Beethoven: Works for Guitar & Piano

The guitar was a popular instrument in Vienna during Beethoven’s career, but the composer wrote little for the instrument himself. But guitar and piano duo Franz and Débora Halázs compensate for this with an album of arrangements. Alongside Beethoven’s four works for mandolin and piano, they perform several early compositions for flute or violin and piano, as well as Beethoven’s contemporary Ferdinando Carulli’s 1825 arrangement of a set of variations.

Featuring

Franz Halász
Débora Halász
Ludwig van Beethoven

Did you know?

1/7

Composition History

Many of Beethoven's early works, including most on this album, were omitted from his official catalogue and were only brought to light by the 1955 WoO (Werke ohne Opuszahl) catalogue.

Interpretation

Débora Halász, the pianist, made necessary adaptations for most pieces on this album, ensuring they did not alter the composer's intentions, except for one piece adapted by Ferdinando Carulli.

Composer Biography

Beethoven wrote four pieces for mandolin and piano in 1796 while traveling to Prague, dedicating them to Joséphine de Clary, but never composed for the instrument again.

Performer Biography

Franz Halász, the guitarist on this album, received a Latin Grammy Award in 2015 for 'Alma Brasileira' with his duo partner Débora Halász.

Composition History

The Serenade for flute and piano, Op. 41, is a transcription of an earlier Serenade for flute, violin, and viola, Op. 25, and exemplifies Beethoven's work for the popular home music market.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Beethoven himself declared that his aesthetics would take new directions from the moment his Symphony No. 3, 'Eroica', premiered in 1805.

Composition History

Beethoven's Five Pieces for Mechanical Clock were likely composed for Count Joseph Deym, who collected mechanical instruments, and their notation was similar to Mozart's Fantasy for Flötenuhr.