Beethoven: Intégrale des Sonates et Variations pour violoncelle et piano

Featuring

Yegor Dyachkov
Jean Saulnier
Ludwig van Beethoven

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Composition History

Beethoven's first two cello sonatas were written in 1796 during a visit to the court of Frederick William II, King of Prussia, who was a passionate cello player.

Performer Biography

Cellist Yegor Dyachkov was named Artist of the Year by the CBC in 2000, the same year he made his Lincoln Center debut in New York.

Compositional Technique

Beethoven's first two cello sonatas have an unusual two-part structure without a slow movement, compensated by developed slow introductions.

Critical Reception

Beethoven's Op. 102 cello sonatas astonished his contemporaries, with one critic noting, "Everything here is different, utterly different, from what has been heard before, even from this master himself."

Compositional Technique

The Op. 102 sonatas mark the beginning of Beethoven's late period, characterized by a rejection of sonic beauty, abrupt contrasts, dense writing, and a return to contrapuntal forms.

Composition History

The Sonata Op. 17, originally for horn, was published with an alternative version for cello prepared by Beethoven himself, taking into account the instrument's specific features.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Beethoven's cello sonatas are considered more intimate, personal, and experimental than his more famous violin sonatas, offering a clearer insight into the composer's voice.