Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 13, titled 'Sonata quasi una Fantasia', blurs the lines between genres and its own movements, creating an improvisatory feel.
Recording & Production
This album is part of a nine-year, nine-album project by Jonathan Biss to record the complete cycle of Beethoven's piano sonatas, which he embarked on in 2011.
Compositional Technique
The 'Hammerklavier' Sonata is unique among Beethoven's sonatas for its exceptional length, with its last two movements alone being nearly as long as other entire sonatas.
Performer Biography
Jonathan Biss, the pianist on this album, is the son of violist and violinist Paul Biss and violinist Miriam Fried, and grandson of cellist Raya Garbousova, for whom Samuel Barber composed his cello concerto.
Performer Biography
Jonathan Biss was the first American to be named a BBC New Generation Artist and has received numerous awards, including the Leonard Bernstein Award and an Avery Fisher Career Grant.
Compositional Technique
Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 9 was originally orchestrated so much like a string quartet that Beethoven later turned it into one.
Performer Biography
Jonathan Biss is co-Artistic Director of Marlboro Music, a position he shares with Mitsuko Uchida, and he also teaches as the Neubauer Family Chair in Piano Studies at Curtis Institute of Music.
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