Beethoven’s sonatas performed by the pianist of pianists. 

When the American pianist Richard Goode recorded all 32 of Beethoven’s sonatas in the early 90s, the reviews were unanimous: The disc set was declared a ‘landmark recording’ and Goode’s name has been associated with Beethoven since then. 

Richard Goode has been hailed for music-making of tremendous emotional power, depth and expressiveness, and has been called both ‘the pianist of pianists’ and ‘America’s best kept secret’. When he visited the Festival more than ten years ago, the critics used words such as ‘pure delight’, ‘shivers down the spine’ and ‘shining eyes’. 

He comes to Håkonshallen with five of Beethoven’s piano sonatas – including some hidden gems, such as Piano Sonata no. 22 in F major, op. 54. 

‘It’s really one of the most eccentric masterpieces of Beethoven. I know quite a few pianists hate it, but I love it. One of the things one learns from playing the sonatas is just how extremely individual Beethoven’s pieces are. There are no rules. They’re really individuals, every one of them’, has
Richard Goode said in an interview. 

‘There are brilliant young things among pianists, and there are wise old birds, who show their wisdom naturally in everything they do, without grandstanding or elaborate highlighting of details. Richard Goode is one of the latter sort.’ – THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Richard Goode piano

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770–1827)
Piano Sonata no. 5 in C minor, op. 10 no. 1
Piano Sonata no. 6 in F major, op. 10 no. 2
Piano Sonata no. 7 in D major, op. 10 no. 3
Piano Sonata no. 22 in F major, op. 54
Piano Sonata no. 28 in A major, op. 101