Beethoven, Ludwig van - Piano Sonatas Nos. 11, 21 & 23 - Oppitz, Gerhard (piano)
Another recording on the way to a complete Beethoven Piano Sonata Edition performed by the fantastic German pianist Gerhard Oppitz. The current program features a trio of Sonatas from Beethoven's Middle, "Heroic" period. These justly famous works reflect the genius of their composer, and are among the essential works of piano literature. From the broadly conceived symphonic structure of the "Waldstein" Sonata, to the portrait of the "Immortal Beloved" in the "Appassionata", Oppitz delivers classic and deeply insightful interpretations.
Gerhard Oppitz received his formal training in Stuttgart and Munich starting in 1966 with professors Paul Buck and Hugo Steurer, and later with Wilhelm Kempff, concentrating on the works of Beethoven. In 1977, he was awarded first prize at the Artur Rubinstein Competition in Israel. Oppitz's main interest is the classical-romantic repertoire, although he has always devoted himself to music of the twentieth century. Oppitz is widely renown and respected for his programming major repertoire and cycles, such as Bach's "Wohltemperiertes Klavier", Mozart's eighteen sonatas, Beethoven's 32 sonatas, all the solo works by Schubert and Brahms' complete piano works. Since 1981, he has been teaching post-graduate students at the Academy of Music in Munich.