Angela Hewitt, the pianist, uses the fourth pedal on her Fazioli piano for this recording to achieve a swift, clear, and quiet execution in certain passages.
Performer Biography
Angela Hewitt is an award-winning pianist known for her recordings for Hyperion, including a project to record all major keyboard works of Bach.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Beethoven believed the piano could 'sing' and used the pedal in a new and daring way to create unheard-of tonal effects, unlike the harpsichord-like playing of Mozart's era.
Composer Biography
Beethoven's father, Johann, a professional singer, also taught clavier and played violin and zither, and promoted his son in public.
Composer Biography
Beethoven's mother, Maria Magdalena, instilled in him a desire for virtue, but her death at age forty left him to care for his younger brothers.
Instruments
Beethoven received an Erard piano in 1803 with an extended range of five-and-a-half octaves, which he immediately utilized in his 'Appassionata' Sonata.
Album & Artwork
This album is the first in a series devoted to Beethoven's piano sonatas, mixing popular, lesser-known, and student-favored works.
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Beethoven: Piano Sonatas No. 21, Op. 53 "Waldstein", No. 26, Op. 81a "Das Lebewohl" and No. 23, Op. 57 "Appassionata"
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas No. 15 "Pastorale", No. 17 "The Tempest" & No. 18
