Beethoven, Ludwig Van / Beethoven Unbound (Llyr Williams, Piano)
Album: Beethoven Unbound (Llyr Williams, Piano)   Collection:Classical
Artist:Beethoven, Ludwig Van   Added:May 2018
Label:Signum Records, Ltd  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2018-05-21 Pull Date: 2018-07-23 Charts: Classical/Experimental
Week Ending: Jul 15 Jul 8
Airplays: 1 1

Recent Airplay
1. Jul 25, 2018: Dangerous Acquaintances
Cd 2. 1. Allegro From Sonata No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1 (3:54), Cd 1. 1. 15 Variations And Fugue On An Original Theme, Op. 35 (24:56)
3. Jul 07, 2018: the cacophony hour
Cd 2. 1. Allegro From Sonata No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1 (3:54)
2. Jul 14, 2018: the cacophony hour
11. Bagatelle No. 4 In B Minor, Op. 126, No. 4 (3:57)

Album Review
Gary Lemco
Reviewed 2018-05-20
These two CDs, derived from a 12-CD boxed set, celebrate pianist Llyr Williams’ Beethoven cycle given in 9 recitals over 3 years. Williams writes: “Rather than adopt the chronological approach, I have arranged the works roughly in the order that I played them in the concerts, and each CD has been devised as a mini-recital program.” During B’s lifetime, the piano had been undergoing continual development, both in its sustaining power and the compass of the keyboard. Up to the time of the ‘Waldstein’ Sonata Op. 53, (1803-4), B had to content himself with the five-octave range in use since the days of Haydn and Mozart. While the restricted keyboard compass didn’t seem to have been a compositional hindrance to Mozart, who never failed to find elegant solutions to its constraints, B’s earlier sonatas constantly strain against the limitations at both ends of the keyboard, implying the necessity for unavailable notes. By the time B came to compose the ‘Hammerklavier’ sonata, the piano had acquired a range of just over six octaves, which seems finally to have satisfied him. Williams extends his survey to include the “Eroica” Variations, the improvisatory G Minor Fantasia, and selected bagatelles (miniatures) that also include B’s most famous short piece, “Fur Elise.”

Track Listing
1. Cd 1. 1. 15 Variations And Fugue On An Original Theme, Op. 35 (24:56)   12. 5. Adagio Con Molto Espressione: Piano Sonata No. 11, B-Flat Major, Op. 22 (8:50
2. Piano Sonata No. 23 In F Minor, Op. 57 ?Appassionata? I. Allegro Assai (10:49)   13. 6. Bagatelle In A Minor, Woo 59 ?Fur Elise? (3:17)
3. Piano Sonata No. 23, ?Appassionata? Ii. Andante Con Moto (6:46)   14. 7.Allegretto: Piano Sonata No. 17 In D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2 ?Tempest? (7:16)
4. Piano Sonata No. 23, ?Appassionata? Iii. Allegro Ma Non Troppo - Presto (8:10)   15. 8.Presto Con Fuoco: Piano Sonata No. 18 In E-Flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3 (4:41)
5. Piano Sonata No. 31 In A-Flat Major, Op. 110, I. Moderato Contable Molto Espress   16. 9. Bagatelle No. 2 In C Major, Op. 33, No. 2 (2:48)
6. Piano Sonata No. 31, Ii. Allegro Molto (2:20)   17. 10. Bagatelle No. 7 In A-Flat Major, Op. 33, No. 7 (2:06)
7. Piano Sonata No. 31, Ii. Adagio Ma Non Torppdo - Allegro Ma Non Troppo (11:56)   18. 11. Bagatelle No. 4 In B Minor, Op. 126, No. 4 (3:57)
8. Cd 2. 1. Allegro From Sonata No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1 (3:54)   19. 12. Fantasia In G Minor, Op. 77 (9:37)
9. 2. Scherzo ? Allegro: Piano Sonata No. 3 In C Major, Op. 2, No. 3 (3:10)   20. 13. Allegro Vivace: Piano Sonata No. 24 In F-Sharp Major, Op. 78 (3:13)
10. 3.Adagio Cantabile: Piano Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op .13 ?Pathetique? (5:19)   21. 14. Rondo. Allegro Ma Non Troppo: Piano Sonata No. 15, D Major, Op. 28 ?Pastora
11. 4. Scherzo: Allegro Assai: Piano Sonata No. 10 In G Major, Op. 14, No. 2 (3:28)   22. 15. Lebhaft. Marschmassig: Piano Sonata No. 28 In A Major, Op. 101 (6:44)
  23. 16. Vivace Non Troppo: Piano Sonata No. 30 In E Major, Op. 109 (3:54)