Beethoven / Aimard Piano Sonata 29 CD

After his acclaimed interpretation of Messiaen's Catalogue d'Oiseaux, pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard returns to PENTATONE with a recording of Beethoven's Hammerklavier Sonata and Eroica Variations. The Hammerklavier Sonata is one of the pinnacles of Beethoven's creative output, and arguably one of the highest mountains to climb for any pianist. To Aimard, it poses one of the most frightening tests of a performer's life, but one that is as irresistible as it is insurmountable. The dazzling Eroica Variations are nicknamed after Beethoven's iconoclastic Third Symphony, and employ the melody he would later use as the main theme of the symphony's finale. Beethoven's fondness for this melody is evident, as he also used it in his ballet music for The Creatures of Prometheus, as well as in the seventh of his 12 Contredanses. Widely acclaimed as a key figure in the music of our time and as a uniquely significant interpreter of piano repertoire from every age, Pierre-Laurent Aimard enjoys an internationally celebrated career. He started his exclusive engagement to PENTATONE with a complete recording of Messiaen's Catalogue d'Oiseaux (2018).

1. * Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-Flat Major, Op. 106, "Hammerklavier" 2. I. Allegro 3. II. Scherzo: Assai vivace - Presto - Tempo I 4. III. Adagio sostenuto, appassionato e con molto sentimento 5. IV. Largo - Allegro risoluto15 Variations and a Fugue on an Original Theme in E-Flat Major, * Op. 35, "Eroica Variations" 6. Introduzione col Basso del Tema 7. Variation 1 8. Variation 2 9. Variation 3 10. Variation 4 11. Variation 5 12. Variation 6 13. Variation 7 14. Variation 8 15. Variation 9 16. Variation 10 17. Variation 11 18. Variation 12 19. Variation 13 20. Variation 14 21. Variation 15 22. Finale: Alla Fuga