18 April JULIAN JACOBSON Beethoven Recital Lectures @ Red Hedgehog

LONDON BEETHOVEN
MARATHON
November 2022

“… a phenomenal feat of
pianistic prowess, memory,
and sheer stamina….”

Malcolm Miller
‘MUSICAL OPINION’

“To listen to and enjoy the complete cycle of Beethoven piano sonatas in a single day is a both a rare treat and a challenge of concentration; to perform them is all the more so.

At times, the piano’s sound reminded
one of the indubitably unique
Beethovenian ‘klang’ associated
with great masters of the past such as Kempff, Schnabel or Serkin.

Website

Sonata No. 23 in F minor, ‘Appassionata’ Opus 57

Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 (colloquially known as the Appassionata, meaning "passionate" in Italian) is among the three famous piano sonatas of his middle period (the others being the Waldstein, Op. 53 and Les Adieux, Op. 81a)

Sonata 23 was composed during 1804 and 1805 (perhaps also 1806), and was dedicated to Count Franz von Brunswick. The first edition was published in February 1807 in Vienna.

Unlike the early Sonata 8, Pathétique, the Appassionata was not named during the composer's lifetime, but was so labelled in 1838 by the publisher of a four-hand arrangement of the work. Instead, Beethoven's autograph manuscript of the sonata has "La Passionata" written on the cover, in Beethoven's hand.

One of his greatest and most technically challenging piano sonatas, the Appassionata was considered by Beethoven to be his most tempestuous piano sonata until the twenty-ninth piano sonata (known as the Hammerklavier). 1803 was the year Beethoven came to grips with the irreversibility of his progressively deteriorating hearing.

(With thanks to WIKIPEDIA)

Exploring
Beethoven

Sonata No. 23 in F minor, ‘Appassionata’ Opus 57

See also

III THURSDAY 23 MAY
Sonata No. 30 in E major
Op. 109

In this series of lecture-recitals, the eminent pianist and scholar Julian Jacobson takes us through three of Beethoven’s greatest sonatas, one early, one middle period and one late.

The history, genesis, structure and emotional content of each sonata will be explored, with time for questions before Julian gives a complete performance.

A wonderful opportunity to increase your understanding and appreciation of these famous and much-loved masterpieces.