Beethoven, Alfred Brendel – Piano Sonatas = Klaviersonaten: Op. 109, 110 & 111

Beethoven – Alfred Brendel – Piano Sonatas: Op. 109, 110 & 111

A profound interpretation of the final three piano sonatas by Alfred Brendel, this recording explores some of the most introspective and structurally innovative works in the piano repertoire by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Often referred to as Beethoven’s “late sonatas,” Op. 109, 110, and 111 represent a radical shift in musical language - moving away from classical formality toward deeply personal expression, fragmentation, and transcendence. Brendel’s approach is known for its intellectual clarity and emotional restraint, allowing the architecture of the music to speak without excess ornamentation.

Op. 109 opens with a fluid, almost improvisatory first movement that contrasts sharply with the intense energy of the Prestissimo and the expansive, song-like variations of the final movement. Op. 110 moves into even more spiritual territory, combining lyrical introspection with a dramatic fugue that feels both scholarly and emotionally charged. Op. 111, Beethoven’s final piano sonata, closes the set in a completely different world: a forceful, almost orchestral first movement followed by a vast, meditative Arietta that gradually dissolves into timeless variation.

Brendel’s reading is especially valued for its structural insight, highlighting the architecture beneath the emotional surface while preserving the music’s expressive depth.

Tracklist:

Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
1 – Vivace, ma non troppo – Adagio espressivo – Tempo I
2 – Prestissimo
3 – Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung

Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110
4 – Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
5 – Allegro molto
6 – Adagio ma non troppo – Arioso dolente
7 – Fuga: Allegro ma non troppo

Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111
8 – Maestoso – Allegro con brio ed appassionato
9 – Arietta: Adagio molto semplice e cantabile