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 6 with four Sonatas from 1802 and 1804.

The Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat major, Op. 31, No. 3, is a sonata for solo piano by Ludwig van Beethoven, the third and last of his Op. 31 piano sonatas. The work dates from 1802. A playful jocularity is maintained throughout the piece, earning it the occasional nickname of The Hunt, although like many of Beethoven's early works, the 'jocular' style can be heard as a facade, concealing profound ideas and depths of emotion. The sonata consists of four movements.

The Piano Sonata No. 19 in G minor, Op. 49, No. 1, and Piano Sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49, No. 2, are short (and are considered relatively simple sonatas by some pianists) by Ludwig van Beethoven, published in 1805 (although the works were likely composed several years earlier). Both works are approximately eight minutes in length, and are split into two movements. These sonatas are referred to as the Leichte Sonaten to be given to his friends and students.

The Piano Sonata No. 20 was possibly written around the time Beethoven composed the third and fourth sonatas, but because it was published in Vienna in 1805, nearly a decade after it was actually written, it was assigned then-current opus and sonata numbers, which classified it alongside works from the composer's middle period. Very similar circumstances caused Beethoven's B-flat Piano Concerto to appear as his second, even though it predated the first.

Beethoven often suppressed works in his early years, either revising them later for publication or determining that they were not fit. In fact, he withheld many early works from publication for life. In the case of these two sonatas, it was Caspar van Beethoven, the composer's brother, who decided they were worthy of publication. Against the composer's will, he presented them to a publishing house, thus allowing posterity to hear works that might otherwise have been lost or destroyed.

Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53, known as the Waldstein, is one of the three most notable sonatas of his middle period beside the Appassionata, Op. 57, and Les Adieux, Op. 81a. Completed in summer 1804 and surpassing Beethoven's previous piano sonatas in its scope, the "Waldstein" is a key early work of Beethoven's 'Heroic' decade (1803-1812) and set a standard for piano composition in the grand manner. The sonata's name derives from Beethoven's dedication to his close friend and patron Count Ferdinand Ernst Gabriel von Waldstein of Vienna. Like the Archduke Trio (one of many pieces dedicated to Archduke Rudolph), it is named for Waldstein even though other works are dedicated to him. It is also known as 'L'Aurora' (The Dawn) in Italian, for the sonority of the opening chords of the third movement, which conjures an image of daybreak.

One of his greatest and most technically challenging piano sonatas, the first section of the Rondo requires a simultaneous pedal trill, high melody and rapid left hand runs while its coda's glissando octaves, written in dialogue between the hands, compel even advanced performers to play in a simplified version since it is more demanding to play on the heavier action of a modern piano than on an early 19th Century instrument.

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. Piano Sonata No 18 Hunt in E Flat Major Op31 1 Allegro (Ludwig van Beethoven)
2. Piano Sonata No 18 Hunt in E Flat Major Op31 2 Scherzo Allegretto Vivace (Ludwig van Beethoven)
3. Piano Sonata No 18 Hunt in E Flat Major Op31 3 Menuetto Moderato e Grazioso (Ludwig van Beethoven)
4. Piano Sonata No 18 Hunt in E Flat Major Op31 4 Presto con Fuoco (Ludwig van Beethoven)
5. Piano Sonata No 19 in G Minor Op49 1 Andante (Ludwig van Beethoven)
6. Piano Sonata No 19 in G Minor Op49 2 Rondo Allegro (Ludwig van Beethoven)
7. Piano Sonata No 20 in G Major Op49 1 Allegro ma non troppo (Ludwig van Beethoven)
8. Piano Sonata No 20 in G Major Op49 2 Tempo di menuetto (Ludwig van Beethoven)
9. Piano Sonata No 21 Waldstein in C Major Op53 1 Allegro con brio (Ludwig van Beethoven)
10. Piano Sonata No 21 Waldstein in C Major Op53 2 Introduzione Adagio molt Attacca (Lvan Beethoven)
11. Piano Sonata No 21 Waldstein in C Major Op53 3 Rondo Allegretto moderato Prestissimo (Beethoven)

Listen to: the entire album.

Release date: 04/21/2015
Sebastian Forster lives in New Jersey USA

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

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19. Ragged, Rent and Torn by Shira Kammen: early folk and celtic music.
20. The Airs of Wales by Cheryl Ann Fulton: World-class performer and teacher of Medieval, Baroque, Welsh triple, Celtic and Concert harps.

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