The fourth and final volume of the complete recordings of Ludwig van Beethovens violin sonatas by Salzburg violinist Thomas Albertus Irnberger with Michael Korstick, piano, focuses on the sonatas op. 30/1 and 30/2. Composed in 1802, the year when he also wrote the "Heiligenst�dter Testament", these works reflect Beethovens emotional state: On one hand, there is a new affection, professional success and aspiration, on the other hand, above all his emerging severe hearing defect, threatening his artistic and psychological existence. Ever so different in style and characterized by heavy mood swings, the sonatas are composed in the keys of A major (No. 6, op. 30/1) respectively C minor (No. 7, op. 30/2). The Rondo in G major, WoO 41, and the Six German Dances, WoO 42, however, were written in 1794/96 and convey ease and almost juvenile cheerfulness - a trait also prevalent in the interpretation of Irnberger and Korstick.

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Classical Music

Classical Music

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was born in the city of Bonn, but moved in 1792 to Vienna, where he spent the rest of his relatively short (he died aged 56) yet highly productive life. While best known, perhaps, for popular large-scale orchestral works such as his concertos and symphonies, he also composed string quartets and other chamber music, songs and, of course, a large amount of music for his 'own' instrument, the piano. In each genre, Beethoven was to some extent a path breaker, transforming the models he inherited from his predecessors or the approach taken by his contemporaries into something radically unique and bequeathing to posterity music that pushed the bounds of politely regulated Classicism towards the highly personal drama of Romanticism. When the young Beethoven arrived in Vienna, he quickly established himself as a virtuoso pianist-contemporaries had quite simply never heard anything like him before-and though deafness ended his career as a pianist, he continued to compose, ultimately publishing 32 piano sonatas (some early sonatas remained unpublished), several sets of piano variations, bagatelles and dances between 1793 and 1822, a representative selection of which are featured on Easy-Listening Piano Classics. Many of Beethoven's piano sonatas have names that describe their character, though not all of these originated with the composer. For instance, 'Path�tique' is an abbreviation of Beethoven's full title 'Grande sonate path�tique' (that is, 'passionate' rather than 'pitiful'); the 'Moonlight' was so named by a music critic who thought of moonlight shimmering upon Lake Lucerne when he heard the first movement (Beethoven simply gave it the sub-title Quasi una fantasia, 'Like a fantasy'); the 'Kurf�rstensonaten' are pre-Viennese sonatas dedicated to the Elector (Kurf�rst) of Cologne; 'The Tempest' comes from Anton Schindler's claim that the sonata was inspired by Shakespeare's play; 'Pastoral' was provided by one of Beethoven's publishers. In addition, Beethoven composed many shorter piano pieces, which he referred to as 'Kleinigkeiten (Small Things) or Bagatelles', though these should not be underestimated: while some are popular in style and suitable for amateur performers (such as the famous, and probably misnamed 'F�r Elise') others are highly characterful miniatures that one writer has described as 'lapidary, fragmentary, yes, even ironic'-true harbingers of Romanticism. Many of his dances (Minuets, L�ndler, Ecossaises and so forth) also combine charm and sophistication. Whether composing large-scale serious works for the enjoyment of connoisseurs or smaller popular pieces primarily designed to entertain, Beethoven was very interested in the piano, maintaining close contact with leading piano manufacturers in Vienna and London. The demands he made on both performers and the instrument itself contributed to the development of the modern concert grand. One observer wrote that when Beethoven played the piano 'the music of the man's soul passed over his countenance. He seems to feel the bold, the commanding, and the impetuous, more than what is soothing or gentle. The muscles of the face swell, and it's veins start out; the wild eye rolls doubly wild, the mouth quivers, and Beethoven looks like a wizard, overpowered by the demons whom he himself has called up.' Yet, whether seeking the sublime or appealing to the lighter sentiments, Beethoven's music always communicates 'From the heart... to the heart'.

- The second part of TrioVanBeethoven's complete series of piano trios starts out with the Trio in B flat, op. 97 ('Archduke'), one of Beethoven's most popular and extensive trios. - Although only published in 1824, Beethoven's 'Cockatoo Variations', op. 121a, based on a popular song from the musical comedy Die Schwestern von Prag by composer Wenzel M�ller, must have begun around the beginning of the 19th c., thus providing for both early and late stylistic features. - The Allegretto for the Piano Trio in E flat, Hess 48 (1784) on the other hand, constitutes a truly early work by Beethoven.

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Classical Music

The opening of the second part of the complete recordings of Beethovens Violin Sonatas by Thomas Albertus Irnberger and Michael Korstick could hardly be any more energetic than with the Sonata No. 8 in G major op. 30/3. Following the initial exuberance, the performers flatter with more gentle tones, not least in the lyrically-dreamy second movement, which can even be inferred by the tempo /mood indication, which states Tempo di Menuetto, ma molto moderato e grazioso. Beethovens first Sonatas for violin and piano op. 12/1-3, composed during the years 1797/1798, contain despite their early date of creation and formal stylistic accordance to Mozarts ideal unmistakable elements of his later composition style, which challenged his contemporaries' critical taste accordingly.

After three acclaimed CDs with works by Mozart for piano and violin, the well-known young Salzburg violinist Thomas Albertus Irnberger now presents all the violin sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven. With the internationally renowned Beethoven specialist Michael Korstick at the piano, the first part of this series begins with the Sonata No. 8 in G, op. 30/3, the famous ‘Kreutzer’ Sonata No. 9 in A, op. 47 and the seemingly more heartfelt in tone and final Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, op. 96, once praised by critics as the ‘most poetic and musically most sensitively crafted’ of his sonatas. The Austrian-born Mr. Irnberger performs often at international festivals and has a discography of recordings with musicians such as Jörg Demus and Paul Badura-Skoda as well as with the Israel Chamber Orchestra and the ‘Spirit of Europe’ orchestra. Köln native Michael Korstick has undertaken concerts and tours to Mexico, Korea, Andalusia and Morocco. For his CD recordings, which have received excellent reviews in music magazines and journals, he has been awarded the German ‘Echo Klassik Prize’ several times and the MIDEM Classical Award.

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Beethoven: Gods, Heroes, And Men

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Beethoven's secular vocal works, many rarely heard today, were composed for a variety of reasons. Some were written for marriages, to mark the departure of a friend or to celebrate a name day, while others allude to Masonic imagery or set the words of great literary contemporaries, such as Schiller. The larger canvas of Mehrstimmige italienische Ges�nge reflects Beethoven's studies of Italian word-setting with Antonio Salieri, revealing insights into Beethoven's achievements during his early years in Vienna. Viennese chamber choir Cantus Novus Wien draws on an extensive repertoire of Baroque, Classical, and contemporary music, including a cappella choral music, oratorios by Handel and Haydn, and requiems by Mozart, Brahms, Verdi, and Faur�. Contemporary music is one of the choir's focal points, including regular world premieres of commissioned pieces. The choir has been conducted by Thomas Holmes since 2001. Ensemble Tamanial is a vocal quartet based in Vienna, Austria. The ensemble was established to provide a place in which to grow and learn as musicians through undertaking soloist responsibility across a wide variety of musical styles, including Renaissance, Classical, Romantic and also in contemporary works. For these Beethoven recordings the ensemble have been working closely with Thomas Holmes as their musical director and wish to express their deep gratitude.

Beethoven is regarded by many to be the greatest composer who ever lived, and this collection presents 30 essential recordings of his most well-known works. From the beautiful moods of lamentation in the 'Moonlight' Sonata to the amorous sophistication of F�r Elise, and from the heroism of Fidelio to the mighty finale of the 'Choral' Symphony, every significant facet of Beethoven's monumental achievement is represented in this collection of exemplary performances from the Naxos catalogue. 2020 is the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, and the catalogues are already filling up with new releases to mark this significant event. What better then, to have a comprehensive audio guide to the best of his orchestral, chamber, vocal and piano music, providing an entertaining collection for both pleasure and discovery and a springboard into an entire world of great music that recently found it's summit in our 90-album boxed set of Beethoven's complete works.