Beethoven - Sonata No. 28 op. 101

Dear All,

Please find attached a recording of the first item within the series of the last great Beethoven's sonatas (with op. numbers greater than 100). Not the most famous, but really deserving recognition. Beethoven described this sonata, composed in the town of Baden, just south of Vienna, during the summer of 1816, as "a series of impressions and reveries." Hence we already see this incredible mix of strong architecture, together with many unexpected changes in tonality and climates, which are the features of these great pre-romantic oeuvres.

The various movements are as follows:

1) Etwas lebhaft, und mit der inngsten Empfindung. (Assez vif avec le sentiment le plus intense). Allegretto, ma non troppo
2) Lebhaft. Marschmäßig. (Animé. Mouvement de marche). Vivace alla Marcia
3) Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll. (Lent et plein d'une inspiration ardente). Adagio, ma non troppo, con affetto
4) Geschwind, doch nicht zu sehr und mit Entschlossenheit. (Vite, mais pas trop et avec décision). Allegro

The two last ones are played without intermediate pause.
Thanks for listening and commenting, and Merry Christmas to all PS participants !

 

It seems to me that this sonata doesn't get all that much play - I suspect probably because the second and last movements are deceptively tricky. It's a good performance, though I think you are more at home in the slower movements and there are a few moments in 2 and 4 where I get the feeling you are being pushed. Definite credit to you for keeping the rhythmic aspect always moving forward in the second movement despite the awkwardness of some of the writing! Thanks for uploading, and happy new year too!

 

Hello Andrew,
Thanks for your careful listening and penetrating appraisal. Definitely there are quite tricky measures in the 2nd and 4th movements ! However I hope to have rendered the spirit, if not all the letter of the composition... For us amateurs we have sometimes to choose between both, when our technique finds its limits. Happy new year to you and your family,