Alfred Brendel discography


The pianist Alfred Brendel KBE was a recording artist for more than half a century, from his first record of Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 5 at the age of 21, to his farewell concerts in 2008, recorded in Hanover and Vienna. He has recorded with only three record companies: Vox Records, Decca and Philips. His discography contains many albums and compilations of multiple recordings from different composers featuring him as a pianist.

Overview

Alfred Brendel made his first recording at the age of 21 and has since recorded a wide range of piano repertoire. He was the first pianist ever to record the complete solo piano works of Beethoven. He has also recorded works by Mozart, Liszt, Brahms, Schumann and Schubert.
Brendel recorded extensively for the VOX label, providing them his first of three sets of the complete Beethoven sonatas. He did not secure a major recording contract until the 1970s. His breakthrough came after a recital of Beethoven at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London; the day after, three major record labels called his agent. Since the 1970s, Brendel has recorded for Philips Classics.

Partial Discography

Albums

Year of IssueAlbum TitleRecording DateLabel
1980Schumann: Works for Oboe and Piano1980Philips
1992Schumann: Kreisleriana; Kinderszenen; Fantasiestücke1980Philips
2008Beethoven: Piano Concertos 4 & 512/1997, 2/1998Philips
The Artist's Choice: Alfred Brendel – Live at the BBC
1998Schumann: Piano Concerto; Fantasy Op.171998Philips
1985Schubert: Winterreise1985Philips
1997Schubert: The Complete Impromptus / Moments Musicaux1972, 1974, 1975Philips
Schubert: Impromptus D899, Op90; Impromptus D935, Op142
  • Impromptus D899 / Impromptus D935
Schubert: Complete Impromptus, D899 & D935; 11 Ecossaises, etc.
Schubert: Forellenquintett / Mozart: Piano Quartet In G Minor
  • Franz Schubert – Quintet for piano, violin, viola, cello & double bass in A major, D. 667
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, K. 478
  • 1994Philips
    Schubert: Piano Sonatas in A and A minor, D664 & D5371982Philips
    Schubert: Piano Sonatas in A minor and D major, D784 & D8501987Philips
    Schubert: Piano Sonata in A, D.959 / No.20; Hungarian Melody; 16 German Dances etc.
    Schubert: Piano Sonata In C minor, D958; 6 Moments Musicaux, D.780
    Mozart: Piano Concertos No.22 in E flat, K.482 ; No.27 in B flat, K.595Philips
    Mozart: Piano Concertos No.21 in C, K.467; No.15 in B flat, K.450; No.23 in A, K.488Philips
    Mozart: Piano Concertos No.20 in D minor, K.466 ; No.24 in C minor, K.491Philips
    Beethoven: Diabelli VariationsPhilips
    Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 26 & 29
    1985Beethoven: Für Elise; Eroica Variations, Op.35; 6 Bagatelles Op.126; 6 Ecossaises3/1984DECCA
    1985Haydn: 3 Sonatas, Andante Con Variazioni
  • Piano Sonata L. 62 Hob. XVI/52 / Piano Sonata L. 54 Hob. XVI/40 / Piano Sonata L. 50 Hob. XVI/37 / Andante Con Variazioni Hob. XVII/6
  • 7/1985Philips
    19896 Moments musicaux, Op.94 D.780 – No.1 in C Philips
    1989Schubert: Piano Works 1822–1828Philips
    1989Schubert: Piano Sonata in A minor, D. 845; 3 Klavierstücke, D. 946
  • Piano Sonata No. 16 in A minor, D. 845 / Three impromptus for piano, D. 946
  • 1987Philips
    1992Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5; Fantasia in C minor
  • London Philharmonic Orchestra / London Philharmonic Choir / John Alldis, Conductor
  • Philips
    1993Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas
  • Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90 / Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101 / Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 / Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110 / Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 / Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111
  • 1970–1975Philips
    Schubert: The Last Three Piano Sonatas
  • Piano Sonata No. 19 in C minor, D. 958 / Piano Sonata No. 20 in A major, D. 959 / Piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat major, D. 960 / Three Impromptus for piano, D. 946
  • 1971–1974Philips
    1993Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Op. 53, 54 & 101; Andante favouriDECCA
    1993Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 16–18
  • No. 16 in G, Op. 31 No. 1 / No.17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2 "Tempest" / No.18 in E flat, Op.31 No.3 "The Hunt"
  • DECCA
    1994Schubert: The Last Three Piano SonatasPhilips
    1994Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol.1DECCA
    1994Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos Nos. 9, 15, 22, 25 & 27Philips
    1994Beethoven: Favourite Piano Sonatas
  • No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 / No. 14 in C-sharp minor "Moonlight" / No.15 in D major, Op.28 / No. 26 in E flat major, Op. 81a / No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31, No. 2 "The Tempest" / No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 "Waldstein" / No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 "Appassionata"
  • Philips
    1994Beethoven: Sonatas Op. 26, Op. 27 No. 1, Op. 27 No. 2 "Moonlight" & Op. 49 No. 1Philips
    1995Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Op. 2 Nos. 1–3 DECCA
    1995Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 8–11 DECCA
    1996Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition Philips
    1996Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 5, 6 & 7 DECCA
    1997Beethoven: Piano Sonatas op. 7 & 28 Pastoral & 49 No. 2DECCA
    1999Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Op. 109, 110 & 111DECCA
    1999Schubert: Piano Sonata No.20, D 959; Hungarian Melody; 16 German Dances etc.'Philips
    1999Liszt: Années de pèlerinage, Books 1–3Philips
    1999Schubert: Piano Sonata in A minor, D 845; 3 Klavierstücke, D 9461987Philips
    1999Beethoven: The 5 Piano Concertos
  • Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Simon Rattle, Conductor
  • Philips
    2000Mozart: Piano Sonatas
  • Rondo for piano No. 3 in A minor, K. 511
  • Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major K. 331
  • Piano Sonata No. 16 in B flat major, K. 570
  • Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major, K. 330
  • 1998 / 1999Philips
    2000Schubert: Piano Sonata No 21, D 960; Wanderer Fantasie, D760Philips
    2000Mozart: Piano Sonatas No.11 in A, K.331 -"Alla Turca"; No.17 in B flat, K.570; No.10 in C major, K.330Philips
    2000Beethoven: Bagatelles Opp.33, 119 & 126; Für Elise; Rondo in C; Allegretto in C minor; Klavierstück in B flatDECCA
    2001Mozart: Piano Sonatas K.322, K.333 & K.457Philips
    2001Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 4
    2001Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3 DECCA
    2002Mozart: Piano Concertos K.271 "Jeunehomme" & K.503DECCA
    2002Mozart: Piano Concertos K.271 "Jeunehomme" & K.503DECCA
    2002Beethoven: Complete Piano ConcertosPhilips
    2003Mozart: Piano Sonatas K 310, 311, 533/494; Fantasy K.397Philips
    Schubert: Piano Quintet – "Trout”
  • Quintet for piano, violin, viola, cello & double bass in A major, D. 667
  • Philips
    2005Schubert: Schwanengesang; Beethoven: An die Ferne Geliebte
  • Ludwig van Beethoven – An die ferne Geliebte, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 98
  • Franz Schubert – Herbst, song for voice & piano, D. 945 / Schwanengesang, song cycle for voice & piano, D. 957
  • *Rellstab-Lieder. Liebesbotschaft / Rellstab-Lieder. Kriegers Ahnung / Rellstab-Lieder. Frühlingssehnsucht / Rellstab-Lieder. Ständchen / Rellstab-Lieder. Aufenthalt / Rellstab-Lieder. In der Ferne / Rellstab-Lieder. Abschied / Heine-Lieder. Der Atlas / Heine-Lieder. Ihr Bild / Heine-Lieder. Das Fischermädchen / Heine-Lieder. Die Stadt / Heine-Lieder. Am Meer / Heine-Lieder. Der Doppelgänger / Seidl-Lied. Die Taubenpost
  • 2003DECCA
    2005Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos.20, 23 & Concert RondosDECCA
    2006Mozart: Complete Edition Box 6: Quintets, Quartets etc.Philips
    2006Mozart: Piano Concertos K414 & K453Philips
    2006Liszt: Sonata in B minor etc.Philips
    2007JS Bach: Italian Concerto, etc.
  • Italian Concerto in F, BWV 971 / Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639 / Prelude in A minor, BWV 922 / Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903 / Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 / Fantasia and Fugue in A minor, BWV 904
  • 1976Philips
    2008Alfred Brendel: The Complete Vox, Turnabout and Vanguard Solo Recordings numerous, mainly 1959–1962Brilliant Classics
    2008Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 4 & 5
  • Wiener Philharmoniker / Simon Rattle, Conductor
  • Philips
    2009Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5; Piano Sonata Op. 57, "Appassionata"
  • Wiener Philharmoniker / Simon Rattle, Conductor
  • Philips
    2009The Farewell Concerts2008DECCA
    2009Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 8, 14, 23 & 26 ''Philips

    Compilations

    Year of IssueDetailsRecording DateLabel
    1998Great Pianists of the 20th Century – Alfred Brendel I
    • Haydn: Keyboard Sonata in E minor, H. 16/34 / Keyboard Sonata in G major, H. 16/40 / Keyboard Sonata in D major, H. 16/42 / Keyboard Sonata in E flat major, H. 16/52
    • Schubert: Impromptus, D. 899 / Impromptus, D. 935
    • Schumann: Fantasiestücke, Op. 12
    1982–1991Philips Classics
    1999Great Pianists of the 20th Century – Alfred Brendel II
  • Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 "Hammerklavier" / Bagatelles, Op. 126 / Variations on Salieri's "La Stessa, le Stessissima," in B flat major, WoO 73 / Diabelli Variations, Op. 120 / Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111
  • 1963–1995Philips Classics
    1999Great Pianists of the 20th Century – Alfred Brendel III1968–1989Philips Classics
    2006The Artist's Choice Collection: Alfred BrendelPhilips
    2006The Artist's Choice: Alfred Brendel plays BeethovenPhilips
    2006The Artist's Choice: Alfred Brendel plays Haydn and MozartPhilips
    2006The Artist's Choice: Alfred Brendel plays Liszt and SchumannPhilips
    2006The Artist's Choice: Alfred Brendel plays SchubertPhilips
    2007Alfred Brendel in Recital
  • Beethoven: Diabelli Variations / Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101
  • Chopin: Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante
  • Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54
  • Busoni: Elegies Nos. 3 and 6
  • 1968–2001Philips
    2007Alfred Brendel – Unpublished Live and Radio Performances 1968–20011968–2001Philips

    Boxed Sets

    Year of IssueDetailsRecording DateLabel
    1986Haydn: 11 Piano SonatasPhilips
    1996Mozart: Favourite Works for PianoDECCA
    1996Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas
    • 10 CDs
    Philips
    2001Schubert: Piano Sonatas Nos.9,18,20, & 21DECCA
    2004Beethoven: Complete Works for Piano & CelloDECCA
    2005Complete Mozart Edition: Piano Concertos
  • 12 CDs
  • Philips

    Video Releases