He’s a legend of the piano world, revered and applauded the world over. For a long time an exclusive Philips Classics artist, Alfred Brendel was the recipient of the 2010 Gramophone Lifetime Achievement Award. Famed for his peerless interpretations of Viennese classics, 2011 sees Brendel celebrate his 80th birthday and for it four iconic sets are being presented again, available at budget price for the first time.

For this set, Alfred Brendel personally selects recordings that have been significant in his performance and recorded career. Including Bach’s Italian Concerto, Mussorgsky’s ‘Pictures’, and Liszt’s ‘Légendes’, this beautifully packaged, 3CD hardcover book, comes with Brendel’s own, personal reminiscences. This limited edition product also includes several currently unavailable recordings.  

The book includes a personal note by Brendel, essay on the repertory by Misha Donat, complete discography of Brendel's recordings from Philips and Decca, with many product illustrations (all currently available releases illustrated plus selected deleted CD and LP covers included).

The product also as a companion set to the previously-released series of ‘Artist's Choice’ recordings.

Contents:
CD 1
J S Bach: Italian Concerto, BWV 971
[1] I [Allegro]
[2] II Andante
[3] III Presto

[4] Fantasy and Fugue in A minor, BWV 904
Recorded: 1976

Mozart: Piano Concerto No.17 in G major, K453
[5] I Allegro
[6] II Andante
[7] III Finale: Allegretto
Cadenzas: Mozart
Scottish Chamber Orchestra • Sir Charles Mackerras
Recorded 2004

Schubert: Fantasy in C, D760 “Wanderer”
Recorded 1971

CD 2
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.29 in B flat major, Op.106 “Hammerklavier”
[1] Allegro
[2] Scherzo: Assai vivace
[3] Adagio sostenuto
[4] Largo — Allegro risoluto
Recorded 1995

Beethoven: Theme and 6 Variations in F, Op.34
[5] Thema: Adagio
[6] Variation I
[7] Variation II: Allegro ma non troppo
[8] Variation III: Allegretto
[9] Variation IV: Tempo di menuetto
[10] Variation V: Marcia: Allegretto
[11] Variation VI: Allegretto — Coda
Recorded 1990

CD 3
Weber: Konzertstück in F minor, Op.79
[1] Larghetto affettuoso — Allegro appassionato
[2] Adagio — Tempo di Marcia — Più mosso — Presto gioioso
London Symphony Orchestra • Claudio Abbado
Recorded 1979

Liszt: 2 Légendes
[3] I Saint François d’Assise: la predication aux oiseaux
[4] II Saint François de Paule merchant sur les flots
Recorded 1981

Busoni: Toccata
Preludio — Fantasia — Ciacona
Recorded 1979

Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (Original Piano Version)
[1] Promenade
[2] Gnomus
[3] Promenade
[4] Il vecchio castello
[5] Promenade
[6] Tuileries
[7] Bydlo
[8] Promenade
[9] Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks
[10] Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle
[11] Promenade
[12] Limoges: le marché
[13] Catacombae
[14] Cum mortuis in lingua mortua
[15] The Hut on Hen’s Legs (Baba Yaga)
[16] The Great Gate of Kiev
Recorded 1985