Weekend Concert 41: Beethoven's First Times

2007/8/4 18:54:59

Today's program features four works, all Beethoven's firsts in various forms -- a non-Beethoven Beethoven. They are the First Piano Sonata, First Violin Sonata, First String Quartet, and First Symphony.

These works are not far from Haydn and Mozart, but they are absolutely not mere imitations. Within them, Beethoven's shadow is already present. From these works, one can see how a musical giant grew.

When writing these works, Beethoven's ears had not yet become the great burden of his life. As the greatest heir to his two predecessor masters, fate showed him only sunlight.

A Beethoven under fate's sunshine was destined not to be Beethoven.