Category Archives: Beethoven at 25-27

Day 245: Piano Sonatas Op. 2 No. 1, Op. 79, Op. 10 Nos. 1 & 2, Op. 14 No. 1

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BeethovenCD50jpgMore Alfred Brendel from 1962-64.

More Beethoven piano sonatas, circa late 1700s/early 1800s.

These are introspective, less flamboyant. They seem more melancholy than joyful.

Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor Op. 2 No. 1

From its entry on Wikipedia:

Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2, No. 1, was written in 1795 and dedicated to Joseph Haydn. A typical performance of the entire work lasts about 17–20 minutes.

Beethoven was 25.

Piano Sonata No. 25 in G Op. 79

From its entry on Wiki:

The Piano Sonata No. 25 in G major, Op. 79, was written by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1809. It consists of three movements…

It is one of Beethoven’s shorter sonatas with an approximate performance time of only eleven minutes, if Beethoven’s prescribed repeats are all observed. It is also the shortest of his sonatas with more than two movements.

Beethoven was Continue reading →

Day 230: String Trios I

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BeethovenCD35Other than being very pleasant, soothing music, performed with exceptional skill, the sonatas on Beethoven CD 35 – String Trios I – aren’t all that memorable.

None jumped out at me the way, say, they did on the last CD (Violin Sonatas IV, especially Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Op. 47 “Kreutzer”).

This reminds me of music one would hear playing at the opening of an art show, or at a posh wine-and-cheese soiree at someone’s estate.

However, the music is not lively enough to be sufficient background for a writing project; nor are these string trios compelling enough for active listening.

Here’s what I heard today:

String Trio in E Flat Op. 3 (composed 1792-96; Beethoven was 22-26 years old)

Serenade in D Op. 8 (composed 1795-97; Beethoven was 25-27 years old)

Here’s who performed these compositions:

The Zurich String Trio

Boris Livschitz violin
Zvi Livschitz viola
Mikael Hakhnazarian cello