Piano Sonatas Nos. 1-3 (Rec 1933-1934)

"Artur Schnabel's Beethoven sounds as bold, intelligent, and expressive today as it undoubtedly did when these timeless performances first appeared on 78s. Listen to the surging yet flexible line and the intense brio he brings to the outer movements, or his heartfelt, cello-like shaping of the bass lines in Op. 2 No. 2's slow movement. Yes, there are snatched-at passages and a few wrong notes here and there, but any notion of Schnabel being less than a brilliant technician should be dispelled by sampling his gorgeously adjusted runs and supple wrist work in the C major Sonata's difficult finale.

Schnabel, of course, does not need my endorsement, since critical consensus has taken care of that issue for decades...general collectors [will] be pleased as punch to obtain Schnabel's Beethoven cycle, cleanly and carefully transferred in individual installments at a bargain price."

- Jed Distler classicstoday.com