Resonance: Beethoven • Benjamin • Dowland • Josquin

Featuring

Benjamin Hochman
Ludwig van Beethoven
Josquin des Prez
George Benjamin
John Dowland

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Composer's Artistic Vision

Beethoven's late sonatas, including Op. 109 and 110, achieve a timeless quality by exploring rich sounds, original ideas, masterful structures, and integrating traditional forms like variations and fugue.

Compositional Technique

Beethoven's late piano sonatas are characterized by architectural experimentation, shifting gravity towards colossal final movements, and a preoccupation with Baroque layered language.

Composition History

Beethoven began composing his final three piano sonatas, Op. 109, 110, and 111, in 1820 after receiving a commission from his Berlin publisher, Adolf Martin Schlesinger.

Interpretation

Pianist Benjamin Hochman frames Beethoven's works with very old and very new music to create surprising resonance and open listeners' ears to hear things afresh.

Composer Biography

Beethoven overcame a suicidal crisis triggered by his worsening hearing loss, resolving to live for his art, which led to his 'heroic' style.

Performer Biography

Benjamin Hochman, the pianist on this recording, developed an auto-immune condition affecting his left hand in 2015, leading him to pursue conducting before fully recovering and returning to piano in 2018.

Recording & Production

This recording was made in May 2024 at Teldex Studio Berlin GmbH, using a Steinway Model 'D' 619 226 piano and Neumann M 50, M 49, and Coles 4038 microphones.