a r t i s t : Muzio Clementi (Howard Shelley)
t i t l e : The Complete Piano Sonatas Vol. 1 Opp. 1, 2, 7 & 8
d a t e : 2008
l a b e l : Hyperion
c a t : CDA67632
s o u r c e : CDDA
g e n r e : Classical
r l s. d a t e : Dec/2008
t r a c k s : 40
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 161,9 MB
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This is the first volume in a complete chronological survey of
the Clementi sonatas which we hope to complete in six ?2 for
the price of 1? double CD sets released over the next three
years. There is very little competition for this repertoire
and indeed this volume appears to include the first ever
recording of Clementi?s six sonatas Opus 1. Muzio Clementi was
for much of his long career one of the most famous musicians
in Europe. Around the turn of the nineteenth century his
public esteem was probably second only to that of Haydn, and,
a decade or so later, Beethoven. But unlike the reputations of
these other two, Clementi?s fame as a musician rested almost
solely upon his exploits, as both player and composer, at a
single instrument, the piano. And the vast majority of his
compositions are sonatas for that instrument. This is a
fascinating body of work which spans European musical life
from Scarlatti to Chopin. This is Howard Shelley?s hundredth
CD release and Hyperion congratulates him on an extraordinary
achievement.
Praise for CLEMENTI The Complete Piano Sonatas, Volume 1
Listening to this opener in Howard Shelleys complete cycle,
recorded on a pristine-sounding modern piano, it is hard to
imagine anyone else ever making them sound better Shelley
reveals this by treating each and every one of these works
with the utmost respect, his constant attention to the
subtlest details of touch and phrasing meaning not only that
things are never allowed to descend into the routine, but that
he is more than able to respond to those moments when Clementi
really does find a vein of poetry the Andante cantabile of Op
8 No 1 is a gem, the excellent Op 7 No 3 is strongly
expressive throughout Shelley realises them all while also
coping coolly with the more finger-breaking exhibitions of
virtuosity Shelleys performances, which seem well capable of
achieving definitive status, make you wonder if Mozart was
hiding some genuine discomfort (Gramophone) I have long
admired Shelleys spaciousness of phrase and generosity of
tonal range, and this latest offering certainly does not
disappoint on either account. The Opp 1 and 2 Sonatas benefit
from a fresh and spirited viewpoint, the leisurely lyrical
lines nevertheless beautifully compact this set may well
encourage listeners to reappraise Clementi, not in the shadow
of Mozart of Beethoven but in light of the composers
inestimable contribution to classical style (International
Record Review) Launching his complete Clementi cycle in
impressive style, Howard Shelley tosses off chains of thirds
and octaves with elegant virtuosity, and brings an ideal
expressive flexibility to the more personal sonatas
(Daily Telegraph)
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cd1
01-piano sonata in e flat major, op 1 no 1 i.allegro [02:50]
comodo
02-piano sonata in e flat major, op 1 no 1 ii.tempo di [02:32]
minuetto
03-piano sonata in g major, op 1 no 2 i.spiritoso [04:38]
04-piano sonata in g major, op 1 no 2 ii.allegro assai [02:52]
05-piano sonata in b flat major, op 1 no 3 i.maestoso [03:25]
06-piano sonata in b flat major, op 1 no 3 ii.andantino [03:52]
grazioso
07-piano sonata in f major, op 1 no 4 i.spiritoso [04:01]
08-piano sonata in f major, op 1 no 4 ii.larghetto [03:30]
09-piano sonata in f major, op 1 no 4 iii.rondeaux [02:58]
10-piano sonata in a major, op 1 no 5 i.larghetto [05:13]
11-piano sonata in a major, op 1 no 5 ii.tempo di [02:29]
menuetto grazioso
12-piano sonata in e major, op 1 no 6 i.moderato [03:53]
13-piano sonata in e major, op 1 no 6 ii.rondeau grazioso [02:34]
14-piano sonata in c major, op 2 no 2 i.presto [06:11]
15-piano sonata in c major, op 2 no 2 ii.rondeau [04:55]
spiritoso
16-piano sonata in a major, op 2 no 4 i.allegro assai [04:36]
17-piano sonata in a major, op 2 no 4 ii.spiritoso [04:42]
18-piano sonata in b flat major, op 2 no 6 i.allegro di [05:39]
molto
19-piano sonata in b flat major, op 2 no 6 ii.prestissimo [02:19]
20-piano sonata in g major wo14 [03:19]
cd2
01-piano sonata in e flat major, op 7 no 1 i.allegro [04:29]
02-piano sonata in e flat major, op 7 no 1 ii.mesto [03:56]
03-piano sonata in e flat major, op 7 no 1 iii.allegro [02:45]
spiritoso allegro tempo i
04-piano sonata in c major, op 7 no 2 i.allegro [05:39]
05-piano sonata in c major, op 7 no 2 ii.allegretto con [04:02]
espressione allegro
06-piano sonata in g minor, op 7 no 3 i.allegro [04:47]
espressivo
07-piano sonata in g minor, op 7 no 3 ii.adagio cantabile [03:11]
08-piano sonata in g minor, op 7 no 3 iii.allegro agitato [02:37]
09-piano sonata in g minor, op 8 no 1 i.allegro [05:24]
10-piano sonata in g minor, op 8 no 1 ii.andante [02:55]
cantabile
11-piano sonata in g minor, op 8 no 1 iii. presto [03:36]
12-piano sonata in e flat major, op 8 no 2 i.allegro [04:53]
assai
13-piano sonata in e flat major, op 8 no 2 ii.larghetto [03:18]
con espressione
14-piano sonata in e flat major, op 8 no 2 iii.rondeau [03:12]
allegro
15-piano sonata in b flat major, op 8 no 3 i.presto [04:50]
16-piano sonata in b flat major, op 8 no 3 ii.minuetto. [01:04]
allegretto
17-piano sonata in b flat major, op 8 no 3 iii.rondeau [02:53]
allegretto grazioso
18-piano sonata in a flat major, wo13 i.allegro ma non [04:24]
troppo
19-piano sonata in a flat major, wo13 ii.larghetto [04:50]
20-piano sonata in a flat major, wo13 iii.allegro assai [04:24]
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