Well, it's over.

Alas.

Last Friday night, University of Wisconsin virtuoso pianist Christopher Taylor (pictured at left) wrapped up his marathon 10-concert series of Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas.

One of the joys for me was rediscovering such old favorites and popular works as the "Moonlight," "Pathetique," "Waldstein," "Appassionata," "Tempest" and "Les Adieux."

But another joy was discovering lesser known works.

The Op. 28 "Pastorale," despite having a appealing nickname, is too little known. It has everything including a slow movement that Beethoven himself deemed one of his best.

Then there is the early Op. 7, a long but very moving and sophisticated work.

I loved the early Op. 2 sonatas, which show Beethoven had it from the start.

There is the Op. 27, No. 1, a great piece often overshadowed by its sister sonata, the "Moonlight," and the brilliant Op. 54 wedged in between the "Waldstein" and "Appassionata."

And Taylor has made me look again at Op. 22, Op. 26 "Funeral March" and especially Op. 90, which may just have been the best one of them all, on par with his wonderful reading of Op. 111, the transcendent final sonata.

I loved the whole series, but I also have some reservations about what I heard.

Sometimes Taylor's formidable technique seemed to overwhelm the music, especially in the fast movements which he often played too fast and too loud, without enough nuances.

On the other hand, the slow movements almost always proved sublime.

But overall it proved a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

So, here's what Art Talk wants to know:

Did you go to Taylor's Beethoven sonatas series?

If you went, what did you think as a "critic"?

How many of the 10 concerts did you make?

Were there certain sonatas and certain performances you liked best?

What were your least favorite sonatas or performances?

What other performances or recordings by someone other than Taylor to do you recommend?

What complete recorded set do you prefer and recommend?

Finally, if you were speaking to maestro Taylor right now, what would you say?