Recordings of Beethoven Piano Cycles
prepared by Jens Laurson

 

Part 1 30s, 40s & 50s

Part 2 60s

Part 3 70s & 80s

Part 4 90s

Part 5 00s

This survey is meant to list all complete sets of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas and their availability in different markets, not to review them. 

For those of you wanting to let me know about series that I have apparently missed, please wait for my last instalment.

	Anton Kuerti 1974 - 1975 - Analekta One of the first complete sets of the Sonatas I had, and ever declining in my estimation. Wherever Kuerti is very slow (which he is very often), the speed does not seem to be justified by an equivalent increase in musicality, lyricism, or other notable facet. And where Kuerti isn't very slow, he does not impress with the polished technique that many of the competitors display. Interesting, but hardly essential. Availability: Country / Label USA UK France Germany EMI Yes Yes Yes Yes
	Alfred Brendel II 1970 - 1977 - Philips (analog) Not long after Brendel had finished these recordings, digital became the new thing in the recording industry and so he would go about it for a third time shortly thereafter, recording what is--at least on CD--his most prevalent cycle. Availability: Country / Label USA UK France Germany Philips (Yes) Yes Yes Yes
	Malcolm Binns 19?? - 1977 (?) - L'Oiseau-Lyre Played on different period instruments. Never issued on CD. Availability of last 5 Sonatas: Country / Label USA UK France Germany Explore Records Yes Yes Yes Yes
	Annie Fischer 1976 - 1978* - Hungaroton These performances were recorded phrase by phrase with retakes, cutting, pasting, and editing taking place as late as 1992 and even beyond Fischer's death. Has its (cult?) following. Availability: (Also available on individual discs) Country / Label USA UK France Germany EMI Yes (Yes) (Yes) Yes
	John Lill 1975 - 1980 - ASV (Brilliant, Sanctuary) Availability: Country / Label USA UK France Germany Sanctuary Yes Yes Yes Yes
	Vladimir Ashkenazy 1971 - 1981 - Decca My first Beethoven Piano Sonata cycle of which especially the early sonatas hold up very well while I've become rather indifferent to much of the rest. Availability: Country / Label USA UK France Germany EMI Yes Yes Yes Yes
	Rudolf Buchbinder 1979 - 1981 - Telefunken / Telarc Live? Buchbinder is one of the world's most avid Beethoven sonata edition collectors with over 18 complete editions in his library. Availability: Country / Label USA UK France Germany Dynamic No No No No
	Daniel Barenboim II 1981 - 1984 - Deutsche Grammophon Barenboim, Take Two. Now for Deutsche Grammophon. Availability: Country / Label USA UK France Germany DG Yes Yes Yes Yes
	Tatiana Nikolayeva 1984 - Melodiya (Olympia (UK), DS Berlin, Scribendum) What little I've heard about (but not of) this cycle, it must be uncompetitive in every regard. Recorded during a series of Moscow recitals over a few months in very early 1984. Availability: Country / Label USA UK France Germany Scribendum (Yes) (Yes) No Yes
	Bernard Roberts 1981 - 1984 - Nimbus Availability: Country / Label USA UK France Germany Nimbus Yes Yes Yes Yes
	Jenő Jandó 1987 - 1989 - Naxos Naxos' pianist for all seasons seems to have recorded the complete-anything. Some Haydn I have of his is very amiable stuff, but the little I've heard of his Beethoven too bland to want to make me explore it further. Availability: On individual discs. (Two 5-disc sets containing the cycle have since been discontinued.) Country / Label USA UK France Germany Gramola List (Yes) mp3 (Yes) Yes

	Claudio Arrau II 1984* - 1990 - Philips France (Arrau Heritage Edition) Arrau, who started to record a cycle for Walter Legge with Columbia between 1947 and 1960 (only 11 sonatas were recorded), went on to produce one of the most cherished cycles for Philips in the 60s. Twenty years later, near the summit (if not technical peak) of his career, he recorded them again, this time in digital sound. Notably good digital sound, it should be pointed out. Broad interpretations meet with unforgiving clarity and regal rigor. Arrau died before he could re-record opp.27/1 and 106 which are taken from the earlier cycle. A 1952 Deutsche Grammophon Diabelli Variation recording is added as a bonus. Availability: Country / Label USA UK France Germany Philips Yes Yes Yes Yes
	Michaël Lévinas 1984 - 1991 - Ades Most of this cycle was recorded between 1988 and 1991, played on a Steinway. Availability: Country / Label USA UK France Germany Ades No No No (Yes)
	Abdel Rahman El Bacha 1984 - 1993 - Forlane Availability: Country / Label USA UK France Germany Forlane No Yes Yes Yes
	John O'Conor 198? - 1993 - Telarc Availability: Country / Label USA UK France Germany Telarc Yes Yes Yes Yes
	Robert Benz 1988 - 1995 - Thorofon Available only in individual volumes, and those spottily only. Country / Label USA UK France Germany Thorofon No (Yes) (No) Yes
	Richard Goode 1989 - 1993 - Nonesuch Availability: Country / Label USA UK France Germany Nonesuch Yes Yes Yes Yes

 

>>> Part 4: 1990s

This survey was originally published on the Ionarts blog. 

If you have additional information about recording dates, availability, cover art -- or corrections and additions -- your input is much appreciated.

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