Beethoven composed ten sonatas for violin and piano. The enormous of the set, when it comes to technical calls for and dramatic weight, is Sonata No. 9 in A Main, Op. 47, the “Kreutzer” Sonata.
The work was devoted to the French violinist Rodolphe Kreutzer who referred to as it “outrageously unintelligible” and by no means carried out it. Beethoven and the Afro-European violinist George Bridgetower (1778-1860) premiered this convention-shattering music at Vienna’s Augarten Theatre. Beethoven was so late in finishing the manuscript that Bridgetower was compelled to sightread the efficiency, at instances trying over the composer’s shoulder on the full rating. Initially, the manuscript was inscribed with the lighthearted dedication to Bridgetower, “Sonata per un mulattico lunatico.” However, because the story goes, Beethoven later broke off all relations with Bridgetower after the violinist allegedly insulted a girl whom Beethoven admired.
In a previous post we explored Beethoven’s “Kreutzer” Sonata, and I highlighted 5 recordings. Right here is one other wonderful efficiency, that includes two twentieth century French musicians, violinist Zino Francescatti (1902-1991) and pianist Robert Casadesus (1899-1972). The efficiency was recorded in Paris in 1970. Francescatti and Casadesus started their longtime collaboration as a duo throughout World Battle II.
Though he displayed a powerful method, Francescatti’s type emphasised class and appeal over flashiness. In his e-book, Nice Masters of the Violin, Boris Schwarz wrote,
Francescatti represents civilized musical tradition at its bst. His taking part in has no mannerisms, eccentricities, or heaven-storming flights. All the things flows in a seemingly uninhabited but managed method. There may be heat and sentiment with out emotionalism, a cultured expressivity that shuns ostentatiousness.
Recordings
- Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 9, Op. 47 “Kreutzer,” Zino Francescatti, Robert Casadesus Amazon
