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Classical Album of the Week: Pianist Murray Perahia Finally Records These Two Beethoven Sonatas

April 9, 2018. A new release featuring pianist Murray Perahia connects the consummate artist to two Beethoven sonatas that have yet to be included in his studio repertoire.

The Grammy-winning pianist has finally recorded the “Hammerklavier” and “Moonlight” sonatas, and they are definitely worth hearing. Listen to his Deutsche Grammophon album Beethoven–Piano Sonatas–Murray Perahia.

Over the past four decades, Perahia has spent countless hours in the recording studio. From Bach to Bartok, he has 45 albums in the catalog at the moment. Yet, amazingly, he's never recorded these most beloved sonatas—until now.

Perahia has a deep understanding of Beethoven. He’s spent years of studying original manuscripts, working sketches and editions published during the composer’s lifetime. He’s also edited the new Henle Urtext Edition of The Complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas.

The “Hammerklavier” sonata was thought to be unplayable after it was written, and was considered a summit of piano literature because of its weight and complexity. Now, paired with the performance of the “Moonlight,” sit back and listen as these familiar works yield new insights in Perahia's masterful hands.