The Romantics, Vol. 24: Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Op. 49 Nos. 1 & 2, Op. 14 No. 2 & Op. 110
2/3/2015, 10 Tracks, 54:31
Featuring
Trudelies Leonhardt
Ludwig van Beethoven
Did you know?
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Instruments
Beethoven's Viennese pianos often included special effects activated by extra pedals, such as the 'moderator' (a felt strip muting the sound) and the 'bassoon' stop (a parchment strip creating a snare-like effect).
Instruments
The fortepiano used for this recording was made by Benignus Seidner of Vienna around 1815 and has a range of six octaves, compared to a modern piano's seven and a half.
Performer Biography
Trudelies Leonhardt has recorded about thirty CDs, primarily featuring works by Schubert and Beethoven, and now dedicates her musical activity entirely to fortepianos.
Composer Biography
Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas span from 1796 to 1821, reflecting the increasing range and power of the fortepiano during his lifetime.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in St. Sulpice, Switzerland, on January 11-12, 2014, with Michel Amsler as both producer and engineer.
Performer Biography
Trudelies Leonhardt, the fortepiano soloist on this album, comes from a family of musicians; her brother is the renowned harpsichordist Gustav Leonhardt.
Compositional Technique
Beethoven's major expansion of the development section in sonata form, between 1796 and 1824, dramatically increased the scale of compositions throughout the 19th century.
