Wilhelm Kempff - Steinway Legends: Wilhelm Kempff '2006

Tracks list

Tracklist

CD1
01. Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639 - Arranged by Wilhelm Kempff
02. Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme Cantata, BWV 140: Zion hört die
Wächter singen
03. Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, Cantata BWV 147: Jesu, Joy of Man's
Desiring
04. Fantasia in C Minor, K. 475: Adagio - Allegro - Andantino - Più allegro
-Tempo I
05. Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat, Op. 26: I. Andante con variazioni
06. Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat, Op. 26: II. Scherzo (Allegro molto)
07. Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat, Op. 26: III. Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un
Eroe
08. Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat, Op. 26: IV. Allegro
09. 3 Klavierstücke, D. 946: No. 1 in E-Flat Minor (Allegro assai)
10. 3 Klavierstücke, D. 946: No. 2 in E-Flat (Allegretto)
11. 3 Klavierstücke, D. 946: No. 3 in C (Allegro)
12. Nocturne No. 3 in B, Op. 9, No. 3
13. Impromptu No. 3 in G-Flat, Op. 51

CD2
01. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: I. Von fremden Ländern und Menschen
02. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: II. Kuriose Geschichte
03. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: III. Hasche-Mann
04. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: IV. Bittendes Kind
05. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: V. Glückes genug
06. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: VI. Wichtige Begebenheit
07. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: VII. Träumerei
08. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: VIII. Am Kamin
09. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: IX. Ritter vom Steckenpferd
10. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: X. Fast zu ernst
11. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: XI. Fürchtenmachen
12. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: XII. Kind im Einschlummern
13. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: XIII. Der Dichter spricht
14. Scherzo in E-Flat Minor, Op. 4
15. 4 Piano Pieces, Op. 119: I. Intermezzo in B Minor
16. 4 Piano Pieces, Op. 119: II. Intermezzo in E Minor
17. 4 Piano Pieces, Op. 119: III. Intermezzo in C
18. 4 Piano Pieces, Op. 119: IV. Rhapsody in E-Flat
19. Legende, S. 175, No. 1: St. Francis of Assisi preaching to the birds
20. Legende, S. 175, No. 2: St. Francis de Paule walking on the water
21. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 "Pathétique": I. Grave - Allegro di
molto e con brio
22. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 "Pathétique": II. Adagio cantabile
23. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 "Pathétique": III. Rondo (Allegro)

When it comes to German probity, German integrity, and German honesty, no piano
player did it better than Wilhelm Kempff. Because while it's true that Kempff's
technique was not in the same exalted virtuoso league as Horowitz's or
Richter's, his profundity was second to none in the hardcore German repertoire.
In this splendid two-disc collection in Universal's Steinway Legends series,
Kempff demonstrates again and again and again why he's the height of German
depth. Try the three transcriptions of Bach's chorale preludes: is there
anything more serene, more sublime, more transcendent than Kempff's playing? Or
try Schubert's Drei Klavier Stücke, D. 946: is there anything more poetic,
more passionate, more true than Kempff's playing? Or try Brahms' Vier Klavier
Stücke, Op. 119: is there anything more lyric, more romantic, more tragic
than Kempff's playing? Although the program falters with the inclusion of
Kempff's unidiomatic Chopin and unconvincing Liszt, for the most part this is as
persuasive a case as has ever been made for the German greatness of Wilhelm
Kempff. No matter when it was recorded, from the 1936 Bach recordings to the
1971 Schubert recording, Deutsche Grammophon's sound is crisp, clear, and, to
the degree that the then-current level of technology would allow, absolutely
real.

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