Tuesday / August 24 / 5:00 p.m. / Church of St. John Nepomucene
KONSTANTIN LIFSCHITZ – BEETHOVEN III
Pathétique
The complete 32 Piano Sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) – Programme III
Sonata for Piano No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique”
I. Grave – Allegro di molto e con brio
II. Adagio cantabile
III. Rondo. Allegro
Sonata for Piano No. 9 in E major, Op. 14, No. 1
I. Allegro
II. Allegretto
III. Rondo. Allegro comodo
interval
Sonata for Piano No. 10 in G major, Op. 14, No. 2
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Scherzo. Allegro assai
Sonata for Piano No. 19 in G minor, Op. 49, No. 1
I. Andante
II. Rondo. Allegro
Sonata for Piano No. 20 in G major, Op. 49, No. 2
I. Allegro ma non troppo
II. Tempo di Menuetto
Konstantin Lifschitz – piano
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One of the most popular and most frequently performed sonatas, Beethoven´s “Pathétique”, opens our third encounter here with this composer´s music. A terrible ordeal for a musician (let alone one still active), loss of hearing, was by now looming over Beethoven with cruel immediacy. One can hear the blows of fate rendered by the heavy chords of the work´s slow introduction. In their turns, the ravishing stream of the ensuing allegro, the cantilena of the slow movement in A flat major, and the sheer wit of the final rondo make of this sonata one of the best loved pieces in its genre.
Not uncommonly for Beethoven, the music of the following Opus 14 has nothing left of the spirit of tragic passion prevailing in the message of its predecessor. Both of its sonatas are embued with cheerful mood and tender charm, and nor does either of them pose exceptional demands on the interpreter. They might even appear to be destined primarily for home music making rather than the concert platform.
Dating from the same period (shortly before 1800), and falling within the same category of fairly simple compositions, are the two sonatas of Opus 49. At two movements each, they are also fairly short.
sleeve-note: Dita Hradecká / translation: Ivan Vomáčka
Complete 32 Piano Sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
BEETHOVEN I / In Haydn´s Footsteps / Sunday, August 22
Sonatas Opp. 2 & 7
BEETHOVEN II / The Birth of a Genius / Monday, August 23
Sonatas Opp. 10 & 22
BEETHOVEN III / Pathétique / Tuesday, August 24
Sonatas Opp. 13, 14 & 49
BEETHOVEN IV / Moonlight / Wednesday, August 25
Sonatas Opp. 26, 27 & 28
BEETHOVEN V / Tempest / Thursday, August 26
Sonatas Opp. 53 & 31
BEETHOVEN VI / Appassionata / Friday, August 27
Sonatas Opp. 54, 57, 78, 79 & 81a
BEETHOVEN VII / Monument / Saturday, August 28
Sonatas Opp. 90, 101 & 106
BEETHOVEN VIII / Towards New Shores / Sunday, August 29
Sonatas Opp. 109, 110 & 111
