Album

Strong, sensitive, and often quite funny, this 2004 recording of Beethoven's last two Cello Sonatas coupled with his Handel Variations for cello and piano and his Duet for viola and cello by cellist Maria Kliegel, pianist Nina Tichman, and violist Tabae Zimmermann will be a welcome addition to any large and deep collection of Beethoven's works for cello. Kliegel is a persuasive cellist with a warm tone and a powerful bow, Tichman is a convincing accompanist with a deep tone and a marvelous technique, and together they perform with telepathic ease and complete understanding. In the late Sonatas, Kliegel and Tichman catch the work's odd shapes and eccentric melodies and unite them into a singularly moving musical structure. In the Handel Variations, Kliegel and Tichman grasp both the affection and the humor of the work as well as holding its long line through 12 variations. And in the quirky "Duet with Two Obbligato Eyeglasses," Kliegel and Zimmermann play together like old friends happily catching up on their lives in one of Beethoven's most charming little bagatelles. Naxos' sound is as finely detailed and warmly textured as any recording from any of the bigger, more expensive companies.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Cello Sonata No.4 in C, Op.102, No.1 Work 14:43 Maria Kliegel Cello, Nina Tichman Piano
1	1.Andante (attaca); 2.Allegro vivace	7:25			$1.49
2	3.Adagio. Tempo d'andante (attaca)	3:11			$0.99
3	4.Allegro con brio	4:07			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Cello Sonata No.5 in D, Op.102, No.2 Work 18:31 Maria Kliegel Cello, Nina Tichman Piano
4	1.Allegro con brio	6:15			$0.99
5	2.Adagio con molto sentimento d'affetto	8:02			$1.49
6	3.Allegro. Allegro fugato	4:14			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer 12 Variations in G on a Theme by Handel, for cello and piano, WoO45 Work 12:23 Maria Kliegel Cello, Nina Tichman Piano
7	Theme: Allegretto	0:48			$0.99
8	Variation 1	0:35			$0.99
9	Variation 2	0:40			$0.99
10	Variation 3	0:38			$0.99
11	Variation 4	0:45			$0.99
12	Variation 5	0:43			$0.99
13	Variation 6	0:43			$0.99
14	Variation 7	0:39			$0.99
15	Variation 8	0:45			$0.99
16	Variation 9	0:46			$0.99
17	Variation 10: Allegro	0:43			$0.99
18	Variation 11: Adagio	3:34			$0.99
19	Variation 12: Allegro	1:04			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Duo in Eb for Viola and Cello in Eb, WoO32 Work 13:06 Tabea Zimmermann Viola, Maria Kliegel Cello
20	1.Allegro	8:45			$1.49
21	2.Minuetto: Allegretto	4:21			$0.99