Album

Jan Panenka, Josef Suk

Beethoven: Complete Violin Sonatas

Catalogue Number: SU 4077-2
Published: 27th January 2012
Genre: Chamber Music
Format: 4 CD
Ludwig van Beethoven - Violin Sonatas Nos 1-10
Recorded 1966-1967

Josef Suk - violin, Jan Panenka - piano

The ten violin sonatas form a significant part of Beethoven's oeuvre, and the complete recording made in 1966-67 occupies just as prominent a position in Josef Suk and Jan Panenka's discography. When viewed with the distance of time, the album confirms its importance in the repertoire of the two great artists. The famed tone of Josef Suk's violin is completely in the composer's service, the instrument talks and sings, while Panenka's take on Beethoven still astonishes with its wealth of articulation, purity of style and crystal-clear tone. The understanding and harmony between the two artists is similar to the intimacy of an encounter between two old friends after being separated for a long time. Suk and Panenka's performance is devoid ofegoism - both of them subordinate their technical virtuosity and musicality to the composer's genius. Hence, it comes as no surprise that almost half a century after it was made the recording still ranks among the most sought-after complete Beethoven albums. It has now been newly digitised and sensitively remastered from the original tapes. The word "legendary" tends to be grossly overused, yet in connection with this recording and the two superlative musicians it is entirely fitting.

Remastered Beethoven with Suk and Panenka - a legendary recording, a superb new sound

Reviews

”In the overwhelming majority of cases, and of movements, everything sounds perfectly scaled, well balanced, perceptively played and adroitly characterised. These are performances of great elegance and musicality…ten valuable, thoughtful and convincing performances from one of the most outstanding duos of its time.”
MusicWeb International, October 2012

CD 1

Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 in D major, Op 12 No. 1
1. Allegro con brio 09:24
2. Thema con variazioni. Andante con moto 07:35
3. Rondo. Allegro 04:55
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in A major, Op. 12 No. 2
4. Allegro vivace 06:11
5. Andante, piu tosto allegretto 05:05
6. Allegro piacevole 05:18
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 12 No. 3
7. Allegro con spirito 08:36
8. Adagio con molto espressione 07:12
9. Rondo. Allegro molto 04:13

CD 2

Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 4 in A minor, Op. 23
1. Presto 07:26
2. Andante scherzoso, piu allegretto 07:57
3. Allegro molto 05:31
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 5 in F major, Spring, Op. 24
4. Allegro 10:11
5. Adagio molto espressivo 06:44
6. Scherzo. Allegro molto 01:17
7. Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo 07:03
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 6 in A major, Op. 30 No. 1
8. Allegro 07:42
9. Adagio, molto espressivo 07:34
10. Allegretto con variazioni 07:51

CD 3

Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 7 in C minor, Op. 30 No. 2
1. Allegro con brio 08:06
2. Adagio cantabile 09:28
3. Scherzo. Allegro 03:14
4. Finale. Allegro - Presto 05:41
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 8 in G major, Op. 30 No. 3
5. Allegro assai 06:29
6. Tempo di minuetto, ma molto moderato e grazioso 08:13
7. Allegro vivace 03:35

CD 4

Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 9 in A major, Kreutzer, Op. 47
1. Adagio sostenuto - Presto 14:30
2. Andante con variazioni 15:32
3. Finale. Presto 09:28
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 10 in G major, Op. 96
4. Allegro moderato 10:24
5. Adagio espressivo (attacca) 07:15
6. Scherzo. Allegro (attacca) 02:12
7. Poco allegretto 10:05