Album

There have been many other great sets of Beethoven's works for cello and piano. How could it be otherwise with such central repertoire, the core works of any cellist's concert programs, and along with Bach's Cello Suites, the apex and crown of any cellist's recording career? But no matter how many other great sets of Beethoven's works for cello crowd the shelves, this great set of Beethoven's works for cello and piano by Miklos Perenyi and Andras Schiff belongs on every shelf for two reasons. The first reason is that Perenyi and Schiff's set is the only great set that also has Beethoven's own transcription for cello of his Horn Sonata, and while the suave transcription cannot match the bumptious original, it is still an interesting gloss on the original. The second reason is that Perenyi and Schiff's set is one of the warmest and most deeply human of all the great sets of Beethoven's works for cello and piano. From the emotional and eccentric pair of early Sonatas, Op. 5, through the witty and whimsical pair of Mozart Variations and the heroic Handel Variations and the virtuosic Sonata, Op. 69, to the emotional and eccentric pair of mature Sonatas, Op. 102, Perenyi and Schiff's performances are obviously affectionate and profoundly affecting, performances that touch the heart. ECM's sound is clear and vivid, but perhaps just a tad dry.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 2
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Cello Sonata in F, Op.5, No.1 Work 24:36 Miklos Perenyi Cello, Andras Schiff Piano
1	1a.Adagio sostenuto (attaca)	2:56			$0.99
2	1b.Allegro	14:55			$2.49
3	2.Rondo: Allegro vivace	6:45			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer 12 Variations in G on a Theme by Handel, for cello and piano, WoO45 Work Miklos Perenyi Cello, Andras Schiff Piano
4	12 Variations in G on a Theme by Handel, for cello and piano, WoO45	11:01			$1.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Cello Sonata in G-, Op.5, No.2 Work 26:35 Miklos Perenyi Cello, Andras Schiff Piano
5	1.Adagio sostenuto e espressivo (attaca)	5:08			$0.99
6	2.Allegro molto più tosto presto	13:01			$2.49
7	3.Rondo: Allegro	8:26			$1.49
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Horn Sonata in F, Op.17...Horn Sonata in F, Op.17 (arr. cello and piano by Beethoven) Work 13:54 Miklos Perenyi Cello, Andras Schiff Piano
8	1.Allegro moderato	8:00			$1.49
9	2.Poco adagio, quasi andante	1:08			$0.49
10	3.Rondo: Allegro moderato	4:46			$0.99
CD 2 of 2
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer 12 Variations in F on a Theme from the Magic Flute, for cello and piano, Op.66 Work Miklos Perenyi Cello, Andras Schiff Piano
1	12 Variations in F on a Theme from the Magic Flute, for cello and piano, Op.66	9:04			$1.49
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Cello Sonata No.3 in A, Op.69 Work 24:55 Miklos Perenyi Cello, Andras Schiff Piano
2	1.Allegro ma non tanto	11:35			$1.99
3	2.Scherzo: Allegro molto	5:11			$0.99
4	3.Adagio cantabile	1:30			$0.49
5	4.Allegro vivace	6:39			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer 7 Variations in Eb on a Theme from the Magic Flute, for cello and piano, WoO46 Work Miklos Perenyi Cello, Andras Schiff Piano
6	7 Variations in Eb on a Theme from the Magic Flute, for cello and piano, WoO46	8:12			$1.49
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Cello Sonata No.4 in C, Op.102, No.1 Work 14:43 Miklos Perenyi Cello, Andras Schiff Piano
7	1.Andante (attaca)	2:44			$0.99
8	2.Allegro vivace	4:50			$0.99
9	3.Adagio. Tempo d'andante (attaca)	2:58			$0.99
10	4.Allegro con brio	4:11			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Cello Sonata No.5 in D, Op.102, No.2 Work 17:16 Miklos Perenyi Cello, Andras Schiff Piano
11	1.Allegro con brio	6:01			$0.99
12	2.Adagio con molto sentimento d'affetto	6:34			$0.99
13	3.Allegro. Allegro fugato	4:41			$0.99