Paul Wee: Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas – SUPER-AUDIO CD

Title: Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas
Artist: Paul Wee
Label: Bis
Product Type: SUPER-AUDIO CD
UPC: 7318599927657
Genre: Classical Artists
Release Date: 2025-11-21
Number of Discs: 2

Pianist and barrister Paul Wee has made recordings devoted to the virtuoso repertoire of the 19th century, earning him the highest praise from the specialist press. He also tackled Beethoven with Franz Liszt’s transcription of the Heroica Symphony, a recording named “Editor’s Choice” by Gramophone, which wrote: « Paul Weeproves himself a master of these treacherously demanding transcriptions, sweeping aside the technical challenges topresent these great works with consummate musicianship. » It was therefore only a matter of time before he turned hisattention to the pinnacle of piano literature: Beethoven’s late sonatas.While Sonata Op. 101 is the least known of this select group, it nonetheless opens Beethoven’s third and most prophetic creative period. It is followed by Sonata Op. 106, the “Hammerklavier”, an immense work in every sense of the word which, as the author of the liner notes put it, “makes such demands., that it is as if a new set of auditory equipment was required.” As for the last three sonatas, worked on at the same time and conceived as a triptych, Beethoven knew that they would constitute his three final utterances in the genre of the sonata. To quote the author of the introductory text once again, “the closingpages of Op. 111 escape earth’s orbit forever, leaving the listener behind.”

Tracks:
1.1 Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101~I. Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung (Allegretto, ma non troppo)
1.2 Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101~II. Lebhaft. Marschmäßig (Vivace alla Marcia)
1.3 Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101~III. Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll (Adagio, ma non troppo, con affetto)
1.4 Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101~IV. Geschwinde, doch nicht zu sehr und mit Entschlossenheit (Allegro)
1.5 Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 “Große Sonate für das Hammerklavier”~I. Allegro
1.6 Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 “Große Sonate für das Hammerklavier”~II. Scherzo. Assai vivace
1.7 Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 “Große Sonate für das Hammerklavier”~III. Adagio sostenuto (Appassionato e con molto sentimento)
1.8 Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 “Große Sonate für das Hammerklavier”~IV. Largo – Allegro risoluto – Fuga a tre voci, con alcune licenze
2.1 Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109~I. Vivace, ma non troppo – Adagio espressivo
2.2 Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109~II. Prestissimo
2.3 Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109~III. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung (Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo)
2.4 Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110~I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
2.5 Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110~II. Allegro molto
2.6 Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110~III. Adagio ma non troppo – Fuga. Allegro ma non troppo
2.7 Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111~I. Maestoso – Allegro con brio ed appassionato
2.8 Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111~II. Arietta (Adagio molto semplice e cantabile)