Legendary pianist Evgeny Kissin is set to release his first solo recital recording in more than a decade this August, after signing an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon. The double-disc set will document Kissin’s evolving relationship with Beethoven in a series of personally curated live recordings. 

The album will include Beethoven’s Moonlight, Appassionata and Les Adieux piano sonatas, as well as the Variations in C minor, WoO 80, and Piano Sonata No 32.

Making his mark as a teen prodigy in Russia in the 1980s, Kissin is renowned for his visionary performances of Romantic masterworks. His previous recordings with Deutsche Grammophon include landmark collaborations with the Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan and Claudio Abbado.

‘These recordings were made in the moment of performance,’ said Kissin. ‘Live recordings always surpass studio albums for me, because I feel more inspired when playing for an audience. It means a lot to me to be able to share the spirit of that live experience with others.’