Beethoven: Cello Sonatas, Op. 5 & Variations, WoO 45

Featuring

Jarosław Thiel
Katarzyna Drogosz
Ludwig van Beethoven

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Historical Context

Berlin, where Beethoven spent several months during his 1796 tour, was a major musical capital under King Frederick William II, a talented cellist who continued his uncle Frederick the Great's tradition of fostering arts and culture.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Beethoven's Sonatas Op. 5 are considered the first cello sonatas of a modern type, establishing an equal partnership between the cello and a fully elaborated piano accompaniment, departing from traditional continuo-based sonatas.

Composition History

Beethoven's Sonatas Op. 5 and two sets of variations, including the 12 Variations in G major on 'See, the conqu'ring hero comes' (WoO 45), were among his most important compositional works during his 1796 stay in Berlin.

Composer Biography

In 1796, Ludwig van Beethoven embarked on one of his most successful concert tours, organized by Prince Karl Lichnovsky, who had also arranged a similar tour for Mozart.

Compositional Technique

Beethoven's Sonatas Op. 5 are unusually long, with dimensions twice exceeding standard sonatas of his contemporaries, and feature large, slow introductions reminiscent of his symphonic works.

Recording & Production

The recording features a cello made in 2004 by Bastian Muthesius, modeled after a 1701 Stradivarius 'Servais', and an anonymous copy of a 1780 fortepiano by Johann Andreas Stein.

Performer Biography

Jarosław Thiel, the cellist on this album, specializes in historical performance practices and is the principal cellist of the Dresdner Barockorchester and a member of the FestspielOrchester Göttingen.