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Wilhelm Kempff|Ludwig van Beethoven : The 32 Piano Sonatas

Ludwig van Beethoven : The 32 Piano Sonatas

Wilhelm Kempff

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This is Wilhelm Kempff's mid-'60s recording of Beethoven's complete piano sonatas and not his early '50s recording. One might argue that Kempff's first set was fresher and more virtuosic, that his '50s recordings of the supremely difficult "Appassionata" and "Hammerklavier" were more successful and that the '50s recordings of the early E flat and D major sonatas were more brilliant and exciting. But one could also argue that Kempff's second set was deeper and more profound and that his '60s recordings of the "Waldstein, the "Les Adieux," and the Sonata in E minor were more sublime and more consoling. But whichever set one ultimately prefers, no one would argue that Kempff's Beethoven is not the greatest -- the most intellectual, the most emotional, the most spiritual -- after Schnabel. Kempff's Beethoven has a nobility, a strength, a soulfulness that most later interpreters miss not matter how astounding their technique. In the slighter works like the two-movement F major and F sharp major sonatas, Kempff strikes the ideal balance between agility and depth. In the lighter sonatas like the last of the Op. 31 set or the two Op. 49 sonatas, Kempff finds depths that others miss, but never overloads the sonatas with too much interpretation. In the popular sonatas like the "Pathétique" and the "Moonlight," Kempff never condescends to the works, but treats them with respect and plays them with dignity. Only in the late sonatas does Kempff falter: as insightful as his performances are, Kempff's performances do not quite touch the infinite. On balance, this is arguably the greatest set of the Beethoven sonatas since Schnabel's.

© TiVo

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Ludwig van Beethoven : The 32 Piano Sonatas

Wilhelm Kempff

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Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1 (Ludwig van Beethoven)

1
I. Allegro
00:06:35

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

2
II. Adagio
00:04:42

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

3
III. Menuetto (Allegretto)
00:03:00

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

4
IV. Prestissimo
00:04:59

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 2 No. 2 (Ludwig van Beethoven)

5
I. Allegro vivace
00:07:12

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

6
II. Largo appassionato
00:06:40

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

7
III. Scherzo (Allegretto)
00:03:24

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

8
IV. Rondo (Grazioso)
00:06:27

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-Flat Major, Op. 7 (Ludwig van Beethoven)

9
I. Allegro molto e con brio
00:09:04

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

10
II. Largo, con gran espressione
00:08:10

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

11
III. Allegro
00:05:17

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

Piano Sonata No. 4 in E Flat Major, Op. 7 (Ludwig van Beethoven)

12
IV. Rondo (Poco allegretto e grazioso)
00:07:12

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

DISC 2

Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2 No. 3 (Ludwig van Beethoven)

1
I. Allegro con brio
00:09:52

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

2
II. Adagio
00:07:03

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

3
III. Scherzo. Allegro
00:03:20

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

4
IV. Allegro assai
00:05:18

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

Piano Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 10 No. 1 (Ludwig van Beethoven)

5
I. Allegro molto e con brio
00:06:17

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

6
II. Adagio molto
00:07:26

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

7
III. Finale. Prestissimo
00:04:08

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

Piano Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10 No. 2 (Ludwig van Beethoven)

8
I. Allegro
00:04:28

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

9
II. Allegretto
00:03:32

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

10
III. Presto
00:04:01

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10 No. 3 (Ludwig van Beethoven)

11
I. Presto
00:07:06

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

12
II. Largo e mesto
00:08:46

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

13
III. Menuetto. Allegro
00:02:46

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

14
IV. Rondo. Allegro
00:03:55

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

DISC 3

Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 "Pathétique" (Ludwig van Beethoven)

1
I. Grave (Allegro di molto e con brio)
00:07:19

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Helmut Najda, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

2
II. Adagio cantabile
00:04:56

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Helmut Najda, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

3
III. Rondo (Allegro)
00:04:31

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Helmut Najda, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

Piano Sonata No. 9 in E Major, Op. 14, No. 1 (Ludwig van Beethoven)

4
1. Allegro
00:05:12

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

5
2. Allegretto
00:03:33

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

6
3. Rondo (Allegro comodo)
00:03:48

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

Piano Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 14, No. 2 (Ludwig van Beethoven)

7
1. Allegro
00:05:54

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

8
2. Andante
00:05:19

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

9
3. Scherzo (Allegro assai)
00:03:29

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22 (Ludwig van Beethoven)

10
1. Allegro con brio
00:07:27

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Helmut Najda, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

11
2. Adagio con molto espressione
00:07:08

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Helmut Najda, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

12
3. Menuetto
00:03:02

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Helmut Najda, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

13
4. Rondo (Allegretto)
00:06:21

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Helmut Najda, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

DISC 4

Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26 (Ludwig van Beethoven)

1
I. Andante con variazioni
00:07:19

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

2
II. Scherzo (Allegro molto)
00:03:02

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

3
III. Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un Eroe
00:05:35

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

4
IV. Allegro
00:03:14

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guenther Dieckmann, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-Flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1 (Ludwig van Beethoven)

5
I. Andante - Allegro - Tempo I
00:04:14

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Helmut Najda, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

6
II. Allegro molto e vivace
00:02:12

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Helmut Najda, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

7
III. Adagio con espressione
00:02:33

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Helmut Najda, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

8
IV. Allegro vivace - Tempo I - Presto
00:05:30

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Helmut Najda, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 "Moonlight" (Ludwig van Beethoven)

9
I. Adagio sostenuto
00:06:00

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Helmut Najda, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

10
II. Allegretto
00:02:19

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Helmut Najda, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

11
III. Presto agitato
00:05:29

Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Wilhelm Kempff, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Klaus Scheibe, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Helmut Najda, Editor, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin

Album review

This is Wilhelm Kempff's mid-'60s recording of Beethoven's complete piano sonatas and not his early '50s recording. One might argue that Kempff's first set was fresher and more virtuosic, that his '50s recordings of the supremely difficult "Appassionata" and "Hammerklavier" were more successful and that the '50s recordings of the early E flat and D major sonatas were more brilliant and exciting. But one could also argue that Kempff's second set was deeper and more profound and that his '60s recordings of the "Waldstein, the "Les Adieux," and the Sonata in E minor were more sublime and more consoling. But whichever set one ultimately prefers, no one would argue that Kempff's Beethoven is not the greatest -- the most intellectual, the most emotional, the most spiritual -- after Schnabel. Kempff's Beethoven has a nobility, a strength, a soulfulness that most later interpreters miss not matter how astounding their technique. In the slighter works like the two-movement F major and F sharp major sonatas, Kempff strikes the ideal balance between agility and depth. In the lighter sonatas like the last of the Op. 31 set or the two Op. 49 sonatas, Kempff finds depths that others miss, but never overloads the sonatas with too much interpretation. In the popular sonatas like the "Pathétique" and the "Moonlight," Kempff never condescends to the works, but treats them with respect and plays them with dignity. Only in the late sonatas does Kempff falter: as insightful as his performances are, Kempff's performances do not quite touch the infinite. On balance, this is arguably the greatest set of the Beethoven sonatas since Schnabel's.

© TiVo

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