Beethoven: The Last 3 Piano Sonatas Op. 109, 110, 111

by Anne Queffelec

Overview

The pianist Anne Queffelec is esteemed by connoisseurs but is hardly a household name, at least outside her native France. This is a shame, for she can almost always be counted on for interesting readings of familiar repertory. Her earlier Beethoven release, Lettre a Elise, included wholly novel treatments of Beethoven chestnuts like Fuer Elise and Rage Over a Lost Penny, Op. 129. With this release, she moved into more serious territory with the composer's often ecstatic last three piano sonatas. Queffelec does not lack competition here, but her takes on these works are distinctive. One way to regard them is to emphasize the ways in which they look forward deep into the Romantic era, and to give them muscular, Lisztian readings (in fact, Liszt was an early champion of late Beethoven). Queffelec divorces these two tendencies. Her playing in the big, dramatic movements is more reflective than earth-shaking, and her big variation sets clean rather than high-energy, but her interpretations do qualify as proto-Romantic in many ways. Hear the rhythmically free, Schumann-like version of the opening movement of the Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109. Her slow movements are deeply contemplative, most of all that of the Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110. This sonata, with its fantasia-like structure, is probably Queffelec's finest moment here, but everything on the album is fresh, and it marks a high point in the career of a somewhat underrated artist. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	12/30/2022
Label:	Mirare
UPC:	3760127226352
Rank:	191797

Tracks

1. Sonate pour piano no. 30 en mi majeur Opus 109~Vivace ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo
2. Sonate pour piano no. 30 en mi majeur Opus 109~Prestissimo
3. Sonate pour piano no. 30 en mi majeur Opus 109~Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung
4. Sonate pour piano no. 31 en la b¿¿mol majeur Opus 110~Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
5. Sonate pour piano no. 31 en la b¿¿mol majeur Opus 110~Allegro molto
6. Sonate pour piano no. 31 en la b¿¿mol majeur Opus 110~Adagio ma non troppo
7. Sonate pour piano no. 31 en la b¿¿mol majeur Opus 110~Fuga. Allegro ma non troppo
8. Sonate pour piano no. 32 en ut mineur Opus 111~Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato
9. Sonate pour piano no. 32 en ut mineur Opus 111~Arietta. Adagio molto semplice cantabile

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Anne Queffelec   Primary Artist,Piano

Technical Credits

Anne Queffelec   Liner Notes
Ludwig van Beethoven   Composer
Charles Johnston   Liner Note Translation
Rene Martin   Concept,Artistic Supervision
Jean-Michel Bouchet   Design
Hughes Deschaux   Editing,Engineer,Artistic Director
Francois-Rene Martin   Concept,Artistic Supervision
Caroline Doutre   Cover Photo,Photography
Achim Russer   Liner Note Translation
Clemence Burgun   Concept,Artistic Supervision