Beethoven Sonatas No.26 In E Flat Major, Op.81a 'Les Adieux'; No.32 In C Minor, Op.111; No.19 In G Minor, Op.49, No.1

Released in 1967 on the His Master's Voice label, this recording features the young Daniel Barenboim performing three of Beethoven’s piano sonatas. The release reflects the mid-century tradition of high-fidelity classical recordings that captured the burgeoning mastery of the Argentine-Israeli pianist, who was then establishing himself as a formidable interpreter of the German repertoire. Cataloged as HQM 1088, this pressing highlights the transition of the HMV label into the stereo era, providing a clean, intimate presentation of the complex Op. 111 and the emotionally resonant Les Adieux.

The album reflects the deliberate approach Barenboim took toward Beethoven, focusing on structural clarity and intellectual depth. While Beethoven composed the Les Adieux sonata as a programmatic farewell to his patron Archduke Rudolph, Barenboim’s interpretation was designed to emphasize the tension between the work’s emotional narrative and its formal architecture. At the time of release, critics praised the recording for its technical precision and the maturity Barenboim displayed in navigating the challenging, late-period landscapes of the C Minor sonata.