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 4 with four Sonatas from 1800 and 1801.

Prominent musicologist Donald Francis tovey has called Beethoven's 11th sonata the crowning achievement and culmination of Beethoven's early "grand" piano sonatas. (The "grand" modifier was applied by Beethoven to sonatas with four movements instead of three). The sonatas after this one find Beethoven experimenting more with form and concept.

Beethoven composed his Piano Sonata N. 12, Op. 26 in 1800-1801, around the same time as he completed his First Symphony. He dedicated the sonata to Prince karl von Lichnovsky, who had been his patron since 1792. The structure of the sonata is unconventional in that the piece opens with a relatively slow movement in the format of theme and variations. In contrast, the remaining movements of the sonata proceed according to classical principles in fast-slow-fast alternation.

Beethoven's Piano Sonata in E flat major "Quasi una fantasia", Op. 27 No. 1, composed in 1800-1801, has four movements. Beethoven included the phrase "Quasi una fantasia" (Italian: Almost a fantasy) in the title because the sonata does not follow the traditional sonata pattern where the first movement is in regular sonata form, and the movements are arranged in a fast-slow-fast sequence.

The Piano Sonata N. 14 in C# minor "Quasi una fantasia", Op. 27, No. 2, popularly known as the Moonlight Sonata, was completed in 1801. It is dedicated to his pupil, 17-year-old Countess Giulietta Guicciardi, with whom Beethoven was, or had been, in love. It is one of Beethoven's most popular piano sonatas, as well as one of his most famous compositions for the piano.

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 no11 in B flat major Op22 1 allegro con brio (Ludwig van Beethoven)
2. Piano sonata no11 in B flat major Op22 2 adagio con molta espressione (Ludwig van Beethoven)
3. Piano sonata no11 in B flat major Op22 3 menuetto (Ludwig van Beethoven)
4. Piano sonata no11 in B flat major Op22 4 rondo allegretto (Ludwig van Beethoven)
5. Piano sonata no12 in A flat major (funeral march) Op26 1 andante con variazioni (L van Beethoven)
6. Piano sonata no12 in A flat major (funeral march) Op26 2 scherzo allegro molto (L van Beethoven)
7. Piano sonata no12 in A flat major (funeral march) Op26 3 marcia funebre sulla morte d'un eroe
8. Piano sonata no12 in A flat major (funeral march) Op26 4 allegro (Ludwig van Beethoven)
9. Piano sonata no13 in E flat major (quasi una fantasia) Op27 1 1 andante allegro (L van Beethoven)
10. Piano sonata no13 in E flat major (quasi una fantasia) Op27 1 2 allegro molto e vivace (Beethoven)
11. Piano sonata no13 in E flat major (quasi una fantasia) Op 27 1 3 adagio con espressione (Beethoven)
12. Piano sonata no13 in E flat major (quasi una fantasia) Op27 1 4 allegro vivace (L van Beethoven)
13. Piano sonata no14 in C sharp minor (moonlight) Op27 2 1 adagio sostenuto (Ludwig van Beethoven)
14. Piano sonata no14 in C sharp minor (moonlight) Op27 2 2 allegretto (Ludwig van Beethoven)
15. Piano sonata no14 in C sharp minor (moonlight) Op27 2 3 presto agitato adagio presto agitato

Listen to: the entire album.

Release date: 8/14/2011
Sebastian Forster lives in New Jersey USA

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

1. Music of Fernando Sor by Daniel Estrem: colorful classical guitar
2. The Chopin Variations (on solo piano) by Chad Lawson: Multi-award winning pianist and composer who is not afraid to put his hat in anything
3. The Chopin Variations (on piano, violin and cello) by Chad Lawson: Multi-award winning pianist and composer who is not afraid to put his hat in anything
4. Star Of The Sea by Stellamara: original Balkan-Near Eastern-Medieval-Ambient-World.
5. Long Ride Home by John Williams: bluesy and jazzy guitar
6. A Celebration of Robert Burns by Shira Kammen: early folk and celtic music.
7. The Castle of the Holly King by Shira Kammen: early folk and celtic music.
8. JS Bach - Book 1 CD2 Well-Tempered Clavier by Daniel Ben Pienaar: virtuoso pianist playing Bach's 48
9. Bach Goldberg Variations by Janine Johnson: Harpsichord and fortepiano classics
10. Mozart in the Age of Enlightenment by Seth Carlin: fortepiano music from the early 1800s
11. Clementi, Dussek, Kuhlau - Sonatinas For Piano by Marko Nouwens: classical piano sonatinas for students
12. Chopin Preludes for Piano by Eric Zivian: virtuoso fortepianist plays Chopin
13. JS Bach (Inventions and Sinfonias) by Kathleen McIntosh: delicious harpsichord rarities
14. JS Bach Goldberg Variations by Colin Booth: solo harpsichord music
15. Set on a Hill by Chad Lawson: Multi-award winning pianist and composer who is not afraid to put his hat in anything
16. Daydream by Robin Stine: jazzy, bluesy numbers that immediately sound like comfortable standards
17. Blues for all Occasions by Alan Marchand: Toe Teasin' Jazz Tunes For All Occasions
18. Narcotherapy Hypnosis by Made of Wood: Groove laden chillout funk
19. Out of the Blue by Tilopa: healing magic of the japanese zenflute
20. The Longing by Felixdroid: austere, personal, dreamy music

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