Maurizio Pollini

…it's one of the quartet's last recordings, but the legendary luminosity of sound is still there, as is the beautiful precision, perfectly complemented by Pollini's clarity and control of touch. But it's by no means a cold, clinical performance - the first movement is powerfully dramatic, the Andante expansively lyrical, and the start of the Scherzo has never sounded darker or more mysterious.

He was a true giant of the piano, one of the few pianists of the last decades for whom the word “legend” was not overdone: Maurizio Pollini passed away March 23rd 2024. He will be reminded for his wide repertoire (from the great Baroque and Romantic masters to the avant-garde which he had always been a relentless promoter) and his unique playing style, very analytic with a dazzling technique and particularly clear sound. Pollini has only recorded two albums for EMI in his early career, gathered here as an homage: both dedicated to Chopin, they include famous solo pieces and the first concerto conducted by Paul Kletzki. The Polonaise, Op. 44 is made available to digital partners for the very first time.

Maurizio Pollini is an Italian pianist. He is known for performances of compositions by Beethoven, Chopin and Debussy, among others. He has also championed and performed works by contemporary composers such as Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen, George Benjamin, Roberto Carnevale, Gianluca Cascioli and Bruno Maderna. Works composed for him include Luigi Nono's … sofferte onde serene …, Giacomo Manzoni's Masse: omaggio a Edgard Varèse and Salvatore Sciarrino's Fifth Sonata.

8 CDs, Capbox. Maurizio Pollini's Beethoven Sonatas cycle has reached completion after nearly 40 years. The Beethoven cycle began in June 1975 with opp. 109 and 110, and reached completion this year with the final CD, of the three sonatas op. 31 and the two of op. 49. This latter recording will appear as a single CD simultaneously with the box set. This is the first Beethoven cycle on DG since those of Barenboim and Giles in the 1980s.

8 CDs, Capbox. Maurizio Pollini's Beethoven Sonatas cycle has reached completion after nearly 40 years. The Beethoven cycle began in June 1975 with opp. 109 and 110, and reached completion this year with the final CD, of the three sonatas op. 31 and the two of op. 49. This latter recording will appear as a single CD simultaneously with the box set. This is the first Beethoven cycle on DG since those of Barenboim and Giles in the 1980s.