Wilhelm Kempff

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Wilhelm Kempff (25 November 1895 – 23 May 1991) was a German pianist and composer.

Kempff was born in Jüterbog, Germany and studied in Berlin and Potsdam. He toured widely throughout continental Europe and much of the rest of the world, but did not make his first London appearance until 1951, and did not play in New York until 1964. He gave his last public performance in Paris in 1981 and died in Positano, Italy at the age of 95.

Considered one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century, Kempff is celebrated today for his recordings of Schumann, Brahms, Schubert, Mozart, Bach, Liszt, Chopin and particularly, of Ludwig van Beethoven. He recorded over a period of some sixty years. Kempff was among the first to record the complete sonatas of Franz Schubert, long before these works became popular. He also recorded two celebrated sets of the complete Beethoven sonatas, one in mono and the other in early stereo.

Kempff also played chamber music with Yehudi Menuhin and Pierre Fournier, among others. Particularly famous are the recordings of the complete Beethoven sonatas for violin and piano with Menuhin.

In 1957 Kempff began to give an annual Beethoven interpretation course in his villa in Positano. Six years after his death, friend and former student John O’Conor took over the course.

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• Beethoven: Sonatas
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• Wilhelm Kempff Plays Beethoven: Vol. II, Piano…
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• Essential Masters Collection
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• Beethoven: The 32 Piano Sonatas
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1		Piano Sonata In F Major Op. 57 No. 23 "Appassionata" - III. Allegro, ma non troppo -…			32
2		Piano Sonata In F Major Op. 57 No. 23 "Appassionata" - II. Andante con moto -…			29
3		Piano Sonata In E Flat Major Op. 81a No. 26 "Les Adieux" - II. Abwesenheit…			23
4		Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639 - Arranged by Wilhelm Kempff			12
4		Piano Sonata No. 14 "Moonlight" in C sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2 - I. adagio sostenuto			12
6		Piano Sonata In A Major Op. 101 No. 28 - III. Adagio, ma non troppo, con affetto -…			11
7		Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor, Op.27 No.2 -"Moonlight" - 3. Presto…			10
7		Piano Sonata In E Flat Major Op. 81a No. 26 "Les Adieux" - I. Das Lebewohl (Les…			10
9		Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor, op.27 no.2 "Moonlight" - I. Adagio sostenuto -…			9
9		Sonata No.4 in E flat major, op.7 - IV. Rondo. Poco allegretto e grazioso			9
9		Beethoven - Klaviersonate Nr. 14 ces-moll Op. 27 Nr. 2 "Mondschein": 1. Adagio…			9
12		Sonata No.4 in E flat major, op.7 - I. Allegro molto e con brio			8
12		6. Wichtige Begebenheit			8
12		Piano Sonata In A Flat Major Op. 110 No. 31 - III. Adagio, ma non troppo - Fuga.…			8
12		Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor, Op.27 No.2 -"Moonlight" - 1. Adagio…			8

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