A recurring theme in Beethoven's late compositions is the desire to express a harsher, rawer content than previously attempted, while also finding a path to redemption, tenderness, and peace.
Composition History
Both of the sonatas on this album, Op. 106 and Op. 111, are dedicated to Archduke Rudolph, who was Beethoven's close friend, patron, and pupil.
Compositional Technique
Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 29, Op. 106 'Hammerklavier', is the longest piano sonata in the customary repertoire and resembles a symphony.
Compositional Technique
Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 32, Op. 111, revolutionized the genre and the conception of the piano as an instrument, unusually consisting of only two movements.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in August 2019 at the Beethoven Haus in Bonn, Germany.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Beethoven's late works, including these sonatas, explore the universal narrative of human triumph over adversity, giving it musical substance through a radically novel language.
