Ten of Alfred Brendel’s Finest Recordings: A Tribute to a Legendary Pianist
Alfred Brendel, one of the most revered pianists of the 20th and 21st centuries, has died at the age of 94. Known for his intellectual rigour, poetic sensibility and crystalline technique, Brendel leaves behind a legacy of recordings that have shaped how we hear some of the greatest works in the piano repertoire.
Over the course of his prolific career—much of it spent with Philips Classics, the label most closely associated with his name—Brendel recorded and re-recorded cornerstone works with fastidious care and deep musical insight. While any attempt to summarize his discography risks leaving out too much, here are ten essential recordings that showcase the breadth and brilliance of Brendel’s artistry.
It’s worth noting that Brendel’s recordings of Beethoven alone could fill such a list—his interpretation of the German master is often considered the benchmark. But in this selection, we’ve highlighted not just Beethoven, but Brendel’s refined work across a spectrum of composers, from Mozart to Schoenberg.
1. Beethoven – Hammerklavier Sonata, Op. 106
A Mount Everest of the piano literature, the Hammerklavier requires not just technique but vision. Brendel brings steely control to the ferocious fugue and a profound sense of time and space to the vast slow movement. It’s a recording that feels less like a performance and more like a statement.
2. Schubert – Piano Sonata in C minor, D. 958
Brendel had a lifelong affinity for Schubert, and this late sonata reveals why. He embraces its tragic grandeur and sudden lyricism with complete naturalness, making the music’s ambiguities feel inevitable.
3. Beethoven – Eroica Variations, Op. 35
Brendel’s Beethoven remains a high watermark in recording history. The Eroica Variations, a set of kaleidoscopic transformations, showcases his wit and architectural genius. He’s probing and precise, never showy, always serving the music.
4. Schubert – Winterreise
With Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone
In this haunting song cycle, Brendel partners with the great Fischer-Dieskau to create one of the most emotionally raw and intellectually cohesive performances of Winterreise. His piano playing is dark, restrained, and deeply responsive to every nuance of the vocal line.
5. Liszt – Piano Sonata in B minor
Brendel may not be the first name that comes to mind for Liszt’s fire-breathing virtuosity, but his take on the B minor Sonata is thrillingly architectural. He treats the work not as a display vehicle but as a profound dramatic journey.
6. Mozart – Piano Concertos No. 15, 21 & 23
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, conducted by Neville Marriner
This partnership with Marriner’s stylish ensemble is a model of balance and poise. Brendel’s playing here is lucid and conversational, with particular warmth in the slow movements. The famous second movement of Concerto No. 21 (the so-called “Elvira Madigan”) has rarely sounded so heartfelt and unfussy.
7. Schumann – Kinderszenen and Kreisleriana
Brendel had a deep affection for Schumann’s quirky, mercurial spirit. In Kinderszenen, he captures childlike wonder without sentimentality. In Kreisleriana, he delves into the music’s stormy fantasy world with powerful nuance.
8. Brahms – Piano Concerto No. 2
Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Claudio Abbado
This is one of the towering Romantic concertos, and Brendel meets it with both muscularity and lyricism. With Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic providing lush and sensitive support, this recording stands as one of the finest on record.
9. Mozart – Piano Sonatas K. 330, 331 & 570
Brendel’s Mozart is never sugary or overly polished; instead, he brings structural insight and subtle wit. His playing in these beloved sonatas is graceful and elegant, with a singing tone and a sense of intimacy that feels like a conversation between friends.
10. Schoenberg – Piano Concerto
SWF Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden, conducted by Michael Gielen
Schoenberg’s thorny 12-tone language can be intimidating, but Brendel renders it with startling clarity and emotional conviction. Paired with the ever-analytical Michael Gielen, this recording remains one of the most lucid interpretations of the concerto, proving Brendel’s range extended well beyond the Classical and Romantic repertoire.
Throughout his career, Brendel developed an especially close relationship with Philips Classics, a label that offered him the freedom and support to record complete cycles—most notably all of Beethoven’s piano sonatas, concertos, and many of the variations. His discography forms a cornerstone of classical piano recording in the 20th century and remains essential listening for any serious lover of the repertoire.
Whether interpreting the clarity of Mozart, the philosophical depth of Beethoven, or the brooding landscapes of Schubert and Liszt, Alfred Brendel always played with a combination of intellect and heart that few could match. His recordings are more than performances; they are enduring documents of a pianist who never stopped thinking, feeling, and questioning through music.
As we remember Alfred Brendel, we return to these recordings not only to mourn a great loss, but to celebrate a life steeped in music of the highest order.