Volume 8 of Martin Roscoe’s beloved Beethoven Piano Sonata series.

“These are original readings of great style, wit and imagination, each individual sonata emerging with rare emotional and intellectual cohesion. I think you’ll enjoy them.”
-Gramophone

Even by Beethoven’s own extraordinary standards, Op. 57 is one of his most striking and original works. Its intense emotion led to the unattributed nickname Appassionata around 1838, but the name really only tells part of the story. The visceral power, the tragic atmosphere and the many unique structural features all combine with that intensity to make the Appassionata arguably Beethoven’s greatest and most-admired piano sonata. It is followed here by Les Adieux, Beethoven’s personal and programmatic account of the departure, absence, and return of his friend and patron, Archduke Rudolph, who left Vienna with the rest of the Emperor’s entourage when Napoleon’s army invaded Austria in 1809. Finally, the Piano Sonata Op. 101 brings us into the world of Beethoven’s late works, with its special blend of grandeur and intimacy. The great fugal development in the final movement challenges the performer’s command of counterpoint to the extreme, while building towards the clamactic unveiling of the newly expanded piano’s low E.

Martin Roscoe is a versatile musician and one of Britain’s most prolific recitalists who features regularly on BBC Radio 3.  His enduring popularity and solid reputation are built on a deeply thoughtful musicianship that is allied to an easy rapport with audiences and fellow musicians alike.  He has recorded the complete piano music of Nielsen and Szymanowski, as well as this series for of the first complete Beethoven piano sonatas from Barry Cooper’s new edition, published by ABRSM.

Martin is currently a Professor of Piano at the Guildhall School of Music, London. Artistic Director of Ribble Valley International Piano Week and Beverley Chamber Music Festival.  He lives in the English Lake District, that provides inspiration and enables him to indulge his passions for the countryside and hill-walking.  www.martinroscoe.co.uk

Appassionata (DXL 1168) Digital Booklet

Track List:

Piano Sonata in F minor Op. 57 ‘Appassionata’
1) Allegro assai (9:32)
2) Andante con moto (6:18)
3) Allegro ma non troppo – Presto (7:48)

Piano Sonata in E flat Op. 81a ‘Les Adieux’
4) Adagio – Allegro (7:02)
5) Andante espressivo (3:34)
6) Vivacissimamente (5:54)

Piano Sonata in A Op. 101
7) Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung. Allegretto ma non troppo (4:19)
8) Ziemlich lebhaft. Marschmässig. Vivace alla Marcia (6:16)
9) Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll. Adagio ma non troppo, con affetto (2:20)
10) Zeitmass des ersten Stücks. Tempo del primo pezzo – Geschwinde, doch nicht zu sehr und mit Entschlossenheit. Allegro (8:03)

“[these accounts] go out of their way to emphasis the freshness and cheekiness of Beethoven, for all his indebtedness to Haydn. No listener will be disappointed…”
In The Beginning (Vol. 5) DXL 1165, BBC Music Magazine,  February 2016 ****

“perfect musical judgement and a formidable technique from Martin Roscoe” Waldstein, DXL 1162, BBC Radio 3

” I think Roscoe’s way with them is nigh-on perfect” Pathetique, DXL 1161 Gramophone Magazine, June 2010