Sonata No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: III. Allegretto
Sonata No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: IV. Prestissimo
Sonata No. 22 In F Major, Op. 54: I. In Tempo dún Menuetto
Sonata No. 22 In F Major, Op. 54: II. Allegreto
Sonata No. 23 In F Minor, Op. 57 'Appassionata': I. Allegro assai
Sonata No. 23 In F Minor, Op. 57 'Appassionata': II. Andante con moto
Sonata No. 23 In F Minor, Op. 57 'Appassionata': III Allegro ma non troppo
Track Listings (9) - Disc #2
Sonata No. 2 In A Major, Op. 2 No. 2: I. Allegro vivace
Sonata No. 2 In A Major, Op. 2 No. 2: II. Largo appassionata
Sonata No. 2 In A Major, Op. 2 No. 2: III. Scherzo: Allegretto
Sonata No. 2 In A Major, Op. 2 No. 2: IV. Rondo: Grazioso
Sonata No. 24 In F Sharp Major, Op. 78: I. Allegro ma non troppo
Sonata No. 24 In F Sharp Major, Op. 78: II. Allegro vivace
Sonata No. 28 In A Major, Op. 101: I. Allegretto, ma non troppo
Sonata No. 28 In A Major, Op. 101: II. Vivace alla marcia
Sonata No. 28 In A Major, Op. 101: Adagio, ma non troppo, con affetto - Allegro
Track Listings (8) - Disc #3
Sonata No. 3 In C Major, Op. 2 No. 3: I. Allegro con brio
Sonata No. 3 In C Major, Op. 2 No. 3: II. Adagio
Sonata No. 3 In C Major, Op. 2 No. 3: III. Scherzo: Allegro
Sonata No. 3 In C Major, Op. 2 No. 3: IV. Allegro assai
Sonata No. 19 In G Minor, Op. 49 No. 1: I. Andante
Sonata No. 19 In G Minor, Op. 49 No. 1: II. Rondo: Allegro
Sonata No. 21 In C Major, Op. 53 'Waldstein': I. Allegro con brio
Sonata No. 21 In C Major, Op. 53 'Waldstein': II. Introduzione - Rondo
Track Listings (10) - Disc #4
Sonata No. 4 In E Flat Major, Op. 7: I. Allegro molto e con brio
Sonata No. 4 In E Flat Major, Op. 7: II. Largo, con gran espressione
Sonata No. 4 In E Flat Major, Op. 7: III. Allegro
Sonata No. 4 In E Flat Major, Op. 7: IV. Rondo: Poco allegretto e grazioso
Sonata No. 10 In G Major, Op. 14 No. 2: I. Allegro
Sonata No. 10 In G Major, Op. 14 No. 2: II. Andante
Sonata No. 10 In G Major, Op. 14 No. 2: III. Scherzo: Allegro assai
Sonata No. 26 In E Flat major, Op. 81a 'Les adieux, l'absence et le retour': I. Adagio - Allegro
Sonata No. 26 In E Flat major, Op. 81a 'Les adieux, l'absence et le retour': II. Andante espressivo
Sonata No. 26 In E Flat major, Op. 81a 'Les adieux, l'absence et le retour': III. Vivacissimamente
Track Listings (10) - Disc #5
Sonata No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 10 No. 1: I. Allegro molto e con brio
Sonata No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 10 No. 1: II. Adagio molto
Sonata No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 10 No. 1: III. Prestissimo
Sonata No. 6 In F Major, Op. 10 No. 2: I. Allegro
Sonata No. 6 In F Major, Op. 10 No. 2: II. Allegretto
Sonata No. 6 In F Major, Op. 10 No. 2: III. Presto
Sonata No. 7 In D Major, Op. 10 No. 3: I. Presto
Sonata No. 7 In D Major, Op. 10 No. 3: II. Largo e mesto
Sonata No. 7 In D Major, Op. 10 No. 3: III. Menuetto: Allegro
Sonata No. 7 In D Major, Op. 10 No. 3: IV. Rondo: Allegro
Track Listings (10) - Disc #6
Sonata No. 11 In B Flat Major, Op. 22: I. Allegro con brio
Sonata No. 11 In B Flat Major, Op. 22: II. Adagio con molto espressione
Sonata No. 11 In B Flat Major, Op. 22: III. Menuetto
Sonata No. 11 In B Flat Major, Op. 22: IV. Rondo: Allegretto
Sonata No. 20 In G Major, Op. 49 No. 2: I. Allegro, ma non troppo
Sonata No. 20 In G Major, Op. 49 No. 2: II. Tempo di minuetto
Sonata No. 15 In D Major, Op. 28 'Pastoral': I. Allegro
Sonata No. 15 In D Major, Op. 28 'Pastoral': II. Andante
Sonata No. 15 In D Major, Op. 28 'Pastoral': III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace
Sonata No. 15 In D Major, Op. 28 'Pastoral': IV. Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo
Track Listings (10) - Disc #7
Sonata No 25 In G Major, Op. 79: I. Presto alla tedesca
Sonata No 25 In G Major, Op. 79: II. Andante
Sonata No 25 In G Major, Op. 79: III. Vivace
Sonata No 17 In D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 'Tempest': I. Allegro
Sonata No 17 In D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 'Tempest': II. Adagio
Sonata No 17 In D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 'Tempest': III. Allegretto
Sonata No. 15 In E Flat Major, Op. 31 No. 3: I. Allegro
Sonata No. 18 In E Flat Major, Op. 31 No. 3: II. Scherzo: Allegro vivace
Sonata No. 18 In E Flat Major, Op. 31 No. 3: III. Menuett: Moderato e grazioso
Sonata No. 18 In E Flat Major, Op. 31 No. 3: IV. Presto con fuoco
Track Listings (8) - Disc #8
Sonata No. 13 In E Flat Major, Op 27 No. 1: I. Andante
Sonata No. 13 In E Flat Major, Op 27 No. 1: II. Allegro molto e vivace
Sonata No. 13 In E Flat Major, Op 27 No. 1: III. Adagio con espressione
Sonata No. 13 In E Flat Major, Op 27 No. 1: IV. Allegro vivace
Sonata No. 29 In B Flat Major, Op. 106 'Hammerklavier': I. Allegro
Sonata No. 29 In B Flat Major, Op. 106 'Hammerklavier': II. Scherzo: Assai vivace
Sonata No. 29 In B Flat Major, Op. 106 'Hammerklavier': III. Adagio sostenuto
Sonata No. 29 In B Flat Major, Op. 106 'Hammerklavier': IV. Largo - Allegro risoluto
Track Listings (9) - Disc #9
Sonata No 9 In E Major, Op. 14 No. 1: I. Allegro
Sonata No 9 In E Major, Op. 14 No. 1: II. Allegretto
Sonata No 9 In E Major, Op. 14 No. 1: III. Rondo: Allegretto
Sonata No. 16 In G Major, Op. 31 No. 1: I. Allegro vivace
Sonata No. 16 In G Major, Op. 31 No. 1: II. Adagio grazioso
Sonata No. 16 In G Major, Op. 31 No. 1: III. Rondo: Allegretto
Sonata No 30 In E Major, Op. 109: I. Vivace ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo
Sonata No 30 In E Major, Op. 109: II. Prestissimo
Sonata No 30 In E Major, Op. 109: III. Gesangvoll mit innigster Empfindung
Track Listings (11) - Disc #10
Sonata No 5 In A Flat Major, Op. 26: I. Andante con variazioni
Sonata No 5 In A Flat Major, Op. 26: II. Scherzo
Sonata No 5 In A Flat Major, Op. 26: III. Marcia funebre
Sonata No 5 In A Flat Major, Op. 26: IV. Allegro
Sonata No 14 In C Sharp Minor, Op 27 No 2 'Moonlight': I. Adagio sostenuto
Sonata No 14 In C Sharp Minor, Op 27 No 2 'Moonlight': II. Allegretto
Sonata No 14 In C Sharp Minor, Op 27 No 2 'Moonlight': III. Presto
Sonata No 31 In A Flat Major, Op 110: I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
Sonata No 31 In A Flat Major, Op 110: II. Allegro molto
Sonata No 31 In A Flat Major, Op 110: III. Adagio, ma non troppo
Sonata No 31 In A Flat Major, Op 110: IV. Fuga: Allegro ma non troppo
Track Listings (7) - Disc #11
Sonata No 8 In C Minor, Op 13 'Pathetique': I. Grave - Allegro molto e con brio
Sonata No 8 In C Minor, Op 13 'Pathetique': II. Adagio cantabile
Sonata No 8 In C Minor, Op 13 'Pathetique': III. Rondo: Allegro
Sonata No. 27 In E Minor, Op. 90: I. Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfinding und Ausdruck
Sonata No. 27 In E Minor, Op. 90: II. Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorgetragen
Sonata No. 32 In C Minor, Op. 111: I. Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato
Sonata No. 32 In C Minor, Op. 111: II. Arietta: Adagio molto semplice e cantabile
Rather than present the sonatas in chronological order, each disc is refreshingly arranged as a mini-program that juxtaposes contrasting works. While Bernard Roberts doesn't quite command the flexible technique of Sviatosl... more »av Richter or the individual point of view set out in cycles by Schnabel, Arrau, Kempff, or Yves Nat, those wishing a super-bargain Beethoven cycle will not be disappointed. --Jed Distler« less
Rather than present the sonatas in chronological order, each disc is refreshingly arranged as a mini-program that juxtaposes contrasting works. While Bernard Roberts doesn't quite command the flexible technique of Sviatoslav Richter or the individual point of view set out in cycles by Schnabel, Arrau, Kempff, or Yves Nat, those wishing a super-bargain Beethoven cycle will not be disappointed. --Jed Distler
CD Reviews
Superior buy at any price. Roberts is magnificent!
songbear | Ashburn, VA United States | 10/01/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I majored in music in college, and have been a classical music fan since I was in junior high school. These performances by Bernard Roberts are delightful. I think Mr. Roberts takes more af a technically pure (and less sacharin) approach than some folks are used to - no frills, but still manages to catch the intricacies of the music. The sound isn't the big concert hall sound - it is a much more intimate chamber music acoustic than I've heard on any other recordings. The dynamic range is well captured and the recordings are top notch. I paid much more for a few of these recordings when they originally came out and thought they were worth the full price. Mr. Robert's interpretations stand up to anything else out there and don't have to take a back seat to anyone. This will be the only complete set of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas I will need - or want. I plan on adding all of these Nimbus sets to my collection - and I CAN afford the more expensive ones. These Nimbus sets are a superior buy at any price."
Wonderful playing will not disappoint
Mike C | Richardson, TX USA | 09/10/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This set of Beethoven sonatas has its highs and lows (like every other set of sonatas available). The high points for this include fidelity to Beethoven's markings and, in general, a lack of eccentricities. This leads to superior performances in such sonatas as the three in opus 2, the three in opus 10, and opus 53. In addition, the late sonatas are played beautifully - this is as good of an opus 109 as I've heard, and opus 110 is also extremely moving. And the Hammerklavier is really well done.The lows include the fact that this set has a few smudged notes here and there. From what I understand (from reading other listeners' feedback on the internet), this set was recorded in the early 1980s over the period of serveral months or even a couple of years, and each piece was recorded complete without editing - I don't know if that means each movement or each sonata complete. In addition, the sound is not very pleasant in some of the sonatas (not all of them). Others have taken issue with the order that the sonatas are presented, and the lack of program liner notes, neither of which is an issue for me. I think there are individual movements (op. 22, second movement; op. 2 #2, second movement, the Tempest, last movement) that sound a little superficial, where somebody like, say, Arrau pulls out more produndity. But one man's profundity is another man's ponderousness, and Roberts has more of a sense of humor that Arrau in the opus 31 sonatas. In general, his pacing is somewhere between that of Richard Goode (whose playing is extremely energetic, but can be heard as somewhat glib and superficial) and Arrau (who, mentioned above, doesn't put much energy into op. 53 and op. 57).In a way, it's a shame that this set is so inexpensive, because it can overshadow comparisons to other sets. I own sets by other pianists (Goode, Arrau, most of Brendel's) and individual sonatas by a lot of others, and right now this is my favorite. This is a great set for people looking for a solid, complete set, faithful to Beethoven's wishes, and consistent throughout. It's a good choice for a library as well."
Lowest-cost complete set
Alan Lekan | Boulder, CO | 02/10/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you are looking for your first COMPLETE set of Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas, you've just found the LOWEST COST set available. But is it "the best" or a good one?? Depends on a lot of course. Beethoven's Piano Sonatas are one category in classical music brimming with an abundance of quality choices - both historic and modern - and begs the obvious question, "Which set to chose?" With Kempff we have a "gentleman's Beethoven" ... with Pollini a surgical precision ... Alfred Brendel gives wonderfully conceived masterpieces ... with Goode comes some very poised playing in the classical tradition ... and with Richter, Nikolavia or Kovacavich some fire. (Kovacavich's cycle is my personal favorite). One can spend hours and hours comparing performers and recordings work-by-work and still not really have a solid feel for which one is "the best" - at least for you. And in doing so, the focus can become overly weighted on the finding the elusive "ideal" recording that one can miss the importance of just sitting down with one of the many great recordings available and revelling in the depths of Beethoven's piano music.
All things considered, Bernard Robert's complete cycle here is a solid choice - not overly "poetic" ... nor overly "Romantic" or brash. In addition to Bernard Roberts set here, a similar "super budget" set from Claude Frank was re-released on the Music & Arts label (about $59). Other sets will cost $100 and up typically. Both Frank and Roberts give simimlarly compelling, musically rich and interpretatively balanced readings. Frank's style is more lucid and refined where Roberts brings more intensity. Such complete sets as these form a solid reference point to understand and appreciate the other historic performer's interpretive artistry (as most connoisseurs have several sets eventually). At some point of one's musical journey, it becomes enlightening to listen to historic greats as Schnabel, Kempff, Arrau, Serkin, Goode, Gilels, Kovacavich ... but early on it is probably more important just to hear Beethoven-for-Beethoven and focus less on the performer. And these inexpensive sets allow that for the budget buyer.
But don't let the price or lack of popularity make you think either of these budget sets are sub-standard performances either. Bernard Roberts is well known and much admired in his native England while German-born Claude Frank's Beethoven's recordings were, according to music writer and pianist David Dubal, "highly prized." Both get good reviews (both on Amazon and music press) and both represent Beethoven faithfully and with much artistry. Where Frank's cycle is a more closely-miked sound environemnt, Robert's recordings have a more resonant ambiance. If price is the main consideration, Roberts set is unbeatable and the best way to begin the journey to explore the 32 sonatas."
Powerful Performance; Impeccable Recording; Best Price
Daniel Bay Gibbons | Salt Lake City, USA | 02/06/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If my entire music collection were limited to two collections, the first would be the Well Tempered Klavier (the "Forty Eight" or the "Old Testament" of piano music) and the Beethoven Piano Sonatas (the "Thirty Two" or the "New Testament"). This set by Bernard Roberts is as close to perfection as any. Here we have one of the finest digital recordings of the entire Thirty Two by a strong traditional performer at a very modest price. There are finer individual performances in the discography (Brendel, Kovacevich and Pollini, for example), but that is mere quibbling. Overall it doesn't get any better than this. Roberts' performance is powerful, rich and insightful. The sound is clean and the price is at least $.... less than any other comparable set I've seen. Some random thoughts. 1. Notable performances in this set include Roberts' interpretations of the Opus 53 ("Waldstein") and the Opus 106 ("Hammerklavier").2. Because the Thirty Two were written For me the Thirty Two are best heard in chronological order, the organization of the 32 among the 11 CD's is highly disconcerting. There is no chronological or other apparent order among the discs. 3. The set includes a booklet showing the detailed contents of the discs and recording times, but other information on the works is almost wholly lacking. I would think that, at a minimum, the dates of the works and brief descriptions in a set like this should be indispensible."
Great Beethoven
Laurence Goode | Santa Monica | 09/18/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Fully equivalent of any modern set around this set has great moments of depth. Though his piano playing in not stellar, his interpetations generally surpass most others. His playing is free from idyoscnhrony, direct, and rugged. Direct comparison with Richard Goode shows Roberts to possess greater passion, structural integrity, and most important much more depth. Comparisons with Kempff show Roberts to have greater Beethoven command and understanding, plus again greater depth. Arrau, Barenboim, and others are not competitive with this set. Jando is good but lacks weight and architectural strength."