intensifiers like 'molto' (much) and 'sehr' (very) in the last three sonatas (Opp. 109, 110, 111) highlights their special, elevated expression, aiming for a sublimation of feelings akin to a mystical experience.
Recording & Production
Disc 1 of this album, featuring Opp. 109, 110, and 111, was recorded in a studio in Eisenstadt in December 2013, while Disc 2, featuring Op. 106, is a live recording from Warsaw in June 1976.
Performer Biography
Paul Badura-Skoda, the performer on this album, was a renowned pianist who also wrote the booklet text for this recording.
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