Menahem Pressler (Blu-ray Disc)

For more than 50 years, Menahem Pressler was the driving force of the legendary Beaux Arts Trio, giving 6.000 performances until the trio stopped concertizing in 2009. Menahem Pressler is now returning to a solo career.

During this recital filmed at Paris’ Cité de la Musique 2011, Menahem Pressler plays two of the most imposing works in the piano repertoire: Beethoven’s penultimate sonata and Schubert’s last sonata which both require unusual emotional involvement from the performer.

Menahem Pressler is the last representative of a pianistic tradition directly connected with the great German and French piano schools: he studied with several pupils of the illustrious Ferruccio Busoni but also received valuable advice from Robert Casadesus or Paul Loyonnet who opened the world of Ravel and Debussy to him.

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.31 in A flat Major, Op. 110

Chopin: Mazurka Op. 7 Nos.1 & 3, Mazurka Op. 17 No.4, Nocturne No.20 in C sharp minor

Debussy: Estampes

Schubert: Piano Sonata in B flat Major D.960