Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Ferdinand Leitner, Berlin Philharmonic Brass Ensemble :: NightMoods: Moonlight

Emil B. from LISLE, IL
Reviewed on 4/11/2009...

This CD features a number of well known & readily recognizable Beethoven compositions for piano, including the Moonlight, Pathetique, & Appasionata sonatas, the "Fur Elise" bagatelle, and several movements from his concertos. The principal pianists are Emil Gilels, Wilhelm Kempff, & Martha Argerich. This is romantic, gentle listening classical music, although ArchivMusic, the recording company, advertises this as New Age, easy listening music for relaxing during the nightime hours, which it is also. By any description, it's a pleasant listening experience.

Soulful Beethoven

Ardith Campbell Dentzer | Alexandria, VA USA | 12/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In January 2000, I visited Bonn, Germany's Beethoven House and found this CD in its gift shop. If you are looking for a soothing, soulful selection of the master's work, this is it. I am surprised that this CD isn't as big a seller in the U.S. as it obviously is in Germany. For those of you who have also seen the film "Immortal Beloved" -- you'll recognize some of the cuts on the CD, particularly track 7, the Klavierkonzert Nr. 5 Es-dur op. 73 (forgive me, I am looking at the CD I bought in Bonn -- in German of course). Once you listen to track 7, tell me if you don't think Beethoven translated the art of making love, into music, in this crescendoing piece. Beethoven may not have been able to add sensual lyrics in his day, but they are here if you but listen. The entire CD is magnificent, and the Nightmoods series of this composer, and others, is also the same."