Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Opp. 101 & 106

Featuring

Maurizio Pollini
Ludwig van Beethoven

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Performer Biography

Maurizio Pollini, the Italian pianist on this album, previously made a classic recording of Beethoven's five late piano sonatas in the 1970s, which won a Gramophone Award.

Composer's Artistic Vision

In his late works, Beethoven placed great importance on the elaboration of musical ideas, often rewriting movements multiple times to achieve perfection, a contrast to his earlier approach.

Compositional Technique

Beethoven insisted that both Op. 101 and Op. 106 should be called sonatas 'for Hammerklavier', a German term for pianoforte, though the name only stuck to Op. 106.

Notable Performances

Beethoven's 'Hammerklavier' Sonata, Op. 106, was so technically demanding that it was not publicly premiered until 1836 by Franz Liszt, 18 years after its completion.

Composition History

Beethoven's Sonata op. 101 ushered in his 'late period', the third and final of his stylistic eras, and was completed in 1816.

Recording & Production

This album was recorded in 2021/22 in the Herkulessaal in Munich, Germany, completing Maurizio Pollini's second set of late Beethoven sonatas.

Interpretation

Maurizio Pollini, the pianist on this album, attempted to play the opening Allegro of the 'Hammerklavier' Sonata faster than usual to stay close to Beethoven's challenging metronome marking of minim = 138.