Daniel Barenboim- Beethoven Piano Sonatas

I'll be the first to admit that I know next to nothing about classical piano sonatas! All I know is that I like Moonlight Sonata No. I, so I bought this album...

In this review, I'll try to resist the temptation to use fancy words (which I don't really understand anyway!) and sound like a proper classical music reviewer. So this album will be reviewed in the same manner I've applied to the works of Metallica, Robby Williams, The Vaginals, etc...

The opening song, Pathetique No. I, is undermined for me by the jumping between moods. It is probably due to this, that I find the lighter, bouncy sections sound twee. Pathetique No. II and No. III are far more consistent in, and the results are nicely solemn and upbeat respectively.

Moonlight No. I is simply perfect. The piano melody is timelessly beautiful. I'm not sure whether mood is reflective, melancholy or hopeful? Or perhaps all of the above? Either way, it is intensely powerful experience.

To me, Moonlight No. II somehow evokes images for fairies and garden tea parties. Which is far too delicate for me taste, so I think it is just twee.

Making amends is Moonlight No. III, which has that brilliant mad-scientist vibe to it! It is ridiculously over-the-top, and I totally dig it. Appassionata No. I is another great explosion of madness.

By this point, my attention span had faded out, reinforcing the fact that I'd never really want to sit down and carefully listen to any of this album. But it does work well as mood music in the background.

Favourite songs

Moonlight Sonata No. I, Moonlight Sonata No. III

Worthwhile?

Yes, Moonlight Sonata No. I single-handedly makes this a must-have album. As a bonus, the rest of the album does provide some variety for my collection.