As well as being a virtuoso soloist and improviser on the piano, Beethoven was also a competent violinist – an experience he put to good use in his ten sonatas for violin and piano. Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov have long cherished the project of recording them all. The immense care they have taken over documentation and performance has enabled them to get as close as possible to the composer’s intentions.
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN [1770-1827] Sonata no.1 in D major, op.12 no.1 · I. Allegro con brio (8'53) · II. Andante con moto. Tema con variazioni (6'28) · III. Rondo. Allegro (4'39) Sonata no.2 in A major, op.12 no.2 · I. Allegro vivace (5'51) · II. Andante, più tosto Allegretto (4'55) · III. Allegro piacevole (5'01) Sonata no.3 in E flat major, op.12 no.3 · I. Allegro con spirito (7'53) · II. Adagio con molt'espressione (6'15) · III. Rondo (Allegro molto) (3'39)
Sonata no.4 in A minor, op.23 · I. Presto (7'03) · II. Andante scherzoso, più Allegretto (7'05) · III. Allegro molto (5'07) Sonata no.5 in F major, op.24, 'Spring' · I. Allegro (9'50) · II. Adagio molto espressivo (5'46) · III. Allegro molto (1'09) · IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo (6'19) Sonata no.10 in G major, op.96 · I. Allegro moderato (11'28) · II. Adagio espressivo (5'23) · III. Scherzo (1'53) · IV. Poco Allegretto (8'49)
Sonata no.6 in A major, op.30 no.1 · I. Allegro (6'56) · II. Adagio molto espressivo (6'46) · III. Allegretto con variazioni (7'55) Sonata no.7 in C minor, op.30 no.2 · I. Allegro con brio (7'05) · II. Adagio cantabile (7'28) · III. Scherzo. Allegro (3'15) · IV. Allegro (4'52) Sonata no.8 in G major, op.30 no.3 · I. Allegro assai (5'55) · II. Tempo di Minuetto (6'09) · III. Allegro vivace (3'04)
Sonata no.9 in A major, op.47, 'Kreutzer' · I. Adagio sostenuto - Presto (13'22) · II. Andante con variazioni (13'41) · III. Finale: Presto (8'16)
