The recording features a Steinway Model D piano, prepared by Michaël Bargues.
Composition History
Beethoven conceived these three sonatas, Op. 109, 110, and 111, together between 1820 and 1822, during a period of intense creative activity that also included the Missa solemnis and Diabelli Variations.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in Salle Colonne, Paris, in January and March 2018, with Alain Lanceron as executive producer and Cécile Lenoir as producer.
Compositional Technique
The Sonata in C minor, Op. 111, for solo piano, incorporates elements from the world of opera, including an orchestra, singers, and stage action, through its use of registers, dynamics, and sonorities.
Compositional Technique
Beethoven approached these sonatas using both strict fugal form and imaginative variation form, alongside an operatic approach where song conveys inner drama.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Beethoven's last group of sonatas had a three-fold purpose: didactic, spiritual, and promotional, aiming to earn a living while also inspiring future pianists with lofty spirituality.
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Beethoven: The last 3 Piano Sonatas, Opp. 109, 110, 111
