Search - Beethoven, Kovacevich :: Piano Sonatas

Beethoven Master at his Best. Superb Sonatas!

06/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From the Sunday Times: ""...there's so much life, evident in crisp, muscular rhythms, crescendos that draw you forward in your seat, and tender, confidential lyricism. The recording helps, bringing out the power and brilliance, without losing sense of the subtlety of the playing in more intimate passsages."
and ""By turns he is urbane and witty, muscular and intellectually probing, always supremely musical. His may prove to be the Beethoven sonata cycle of the 1990s and beyond."The Sunday Times 1998.From EMI About this Artist: "Stephen Kovacevich was born in Los Angeles in 1940 and made his debut as a pianist at the age of 11. At the age of 18 he moved to England to study with Dame Myra Hess. He has had a long and distinguished career as a concert pianist and is particularly noted for his radical interpretations of the classical repertoire.
Stephen Kovacevich records exclusively for EMI Classics and is currently recording the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas. His release of the Beethoven Op.31 sonatas prompted Robert Layton to write "Even if you have other versions of these sonatas get this disc, for I believe that if the series continues as it has begun, the Kovacevich cycle will occupy a standing not far short of that enjoyed by Schnabel in the heyday of 78s or Kempff in the early days of LP.""