Album

Performance for performance, violinist Augustin Dumay and pianist Maria-João Pires' performances of Beethoven's violin sonatas may be just about the greatest set ever recorded. From the exquisite elegance of their Op. 12 set (listen to the elevated intimacy of the central Andante con molto espressione from No. 3), to the infernal energy of their Op. 23 (listen to the pianissimo moto perpetuo in the opening Presto), to the vernal delicacy of their Op. 24 (listen to the spring wind blow through the new leaves in their Adagio molto espressivo, to the myriad beauties of their Op. 30 set (listen to the tender duet in the Adagio molto espressivo in No. 1, the tragic drama of the Finale of No. 2 or the sublime grace of their Tempo di Minuetto of No. 3), to the supreme lyricism of their Op. 96 (listen to each and every artless and effortless note), Dumay and Pires have created deeply impressive and profoundly moving performances. Only the opening movement of their Op. 47 is a disappointment—a performance not quite at the level of virtuosity that the piece demands—but their central Andante and their closing Presto are so rapturously ecstatic that they nearly compensate for the slight weakness of the opening movement. As enshrined in Deutsche Grammophon's superbly natural sound, Dumay and Pires have created performances that stand with the Kreisler-Rupp, the Oistrakh-Oborin, Szeryng-Haebler, and the Kremer-Argerich as the very best ever made.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 3
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Violin Sonata No.1 in D, Op.12, No.1 Work Recorded 2001 20:26 Augustin Dumay Violin, Maria João Pires Piano
1	1.Allegro con brio	8:43			$1.49
2	2.Tema con variazioni: Andante con moto	6:56			$0.99
3	3.Rondo: Allegro	4:47			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Violin Sonata No.2 in A, Op.12, No.2 Work Recorded 2002 16:52 Augustin Dumay Violin, Maria João Pires Piano
4	1.Allegro vivace	6:40			$0.99
5	2.Andante più tosto. Allegretto	5:16			$0.99
6	3.Allegro piacévole	4:56			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Violin Sonata No.4 in A-, Op.23 Work Recorded 2001 20:13 Augustin Dumay Violin, Maria João Pires Piano
7	1.Presto	7:14			$1.49
8	2.Andante scherzoso, più allegretto	7:40			$1.49
9	3.Allegro molto	5:19			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Violin Sonata No.3 in Eb, Op.12, No.3 Work Recorded 2002 19:26 Augustin Dumay Violin, Maria João Pires Piano
10	1.Allegro con spirito	8:25			$1.49
11	2.Adagio con molto espressione	6:27			$0.99
12	3.Rondo: Allegro molto	4:34			$0.99
CD 2 of 3
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Violin Sonata No.8 in G, Op.30, No.3 Work Recorded 1997 17:14 Augustin Dumay Violin, Maria João Pires Piano
1	1.Allegro assai	6:00			$0.99
2	2.Tempo di menuetto, ma molto moderato e grazioso	7:49			$1.49
3	3.Allegro vivace	3:25			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Violin Sonata No.5 in F, Op.24 ('Spring') Work Recorded 1997 23:46 Augustin Dumay Violin, Maria João Pires Piano
4	1.Allegro	9:46			$1.49
5	2.Adagio molto espressivo	6:13			$0.99
6	3.Scherzo: Allegro molto	1:14			$0.49
7	4.Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo	6:33			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Violin Sonata No.9 in A, Op.47 ('Kreutzer') Work Recorded 2002 38:27 Augustin Dumay Violin, Maria João Pires Piano
8	1.Adagio sostenuto. Presto	14:29			$2.49
9	2.Andante con variazioni	15:25			$2.49
10	3.Finale: Presto	8:33			$1.49
CD 3 of 3
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Violin Sonata No.10 in G, Op.96 ('The Cockcrow') Work Recorded 2002 27:19 Augustin Dumay Violin, Maria João Pires Piano
1	1.Allegro moderato	10:15			$1.99
2	2.Adagio espressivo (attaca)	6:03			$0.99
3	3.Scherzo: Allegro	2:04			$0.99
4	4.Poco allegretto	8:57			$1.49
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Violin Sonata No.6 in A, Op.30, No.1 Work Recorded 2002 22:33 Augustin Dumay Violin, Maria João Pires Piano
5	1.Allegro	7:22			$1.49
6	2.Adagio molto espressivo	6:36			$0.99
7	3.Allegretto con variazioni	8:35			$1.49
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Violin Sonata No.7 in C-, Op.30, No.2 ('Eroica') Work Recorded 1997 25:00 Augustin Dumay Violin, Maria João Pires Piano
8	1.Allegro con brio	7:31			$1.49
9	2.Adagio cantabile	9:00			$1.49
10	3.Scherzo: Allegro	3:23			$0.99
11	4.Finale: Allegro. Presto	5:06			$0.99