ARTISTS

Alfred Brendel, piano Wiener Philharmoniker Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor

TRACK LISTING

Disc 1 Haydn: Variations in F minor Hob XVII:6 Mozart: Piano Sonata in F major K533/494 Beethoven: Piano Sonata in E flat Op.27 No.1 Schubert: Piano Sonata in B flat D960 Beethoven: Bagatelle Op.33 No.4 (encore) Schubert: Impromptu No. 3 in G Flat D899 (encore) Bach (arranged Busoni): Chorale Prelude ‘Nun komm’ der Heiden Heiland’ from BWV 651-668 (encore)

Disc 2 Mozart: Piano Concerto in E flat K271 Wiener Philharmoniker / Sir Charles Mackerras

Alfred Brendel has for many years been among the world’s greatest pianists; in concert, recital and on many best-selling recordings. Here, in his last CD release, recorded in the year of his retirement (2008), he gives his final public performances in solo recital and in concert - revealing a master musician in total command of his art

This 2CD digipak souvenir set captures these two memorable occasions, and is presented at the price of 2 for 1.5 Recorded live in Hanover, Brendel’s farewell recital featured composers with whom he is most closely associated throughout his career - with a set of variations by Haydn, and sonatas by Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert.

It is fitting that Alfred Brendel’s final public performance should be in Vienna’s beautiful Musikverein, with the Wiener Philharmoniker - an orchestra with whom he has enjoyed a long and fruitful collaboration. The concert was conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras, marking the end of an exceptional partnership between pianist and conductor.

The concert featured Alfred Brendel as soloist in Mozart’s concerto in E flat major K271, known as the ‘Jeunehomme’, after the young woman pianist for whom it was composed in 1777.

The booklet includes Brendel’s own notes on the recital repertoire, and tributes from Sir Charles Mackerras and Prof. Dr. Clemens Hellberg of the Vienna Philharmonic - as well as a farewell statement from Alfred Brendel himself.