Sebastián is a true Beethovenian, he breathes and experiences Beethoven's every single emotion, of true love, drama, passion, desperation, beauty and darkness. Living Beethoven with every key stroke is an experience of monumental inner impact, only at reach for the daring soul and the truly talented soloist.

Famous for his deeply moving and highly original interpretations and dazzling mastery of his repertoire, Sebastián continues this travel through the universe of Beethoven in this Volume 5 with three Sonatas from 1801 and 1802.

The Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 was named Pastoral or Pastorale by Beethoven's publisher at the time, A. Cranz. It is admired for the intricacy and technicality in the beauty it portrays. Published in 1801, it is dedicated to the Count Joseph von Sonnenfels. This sonata was written at a time when Beethoven's alarm at his worsening deafness was increasing. Nevertheless, Beethoven paints a serene image with this sonata.

The Piano Sonata No. 16 in G major, Op. 31 No. 1, was composed between 1801 and 1802. Due to his dissatisfaction with the 'classical' style of music, Beethoven pledged to 'take a new path' of musical composition and style. The Opus 31 works are the first examples of Beethoven's new innovative and unconventional ideas, an attempt to make a name for himself in the annals of music history. In critical terms, this sonata is light, breezy and has touches of humour and irony amongst its movements. Critics say that the Opus 31 works show now a more pronounced 'Beethovenian' sense of style that will become more evident in later, mature works.

The Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31, No. 2, was composed in 1801/02. It is usually referred to as 'The Tempest', but this title was not given by him, or indeed referred to as such during his lifetime; instead, it comes from a claim by his associate Anton Schindler that the sonata was inspired by the Shakespeare play

Hear Beethoven as you have never heard it before, getting lost in the world of invigorating ideas and emotional virtuosity that has made Sebastián Forster one of the outstanding interpreters of the classical repertoire currently working on the world stage today.

1. Sonata for piano no15 in D major Op28 Pastoral 1 allegro (Ludwig van Beethoven)
2. Sonata for piano no15 in D major Op28 Pastoral 2 andante (Ludwig van Beethoven)
3. Sonata for piano no15 in D major Op28 Pastoral 3 scherzo trio allegro vivace (Ludwig van Beethoven)
4. Sonata for piano no15 in D major Op28 Pastoral 4 rondo allegro ma non troppo (Ludwig van Beethoven)
5. Sonata for piano no16 in G major Op31 no1 1 allegro vivace (Ludwig van Beethoven)
6. Sonata for piano no16 in G major Op31 no1 2 adagio grazioso (Ludwig van Beethoven)
7. Sonata for piano no16 in G major Op31 no1 3 rondo allegretto presto (Ludwig van Beethoven)
8. Sonata for piano no17 in D minor Op31 no2 tempest 1 largo allegro (Ludwig van Beethoven)
9. Sonata for piano no17 in D minor Op31 no2 tempest 2 adagio (Ludwig van Beethoven)
10. Sonata for piano no17 in D minor Op31 no2 tempest 3 allegretto (Ludwig van Beethoven)

Listen to: the entire album.

Release date: 1/7/2012
Sebastian Forster lives in New Jersey USA

Tagged as: Classical, Classical Period, Romantic Era, Instrumental Classical, Classical Piano, Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

1. JS Bach French Suites by Katherine Roberts Perl: Bach on the harpsichord - poetic and expressive
2. JS Bach - Transcriptions for Oboe by Gonzalo X Ruiz: baroque oboist extraordinaire
3. JS Bach on 8 string guitar, vol 1 by Daniel Estrem: colorful classical guitar
4. Schubert - Music for fortepiano four hands by Seth Carlin: fortepiano music from the early 1800s
5. JS Bach on 8 string guitar, vol 2 by Daniel Estrem: colorful classical guitar
6. Soliloquies by Gonzalo X Ruiz: baroque oboist extraordinaire
7. Vol 1 - Well Tempered Clavier Book 2 'Sharp Keys' by Katherine Roberts Perl: Bach on the harpsichord - poetic and expressive
8. CD1 - Bach - The Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin by Lara St John: Bach violin concertos
9. Schubert - Works for Solo Fortepiano by Seth Carlin: fortepiano music from the early 1800s
10. JS Bach Laboratory by Takashi Matsuishi Spark: flautists with finesse, intelligence and grooves
11. A Harper's Holiday in Wales by Cheryl Ann Fulton: World-class performer and teacher of Medieval, Baroque, Welsh triple, Celtic and Concert harps.
12. Vivaldi - The Four Seasons by Lara St John: Bach violin concertos
13. Bach and His Teachers by Paul Boehnke: Heartfelt music for harpsichord
14. JS Bach Six Motets BWV 225-230 by Bach Collegium San Diego: Bach, historically informed, vibrantly performed
15. Sergio Azzolini and Vito Paternoster play Mozart and Haydn by Vito Paternoster: cellist extraordinaire
16. Antonio Vivaldi, The Four Seasons in forma di sonata for cello by Vito Paternoster: cellist extraordinaire
17. Ladislav Jelinek plays Smetana and Dvorak by Ladislav Jelinek: classical works from a World renowned pianist
18. Sparkling - The Complete Preludes by Claude Debussy by Ivan Ilic: dazzling classical pianist

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