Soloist: Giltburg, Boris

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Composer: Beethoven, Ludwig van

Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 2, No. 2

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Venue: Fazioli Concert Hall, Sacile

Date of Concert: 2020

Playing Time: 00:23:55

Television Director: French, Stewart

Catalogue Number: NVF1221

UPC: 730099622110

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If the first sonata of Op. 2 showed an laconic, tense and passionate Beethoven, here in the A major sonata he is charming, good natured, outgoing, eloquent. The form, too, is gradually becoming larger, the textures more generous, the writing more pianistic. The first movement, energetic and at places blazingly virtuosic, contains an unexpected and inspired second subject in the minor key, lending a personal, urgent note to the music. (It also contains a fiendishly difficult canon-like section in the development). The second movement is a stately procedure, with a very slow, yet steady pulse. There's a feeling of great depth and awe there, but also of elegance and beauty. The third movement is a lovely minuet, gentle and, apart from the more animated trio, carefree. The rondo finale contrasts a wonderfully flowing refrain with more ebullient episodes as well as a highly dramatic middle section. The repeats of the refrain (five in number!) become increasingly varied and ornamented, showing Beethoven's easy ingenuity and delight in exploring the material in an improvisatory way.

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