Soloist: Giltburg, Boris

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Composer: Beethoven, Ludwig van

Piano Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31, No. 1

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Venue: Fazioli Concert Hall, Sacile

Date of Concert: 2020

Playing Time: 00:24:05

Television Director: French, Stewart

Catalogue Number: NVF1235

UPC: 730099623513

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There are, in Beethoven's cycle, numerous sonatas that grab you immediately, whether as a performer or as a listener. Prior to this project, Sonata No. 16 was not one of those for me. I was offered the chance to play it as a teenager; I read through it briefly, decided with typical teenage cockiness that it wasn't 'that awesome', and asked to play Sonata No. 28 instead.

Today, I can both understand my initial reaction and see how superficial it was, and, ultimately, how wrong. Sonata No. 16 is a delight, but a delight perhaps more cerebral than emotional. It is akin to a pocket universe, where rules apply that might not apply elsewhere, and discovering and accepting these rules is a prerequisite to enjoyment. Like great science fiction writing often arises from a simple 'what if' question, the outer movements of the Sonata explore two musical worlds where something fundamental has been altered.

https://beethoven32.com/