The Whole Music Experience

Andras Schiff Ludwig Van Beethoven The Piano Sonatas Volume VII (Sonatas opp. 90,101 and 106) ECM Records Andras Schiff Ludwig Van Beethoven The Piano Sonatas Volume VIII (Sonatas 109, 110 & 111) ECM Records Hungarian concert pianist Andras Schiff took on the great task of recording all of Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas in chronological order. The pianist completed the cycle with The Piano Sonatas Volume VII and Volume VIII . Now, while I did not travel the entire journey of the 32 sonata cycle (I only heard 5 of the 8 CDs), I still experienced quite an adventure. As you might imagine, Schiff embodied the Romantic Era composer since he was spending so much time with the sonatas and the composer. One read through the liner notes that accompany these recordings, reveals the deep and thoughtful, even heartfelt relationship that Schiff developed with Beethoven. He performs these sonatas from the inside out, which was something the late Canadian pianist Glenn Gould did...

Andràs Schiff Ludwig van Beethoven The Piano Sonatas Vol. VI ECM New Series Hungarian classical pianist Andràs Schiff took up the gauntlet of recording the Beethoven cycle (piano sonatas) in order. Ludwig van Beethoven The Piano Sonatas, Volume VI brings us up to the period between 1804 and 1810, during which the infamous "Appassionata" was composed. The works on this recording, Sonatas #22 through #26, explore a vast range of emotions, colors and textures--a range that seems like a piece of cake in Schiff's expressive hands. I have reviewed volumes II and III of this series and have been astounded by Schiff's immense gift as a pianist. While he fits into the realm of virtuoso, he does not appear to be showing off. His playing is absent of bravado and full of humanity, not to mention curiosity towards Beethoven's life and music, since one informs the other. Not only that, one of my favorite things to do is to crank up the volume on these recordings so...