Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 "Waldstein"

Recordings worth hearing

• Emil Gilels

  Reference

  Deutsche Grammophon · 1972

  The unbroken forward drive of the first movement, achieved without pedal, is this recording's signature. The long pedal marks in the finale are Beethoven's own, and Gilels obeys them; the result is fog.

• Artur Schnabel

  Historical

  EMI / Warner · 1934

  Wrong notes technically, none musically. Part of the first complete Beethoven sonata cycle on record, and still a starting point for understanding them.

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