Life is a bagatelle, old chum

Sir Alfred Brendel bade farewell to the concert platform in 2008, but he can still be heard on many superlative recordings that span his 60 years of music-making. Characteristically, as an encore at his farewell recital, he played one of Beethoven’s Bagatelles.

Desert Island Discs (2) – Beethoven and Schubert

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106, known as the “Hammerklavier”, is widely considered to be one of the most important works of the piano repertoire.