The Austrian pianist Rudolf Buchbinder was invited by the Salzburg Festival to perform a pinnacle of piano literature in its entirety, a first for the festival: Beethoven’s magnum opus of 32 piano sonatas developed throughout his life gain depths for their reflection of his evolution as a man and musician through the years. With the sonatas “Pathétique”, “Moonshine”, “Waldstein”, “Appassionata”, “Hammerklavier” and the final sonata Op. 111, the cycle is an astonishing bounty of the best-known piano pieces of all time. This 2 DVD set captures the first two concerts of the memorable performance, and Buchbinder’s scholarship and attention which his playing is known for comes dazzlingly to the fore.
