Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109; Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110; Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111

by Ludwig van Beethoven / Glenn Gould

Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109; Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110; Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111 cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 17 September 1956
  • Label: Columbia Masterworks
  • Country: Canada
  • Length: 8:22
  • Community rating: 3.71/5 from 2 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Following his monumental Goldberg Variations, the eccentric Canadian virtuoso tackles the famously profound, technically formidable final piano sonatas of the legendary German composer. His interpretation fiercely discards lush romanticism in favor of an aggressively brisk, highly analytical clarity that exposes the dense, forward-thinking counterpoint of the late-period works. The brilliant, often highly polarizing recordings remain a staggering, deeply intellectual milestone in 20th-century classical performance.

Genres

Descriptors: instrumental, acoustic, complex, technical, melodic

Tracklist

  1. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109: I. Vivace ma non troppo, sempre legato
  2. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109: II. Prestissimo
  3. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109: III. Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo
  4. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110: I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
  5. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110: II. Allegro molto
  6. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110: III. Adagio ma non troppo
  7. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110: III. Fuga: Allegro ma non troppo
  8. Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111: I. Maestoso; Allegro con brio ed appassionato
  9. Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111: II. Arietta: Adagio molto semplice e cantabile

Credits

More from Ludwig van Beethoven / Glenn Gould: full discography