Damian Thompson Damian Thompson

Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas were his musical laboratory – here are the best recordings

The sonatas are where Beethoven’s imagination catches fire most unpredictably

Martino Tirimo's new complete cycle of Beethoven piano sonatas is the greatest recordied achievement of the 250th anniversary. Here is Tirimo carrying the Olympic flame in 2004. Photo: Todd Warshaw / Getty Images

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