Beethoven believed his music could guide people to goodness, courage, and bravery, rooted in the ancient doctrine of music's power to affect the soul.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Beethoven's creative credo was "Freedom to move forward," leading him to reinvent the sonata form with each new work, making each unique and unrepeatable.
Composition History
The nickname 'Sonata appassionata' for Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, was given posthumously by the Hamburg publisher Cranz.
Composer Biography
Beethoven's playing was so powerful that one rival, Joseph Gelinek, a pianist-in-residence for Count Kinsky, exclaimed, "That young man is in league with the Devil."
Composition History
Beethoven dedicated his Three Piano Sonatas, Op. 2, to his teacher Joseph Haydn and premiered them in Haydn's presence in September 1795.
Recording & Production
Tracks 1-7 of this album were recorded live in Vienna's Musikverein, Golden Hall, from February 27 to March 1, 2010.
Historical Context
In Beethoven's time, Vienna alone had around 6,000 amateur pianists and over 300 piano teachers, all eager for new music.
