Wilhelm Backhaus Ludwig van Beethoven: The Piano Sonatas Vol.2 Box Set (3 SHM-SACD)

The second set of three with legendary DECCA recordings of the Beethoven Piano Sonatas played by Wilhelm Backhaus. Contrary to what one might assume, these recordings were not made as part of a concert marathon, but were recorded over the years by DECCA and only combined as a joint work for the first time in 2012. The re-issue as SHM single-layer SACD uses a brand new DSD remastering from March 2019 and thus comes closer to the sound of the origigal tapes than ever before. The original recordings date from 1952 to 1969.
This title is a SHM-SACD. This format is the further development of the single-layer SACD and uses a particularly light-transparent plastic (Super High Material). It achieves a significantly better readability of the pit-land structures on the surface than is possible with hybrid SACDs. Universal's SHM-SACDs are generally re-digitized from the master tapes of the albums to DSD without any changes. SHM-SACDs can be played on any SACD player. Attention: All tracks are designed by Universal Music as limited edition collectibles for the Japanese market.

Selections:

Disc 1
Sonata No.18 in E flat major, op.31, no.3
1. Allegro
2. Scherzo
3. Menuetto
4. Presto con fuoco
Sonata No.19 in G minor, op.49, no.1
5. Andante
6. Rondo
Sonata No.20 in G major, op.49, no.2
7. Allegro ma non troppo
8. Tempo di menuetto
Sonanta No.21 in C major, op.53 "Waldstein"
9. Allegro con brio
10. Introduzione: Adagio molto
11. Rondo: Allegretto moderato – Prestissimo
Sonata No.22 in F major, op.54
12. In tempo d'un menuetto
13. Allegretto – Più allegro
Sonata No.23 in F minor, op.57 "Apassionata"
14. Allegro assai – Più allegro
15. Andante con moto
16. Allegro ma non troppo – Presto
Sonata No.24 in F sharp major, op.78
17. Adagio cantabile – Allegro ma non troppo
18. Allegro vivace
Disc 2
Sonata No.25 in G major, op.79
1. Presto alla tedesca
2. Andante
3. Vivace
Sonata No.26 in E flat major, op.81a "The Farewell"
4. Farewell: Adagio Allegro
5. Absence: Andante espressivo
6. The reunion: Vivaccissimamente
Sonata No.27 in E minor, op.90
7. With vivacity and certainly with feeling and expression
8. Not too fast and very singable
Sonata No.28 in A major, op.101
9. Allegretto ma non troppo
10. Vivace alla Marcia
11. Adagio ma non troppo, con affetto – Allegro
Sonata No.29 in B flat major, op.106 "Fortepiano"
12. Allegro
13. Scherzo: Assai vivace
14. Adagio sostenuto, appassionato e con molto sentiment
15. Largo – Allegro risolut
Disc 3
Sonata No.30 in E major, op.109
1. Vivace, ma non troppo – Adagio espressivo – Tempo I
2. Prestissimo
3. Molto cantabile ed espressivo
Sonata No.31 in A flat major, op.110
4. Moderato cantabile, molto espressivo
5. Allegro molto
6. Adagio ma non troppo – Arioso dolente
7. Fuga: Allegro ma non troppo – L'istesso tempo di Arioso – L'inversione della Fuga
Sonata No.32 in C minor, op.111
8. Maestoso – Allegro con brio ed appassionato
9. Arietta: Adagio molto semplice e cantabile