Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2/1: Allegro
2. Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2/1: Adagio
3. Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2/1: Menuetto. Allegretto
4. Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2/1: Prestissimo
5. Piano Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 2/2: Allegro vivace
6. Piano Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 2/2: Largo appassionato
7. Piano Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 2/2: Scherzo Allegretto
8. Piano Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 2/2: Rondo. Grazioso
9. Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2/3: Allegro con brio
10. Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2/3: Adagio
11. Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2/3: Scherzo. Allegro
12. Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2/3: Allegro assai
13. Piano Sonata No. 22 in F major, Op. 54: In Tempo d'un Minuetto
14. Piano Sonata No. 22 in F major, Op. 54: Allegretto

Disc 2:

1. Piano Sonata No. 4 in E flat major ('Grand Sonata'), Op. 7: Allegro molto e con brio
2. Piano Sonata No. 4 in E flat major ('Grand Sonata'), Op. 7: Largo, con gran espressione
3. Piano Sonata No. 4 in E flat major ('Grand Sonata'), Op. 7: Allegro
4. Piano Sonata No. 4 in E flat major ('Grand Sonata'), Op. 7: Rondo. Poco allegretto e grazioso
5. Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10/1: Allegro molto e con brio
6. Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10/1: Adagio molto
7. Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10/1: Finale. Prestissimo
8. Piano Sonata No. 9 in E major, Op. 14/1: Allegro
9. Piano Sonata No. 9 in E major, Op. 14/1: Allegretto
10. Piano Sonata No. 9 in E major, Op. 14/1: Rondo. Allegro comodo
11. Piano Sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14/2: Allegro
12. Piano Sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14/2: Andante
13. Piano Sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14/2: Scherzo. Allegro assai
14. Piano Sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49/2: Allegro, ma non troppo
15. Piano Sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49/2: Tempo di Menuetto

Disc 3:

1. Piano Sonata No. 6 in F major, Op. 10/2: Allegro
2. Piano Sonata No. 6 in F major, Op. 10/2: Allegretto
3. Piano Sonata No. 6 in F major, Op. 10/2: Presto
4. Piano Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10/3: Presto
5. Piano Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10/3: Largo e mesto
6. Piano Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10/3: Menuetto. Allegro
7. Piano Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10/3: Rondo. Allegro
8. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor ('Path�tique'), Op. 13: Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio
9. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor ('Path�tique'), Op. 13: Adagio cantabile
10. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor ('Path�tique'), Op. 13: Rondo. Allegro
11. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor ('Tempest'), Op. 31/2: Largo - Allegro
12. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor ('Tempest'), Op. 31/2: Adagio
13. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor ('Tempest'), Op. 31/2: Allegretto

Disc 4:

1. Piano Sonata No. 11 in B flat major, Op. 22: Allegro con brio
2. Piano Sonata No. 11 in B flat major, Op. 22: Adagio con molta espressione
3. Piano Sonata No. 11 in B flat major, Op. 22: Minuetto
4. Piano Sonata No. 11 in B flat major, Op. 22: Rondo. Allegretto
5. Piano Sonata No. 12 in A flat major ('Funeral March'), Op. 26: Andante con Variazioni
6. Piano Sonata No. 12 in A flat major ('Funeral March'), Op. 26: Scherzo. Allegro molto
7. Piano Sonata No. 12 in A flat major ('Funeral March'), Op. 26: Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un Eroe
8. Piano Sonata No. 12 in A flat major ('Funeral March'), Op. 26: Allegro
9. Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major ('Pastoral'), Op. 28: Allegro
10. Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major ('Pastoral'), Op. 28: Andante
11. Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major ('Pastoral'), Op. 28: Scherzo. Allegro vivace
12. Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major ('Pastoral'), Op. 28: Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo
13. Piano Sonata No. 24 in F sharp major ('A Th�r�se'), Op. 78: Adagio cantabile - Allegro ma non troppo
14. Piano Sonata No. 24 in F sharp major ('A Th�r�se'), Op. 78: Allegro vivace

Disc 5:

1. Piano Sonata No. 16 in G major, Op. 31/1: Allegro vivace
2. Piano Sonata No. 16 in G major, Op. 31/1: Adagio grazioso
3. Piano Sonata No. 16 in G major, Op. 31/1: Rondo. Allegretto
4. Piano Sonata No. 18 in E flat major ('Hunt'), Op. 31/3: Allegro
5. Piano Sonata No. 18 in E flat major ('Hunt'), Op. 31/3: Scherzo. Allegro vivace
6. Piano Sonata No. 18 in E flat major ('Hunt'), Op. 31/3: Menuetto. Moderato e grazioso - presto con fuoco
7. Piano Sonata No. 25 in G major ('Cuckoo'), Op. 79: Presto alla tedesca
8. Piano Sonata No. 25 in G major ('Cuckoo'), Op. 79: Andante
9. Piano Sonata No. 25 in G major ('Cuckoo'), Op. 79: Vivace
10. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110: Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
11. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110: Allegro molto
12. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110: Adagio ma non troppo Fuga. Allegro ma non troppo

Disc 6:

1. Piano Sonata No. 13 in E flat major ('Quasi una fantasia'), Op. 27/1: Andante - Allegro - Tempo 1
2. Piano Sonata No. 13 in E flat major ('Quasi una fantasia'), Op. 27/1: Allegro molto e vivace
3. Piano Sonata No. 13 in E flat major ('Quasi una fantasia'), Op. 27/1: Adagio con espressione
4. Piano Sonata No. 13 in E flat major ('Quasi una fantasia'), Op. 27/1: Allegro vivace - Tempo 1 - Presto
5. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor ('Moonlight'), Op. 27/2: Adagio sostenuto
6. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor ('Moonlight'), Op. 27/2: Allegretto
7. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor ('Moonlight'), Op. 27/2: Presto agitato
8. Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major ('Hammerklavier'), Op. 106: Allegro
9. Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major ('Hammerklavier'), Op. 106: Scherzo. Assai vivace - Presto - Prstissimo - Tempo 1
10. Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major ('Hammerklavier'), Op. 106: Adagio sostenuto. Appassionato e con molto sentimento
11. Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major ('Hammerklavier'), Op. 106: Largo - Allegro risoluto

Disc 7:

1. Piano Sonata No. 19 in G minor, Op. 49/1: Andante
2. Piano Sonata No. 19 in G minor, Op. 49/1: Rondo. Allegro
3. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major ('Waldstein'), Op. 53: Allegro con brio
4. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major ('Waldstein'), Op. 53: Introduzione. Adagio molto - Attacca subito
5. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major ('Waldstein'), Op. 53: Rondo. Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo
6. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor ('Appassionata'), Op. 57: Allegro assai
7. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor ('Appassionata'), Op. 57: Andante con moto
8. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor ('Appassionata'), Op. 57: Allegro ma non troppo
9. Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101: Allegretto, ma non troppo con intimissimo sentimento
10. Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101: Vivace alla Marcia
11. Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101: Adagio, ma non troppo, con affetto
12. Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101: Allegro ma non troppo, e con fermezza

Disc 8:

1. Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat major ('Les Adieux'), Op. 81a: Das Lebewohl. Adagio - Allegro
2. Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat major ('Les Adieux'), Op. 81a: Abswenseheit. Andante espressivo - Das Wiedersehn. Vivacissimamente
3. Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90: Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchas mit Empfindung und Ausdruck
4. Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90: Nicht zu geshwind und sehr singbar vorgetragen
5. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109: Vivace, ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo - Tempo 1
6. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109: Prestissimo
7. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109: Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung. Andante molto conatabile
8. Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111: Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appasionato
9. Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111: Arietta. Adagio molto semplice en cantabile

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #493596 in Music
• Released on: 2004-05-04
• Number of discs: 8
• Format: Box set

About the Artist
Born in 1965, Andrea Lucchesini studied piano with the legendary Maria Tipo and became the first Italian winner of the Dino Ciano International Competition. Since then he as performed with Abbado, Chailly, Sinopoli, Dutoit and other great conductors. In July 2001, he premiered Berio's new piano sonata. He also recorded Berio's concerto "Echoing Curves" for RCA.

Customer Reviews

An enchanting Beethoven cycle!
As it happens, I was listening to the complete Beethoven piano sonata cycles by Frank (Music & Arts) and Gulda (Brilliant) just before buying this set. You might describe Lucchesini as the "anti-Gulda." Whereas Gulda chooses fast tempi (sometimes, as in the slow movement of the Hammerklaver, ludicrously fast) and plays with extraodinary rigor, which works wonders in the early sonatas (the Pathetique, for example) but seems irritatingly inflexible as the cycle proceeds (as if he is deconstructing the music), Lucchesini is all warmth and romantic ardor. Frank's set is wonderful throughout (like Schnabel without the wrong notes, rushed passage work and ancient sound), but he is decidedly a "black-and white" player, while Lucchesini's performanes are in glorious technicolor. Comparisons aside, the thing I love most about Lucchesini's performances is that he sounds as if he's never heard of "Beethoven." He is simply playing magnifent music, relishing every moment of it. This is hardly "traditional" Beethoven playing. Lucchesini plays with more rubato than we're used to and even uses the middle pedal at times (as in the slow movement of op 10/3). But what warmth, sweep, and humor he finds in the music! His left hand is particularly compelling throught, revealing lines I'd never heard before. (I have a sneaking suspicion he's left-handed. Anyone out there know?). The sound varies somewhat throught the set, which was recorded in live recitals over two years, and some will find it rather reverberant. But the ear adjusts very quickly and one can appreciate the wide range of colors Lucchesini employs. Simply as piano playing, these performances are on the highest level. You can hear a little audience noise at times (a small amount of applause is included at the end of each sonata), but the audience is very distant from the microphones (the piano quite close). Every now and then there's a little bumping from the pedal. But overall the sound is extremely beautiful. I could go on and on about individual excellent performances (and about the very few duds), but I would just say this is the most purely ENJOYABLE set of the sonatas I've ever heard. I'd heard of Lucchesini before, but this is the first time I've heard his playing. He is obviously one of the greatest pianists in the world. I urge all Beethoven lovers to buy this marvellous set. Now if only we could get a Brahms set from Lucchesini.

Beethoven Played Beautifully
I have owned this set for two years, and rare is the day that I don't have one of its discs in my cd player. I have thought of writing a review for sometime now, but the truth is, there is nothing I would add to Mr. Steiger's. I can't imagine there is a better set of the sonatas available at such a reasonable price. For Mr. Lucchesini, every note becomes a gem, but his playing is never "notey." The arc of his phrases, the colors in his tonal palette, the contrast in dynamics, and the communication of the character of each movement make listening to his interpretations a transcendental experience.

Lucchesini is much better known in Europe than in the United States, but he has played here a number of times receiving glowing reviews from the New York Times and other publications. I first heard him play to a packed house in Munich in the mid-eighties when he was only twenty. The profound effect of that performance has stayed with me since. He played the Chopin Preludes which he recorded around the same time--a remarkable recording that, unfortunately, is no longer available.

I would encourage anyone interested in the sonatas to add this set to your collection. It would also make a wonderful gift for a young pianist who is just beginning to explore the richness of these compositions. My fear is that this set may not be available much longer, so I would not wait to pick it up.

Richard--Lucchesini writes with his right hand, but when he plays he seems to be truly ambidextrous, one of the reasons he plays with such beauty and clarity. I've had the opportunity to observe him teach young artists--one of whom was working on Op. 109--and he teaches as beautifully as he plays.