The pianist Alfred Brendel KBE (5 January 1931 – 17 June 2025) 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. In contemporary music he has recorded the piano concerto op.42 by Schoenberg, the piano sonata by Alban Berg, etc.
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 title width="12%|Recording date(s) ! width="12%"|Label |- |1980 |Schumann: Works for Oboe and Piano|1980 |Philips |- |1992 |Schumann: Kreisleriana; Kinderszenen; Fantasiestücke|1980 |Philips |- |2008 |Beethoven: Piano Concertos 4 & 5|12/1997, 2/1998 |Philips
|The Artist's Choice: Alfred Brendel – Live at the BBC|
|1998 |Schumann: Piano Concerto; Fantasy Op.17|1998 |Philips |- |1985 |Schubert: Winterreise|1985 |Philips |- |1997 |Schubert: The Complete Impromptus / Moments Musicaux|1972, 1974, 1975 |Philips
|Schubert: Impromptus D899, Op90; Impromptus D935, Op142Impromptus D899 (Op. 90) / Impromptus D935 (Op. posth. 142)
|Schubert: Complete Impromptus, D899 & D935; 11 Ecossaises, etc.|
|Schubert: Forellenquintett / Mozart: Piano Quartet In G MinorFranz Schubert – Quintet for piano, violin, viola, cello & double bass in A major ("Trout"), D. 667 (Op. posth. 114) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, K. 478 |1994 |Philips
|Schubert: Piano Sonatas in A and A minor, D664 & D537|1982 |Philips
|Schubert: Piano Sonatas in A minor and D major, D784 & D850|1987 |Philips
|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.595| |Philips
|Mozart: Piano Concertos No.21 in C, K.467; No.15 in B flat, K.450; No.23 in A, K.488| |Philips
|Mozart: Piano Concertos No.20 in D minor, K.466; No.24 in C minor, K.491| |Philips
|Beethoven: Diabelli Variations| |Philips
|Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 26 & 29|
|1985 |Beethoven: Für Elise; Eroica Variations, Op.35; 6 Bagatelles Op.126; 6 Ecossaises|3/1984 |DECCA
|1985 |Haydn: 3 Sonatas, Andante Con VariazioniPiano 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 |7/1985 |Philips |- |1989 |6 Moments musicaux, Op.94 D.780 – No.1 in C (Moderato)| |Philips |- |1989 |Schubert: Piano Works 1822–1828| |Philips |- |1989 |Schubert: Piano Sonata in A minor, D. 845; 3 Klavierstücke, D. 946Piano Sonata No. 16 in A minor, D. 845 (Op. 42) / Three impromptus for piano, D. 946 |1987 |Philips |- |1992 |Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5; Fantasia in C minorLondon Philharmonic Orchestra / London Philharmonic Choir / John Alldis, Conductor| |Philips |- |1993 |Beethoven: The Late Piano SonatasPiano 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 ("Hammerklavier"), Op. 106 / Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111 |1970–1975 |Philips
|Schubert: The Last Three Piano SonatasPiano 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 |1971–1974 |Philips |- |1993 |Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Op. 53, 54 & 101; Andante favouri| |DECCA |- |1993 |Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 16–18No. 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 |- |1994 |Schubert: The Last Three Piano Sonatas| |Philips |- |1994 |Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol.1| |DECCA |- |1994 |Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos Nos. 9, 15, 22, 25 & 27| |Philips |- |1994 |Beethoven: Favourite Piano SonatasNo. 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 |- |1994 |Beethoven: Sonatas Op. 26, Op. 27 No. 1, Op. 27 No. 2 "Moonlight" & Op. 49 No. 1| |Philips |- |1995 |Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Op. 2 Nos. 1–3 | |DECCA |- |1995 |Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 8–11 | |DECCA |- |1996 |Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (Piano & Orchestral versions)| |Philips |- |1996 |Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 5, 6 & 7 | |DECCA |- |1997 |Beethoven: Piano Sonatas op. 7 & 28 Pastoral & 49 No. 2| |DECCA |- |1999 |Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Op. 109, 110 & 111| |DECCA |- |1999 |Schubert: Piano Sonata No.20, D 959; Hungarian Melody; 16 German Dances etc.| |Philips |- |1999 |Liszt: Années de pèlerinage, Books 1–3| |Philips |- |1999 |Schubert: Piano Sonata in A minor, D 845; 3 Klavierstücke, D 946 |1987 |Philips |- |1999 |Beethoven: The 5 Piano ConcertosVienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Simon Rattle, Conductor | |Philips |- |2000 |Mozart: Piano SonatasRondo for piano No. 3 in A minor, K. 511 Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major ("Alla Turca") K. 331 (K. 300i) Piano Sonata No. 16 in B flat major, K. 570 Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major, K. 330 (K. 300h) |1998 / 1999 |Philips |- |2000 |Schubert: Piano Sonata No 21, D 960; Wanderer Fantasie, D760| |Philips |- |2000 |Mozart: Piano Sonatas No.11 in A, K.331 -"Alla Turca"; No.17 in B flat, K.570; No.10 in C major, K.330| |Philips |- |2000 |Beethoven: Bagatelles Opp.33, 119 & 126; Für Elise; Rondo in C; Allegretto in C minor; Klavierstück in B flat| |DECCA |- |2001 |Mozart: Piano Sonatas K.322, K.333 & K.457| |Philips |- |2001 |Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 4|
|2001 |Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3 | |DECCA |- |2002 |Mozart: Piano Concertos K.271 "Jeunehomme" & K.503| |DECCA |- |2002 |Mozart: Piano Concertos K.271 "Jeunehomme" & K.503| |DECCA |- |2002 |Beethoven: Complete Piano Concertos| |Philips |- |2003 |Mozart: Piano Sonatas K 310, 311, 533/494; Fantasy K.397| |Philips
|Schubert: Piano Quintet – "Trout”Quintet for piano, violin, viola, cello & double bass in A major ("Trout"), D. 667 (Op. posth. 114) | |Philips |- |2005 |Schubert: Schwanengesang; Beethoven: An die Ferne GeliebteLudwig van Beethoven – An die ferne Geliebte, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 98 Franz Schubert – Herbst ("Es rauschen die Winde"), song for voice & piano, D. 945 / Schwanengesang (Swan Song), 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 |2003 |DECCA |- |2005 |Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos.20, 23 & Concert Rondos| |DECCA |- |2006 |Mozart: Complete Edition Box 6: Quintets, Quartets etc.| |Philips |- |2006 |Mozart: Piano Concertos K414 & K453| |Philips |- |2006 |Liszt: Sonata in B minor etc.| |Philips |- |2007 |JS Bach: Italian Concerto, etc.Italian Concerto in F, BWV 971 / Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639 / Prelude (Fantasy) 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 |1976 |Philips |- |2008 |Alfred Brendel: The Complete Vox, Turnabout and Vanguard Solo Recordings (36CDs) |numerous, mainly 1959–1962 |Brilliant Classics (original by Vox) |- |2008 |Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 4 & 5Wiener Philharmoniker / Simon Rattle, Conductor | |Philips |- |2009 |Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5; Piano Sonata Op. 57, "Appassionata" Wiener Philharmoniker / Simon Rattle, Conductor | |Philips |- |2009 |The Farewell Concerts|2008 |DECCA |- |2009 |Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 8, 14, 23 & 26 ''Philips
Compilations
Year of IssueDetailsRecording Date(s)Label 1998 Great 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 (Op. 90) / Impromptus, D. 935 (Op. posth. 142) Schumann: Fantasiestücke (8 Fantasy Pieces), Op. 12 1982–1991 Philips Classics 1999 Great 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 1963–1995 Philips Classics 1999 Great Pianists of the 20th Century – Alfred Brendel III 1968–1989 Philips Classics 2006 The Artist's Choice Collection: Alfred Brendel Philips 2006 The Artist's Choice: Alfred Brendel plays Beethoven Philips 2006 The Artist's Choice: Alfred Brendel plays Haydn and Mozart Philips 2006 The Artist's Choice: Alfred Brendel plays Liszt and Schumann Philips 2006 The Artist's Choice: Alfred Brendel plays Schubert Philips 2007 Alfred 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 1968–2001 Philips 2007Alfred Brendel – Unpublished Live and Radio Performances 1968–2001 1968–2001 Philips
Boxed Sets
Year of IssueDetailsRecording Date(s)Label1986Haydn: 11 Piano SonatasPhilips1996Mozart: Favourite Works for PianoDECCA1996Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas 10 CDsPhilips2001Schubert: Piano Sonatas Nos.9,18,20, & 21DECCA2004Beethoven: Complete Works for Piano & CelloDECCA2005Complete Mozart Edition: Piano Concertos 12 CDsPhilips2016Alfred Brendel: The Complete Philips Recordings 114 CDs1970–2008DECCA
Video Releases Year of IssueDetailsRecording Date(s)Label2011Alfred Brendel on Music: Three Lectures 2 DVDsC Major
References
General
Alfred Brendel's Official Site A more comprehensive listing of Brendel recordings.
Specific