L. Beethoven. All sonatas for violin and piano. Part 3

In 2023, the Verbier International Music Festival celebrated its 30th anniversary. This anniversary was marked by special programs within the festival.

One of them is "All Sonatas for Violin and Piano by Ludwig van Beethoven" performed by Mark Bushkov (violin) and Mao Fujita (piano).

The third part of the program included sonatas Nos. 5, 10 and 9.

The fifth sonata was written by the composer in 1801 and dedicated to Count Moritz von Fries. This is one of Beethoven's most performed works.

The tenth sonata was written in 1812 and dedicated to the composer's student, Archduke Rudolf Johannes Joseph Rainer of Austria, who first performed it together with violinist Pierre Rode. It is considered the most beautiful of his violin sonatas, possessing a "calm, unearthly beauty" and "a difficult test for performers."

The Ninth Sonata was originally dedicated to the violinist George Bridgetower, who became its first performer on May 24, 1803 in Vienna. The full text of the dedication was humorous: "The Mulatto Sonata, composed for the mulatto Bridgetower, a great buffoon and a mulatto composer." But Beethoven soon removed this dedication, rededicating the sonata to the French violinist Rudolf Kreutzer. Since then, the sonata has been known as the "Kreutzer Sonata."

WORKS:

L. Beethoven. Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 5 in F major, Op. 24, "Spring"

L. Beethoven. Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 10 in G major, op. 96

L. Beethoven. Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 9 in A major, op. 47, "Kreutzer"

PERFORMERS:

Mark Bushkov - violin

Mao Fujita - piano

Verbier, 2023