01. 6 Bagatelles, Op. 126 No. 1, Andante con moto, cantabile e compiacevole
02. 6 Bagatelles, Op. 126 No. 2, Allegro
03. 6 Bagatelles, Op. 126 No. 3, Andante, cantabile e grazioso
04. 6 Bagatelles, Op. 126 No. 4, Presto
05. 6 Bagatelles, Op. 126 No. 5, Quasi allegretto
06. 6 Bagatelles, Op. 126 No. 6, Presto
07. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109 I. Vivace ma non troppo, sempre legato – Adagio espressivo
08. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109 II. Prestissimo
09. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109 III. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung
10. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 Appassionata I. Allegro assai
11. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 Appassionata II. Andante con moto
12. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 Appassionata III. Allegro ma non troppo – Presto

On May 1, 2020 STEINWAY & SONS releases Appassionata (STNS 30161) from pianist Katie Mahan. The album includes the Bagatelles, Op. 126, Sonata No. 30, Op. 109, and Sonata No. 23, Op. 57 “Appassionata”. In her liner notes, Mahan writes that it is only through the appreciation of the intensely visionary Appassionata that we can begin to grasp the mystical quality of Beethoven’s late works. The profound depth and spirituality of Beethoven’s last three piano sonatas pushes the limits of human understanding, and it is clear that in these works, Beethoven succeeds in triumphing over his tragedy and in so doing finds expression for the transcendental power and sublime inspiration that he knew existed in the depths of his soul.

Mahan says “I have chosen these pieces because for me they epitomize the essence of Beethoven’s life journey. They speak not only of the turmoil that existed in his inner world but also to the acceptance into the prophecy of his vision of the future. It is a challenge for any musician to summarize the expressions of such a great composer in a short program of so few works, but it is my hope that the Beethoven spirit can be felt and seen on the musical journey I have prepared for my listeners on this recording.”