Beethoven: The Violin Sonatas

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How elegantly unforced these works come over today. Zimmermann’s sound is light, flexible, and finely shaded, with Martin Helmchen delivering effortless virtuosity. The opening of the First Sonata... — BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 2020, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 2nd Oct 2020
Catalogue No: BIS2517
Label: BIS
Length: 72 minutes

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Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 1 in D major, Op. 12 No. 1

Work length19:09

$3.50

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Frank Peter Zimmermann (violin), Martin Helmchen (piano)

Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12 No. 1: I. Allegro con brio

Track length8:13

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Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12 No. 1: II. Tema con variazioni

Track length6:13

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Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12 No. 1: III. Rondo

Track length4:43

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Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 12 No. 2

Work length15:19

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Frank Peter Zimmermann (violin), Martin Helmchen (piano)

Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 12 No. 2: I. Allegro vivace

Track length6:05

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Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 12 No. 2: II. Andante, più tosto allegretto

Track length4:19

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Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 12 No. 2: III. Allegro piacevole

Track length4:55

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Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 12 No. 3

Work length18:33

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Frank Peter Zimmermann (violin), Martin Helmchen (piano)

Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 3: I. Allegro con spirito

Track length8:18

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Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 3: II. Adagio con molta espressione

Track length6:00

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Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 3: III. Rondo

Track length4:15

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Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 4 in A minor, Op. 23

Work length19:44

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$7.00

Frank Peter Zimmermann (violin), Martin Helmchen (piano)

Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23: I. Presto

Track length7:19

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Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23: II. Andante scherzoso, più allegretto

Track length6:59

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Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23: III. Allegro molto

Track length5:26

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About
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About

Highly regarded as soloists as well as chamber musicians, Frank Peter Zimmermann and Martin Helmchen are also known for an unostentatious and selfless musicianship which never obscures the music they are performing. When they started their collaboration in 2018, it was with the aim of playing and recording Beethoven's 12 violin sonatas. A series of recitals at prestigious venues and festivals was followed by the first recording sessions, which took place in September 2019, with results that can be heard on this disc. Towards the end of the 18th century, the violin sonata had become one of the most important forms of chamber music in Viennese Classicism. Admittedly, Haydn did not make a single contribution to the genre, but Mozart composed no less than 36 violin sonatas, including the early childhood pieces. Beethoven's first pieces for violin and piano were also early, but by the time he composed his first three sonatas he was well on his way to maturity. In formal terms the Opus 12 sonatas are perhaps rooted in Mozartian ground, but they go far beyond that role model with their numerous moments of melodic and harmonic surprise. Published in 1798, the three sonatas quickly became very popular. Composed only a couple of years later, the A minor sonata, Op. 23, was of a more melancholic and uneasy character and never reached the same popularity as the Op. 12 set – or the sonata that followed: the famous 'Spring' Sonata included on the next instalment of this 3-disc series.

Reviews

Christmas 2020

How elegantly unforced these works come over today. Zimmermann’s sound is light, flexible, and finely shaded, with Martin Helmchen delivering effortless virtuosity. The opening of the First Sonata brings an unleashing of exuberant energy, while the opening of the Second is the epitome of mercurial high spirits...These recordings are conversations by a perfect instrumental pairing.

November 2020

They’re never afraid to express themselves poetically or to linger over an expressive moment. Yet there’s a briskness and momentum about all four performances…these performances wed classical verve to a profoundly Romantic spirit, and I suspect that Beethoven would have rather enjoyed the result.

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