Alfred Brendel - The Complete Philips Recordings - Box Set 114CDs

Label : Decca
Format : Ape
Cover : No

"If I belong to a tradition it is a tradition that makes the masterpiece tell the performer what he should do and not the performer telling the piece what it should be like, or the composer what he ought to have composed." ALFRED BRENDEL

Decca release Alfred Brendel’s complete Philips legacy for the first time, celebrating the artist’s remarkable achievements in the year of his 85th birthday. Developed in close collaboration with Alfred Brendel himself, this prodigious 114CD edition includes studio albums, live recordings and radio broadcasts. The set is accompanied by a 200-page book featuring a note by Brendel’s personal choice of writer, Misha Donat, an article by the pianist himself and an extensive tracklisting indicating his favourite recordings.

Alfred Brendel’s place among the greatest musicians of the 20th and 21st centuries is assured. Renowned for his masterly interpretations of the works of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Schumann and Liszt, he is one of the indisputable authorities in musical life today. A talented writer and poet, Brendel’s musical genius is particularly influenced by his extra-musical interests. Writing is a constant source of inspiration and expression for Brendel, and he lists “laughing” as one of his favourite occupations – something that is reflected in his playing, which shows a rare talent for highlighting unexpected elements of humour, particularly in Haydn and Beethoven.

Brendel had a somewhat unconventional musical background – something which he regards as an advantage. Born to parents who were not musicians, Brendel has had very little formal training and is largely self-taught. Instead, Brendel learnt by recording the piece he was studying, listening to himself and reacting to it. This approach has resulted in a unique interpretative insight. Countless awards and honours include Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE; 1989), Beethoven-Ring of the Vienna Music University (2001) and Praemium Imperiale (2008).

HIGHLIGHTS:

•3 cycles of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos (Rattle,WPO 1997-98 / Haitink, LPO 1975-77 / Levine, CSO 1983
•2 cycles of Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas (1970-77 and 1992-96)
•Haydn: 11 Sonatas (1979-85)
•Mozart Piano Concertos (Marriner, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields 1976-1982)
•Mozart Piano Concertos under Charles Mackerras
•Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition
•2 cycles of Late Piano works by Schubert (analogue and digital)
•2 recordings of LISZT: Années: Italie (1972 and 1986)
•LISZT: Piano Sonata; Totentanz
•Beethoven Complete Cello Sonatas with Andrian Brendel (2003-4)
•Unpublished live & radio performances – Beethoven / Busoni / Mendelssohn / Chopin (1968-2001)
•Schubert and Schumann lieder with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Matthias Goerne
•1 CD of Live Recitals in Salzburg
•Farewell Concerts (2008)

Complete tracklist : Alfred Brendel - The Complete Philips Recordings