[CLASSICAL MUSIC] Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.30 🎹
Listening to Beethoven's (1770-1827) piano sonatas is like following a life's journey. In the last sonatas he plumbs deep into his spiritual inner and conveys an unmistakable pain and despair, but also glimpses of light and hope. During the composition of the E major Sonata (No. 30), Opus 109, he was facing a series of setbacks in the battle to gain custody of his nephew Karl. The magistrate had decided that Beethoven couldn't be considered a guardian due to the lack of both physical as well as moral prerequisites. He appealed and was eventually entitled to custody.
Together with the stress due to the custody battle, the concentration difficulties he had suffered from also disappeared and he could finally complete his 30th piano sonata in 1820 with exuberant creativity. Here Beethoven returns to a smaller format than in the previous mighty Hammerklavier Sonata, and instead offers an intimate, melodic and poetic side. The final variation movement is also unique in its great wealth of expressions that emanate from the heartfelt theme. This is High Romanticism that forebodes Robert Schumann.
I have always been fond of Sviatoslav Richter's profound and searching interpretations of the Beethoven Sonatas, and the gentle soul of the Opus 109 is a perfect match with Richter and his heart-melting phrasing. Enjoy!
@SteemSwede
Piano Sonata No.30, Op.109
I. Vivace ma non troppo. Adagio espressivo
II. Prestissimo
III. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung. Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo
Beautiful! There's something a bit dark about this particular piece. I think Beethoven possessed a remarkable talent for manipulating emotions better than other composers...it's true for me at least.
Holy moly... you are taking on Beethoven :-)... my favorite composer :-)
If I had to pick one I would probably say Beethoven 9 out of 10 times as well. He truly arouse my passion for classical music when I was around 13 and stumbled on the mysterious introduction of the ninth symphony. Today it's the late quartets, the late piano sonatas, the Eroica, the third and fourth piano concertos and the Missa Solemnis that I listen to most often.
I am quite puzzled by our apparent similar tastes in art :-)
It is quite hard for me to choose favorites, since his work is so high level for the larger works. But Pastoral symphony, op80 fantasia and emperor concerto are favorites. But in general symph 3-9, piano concerto 1-5 are top dollar for me. I have a particular fondness of piano and most sonatas, while I have not delved too much into them, are favorites.
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