Under the direction of Johan Hock from Queen's College Chambers
Lecture Hall, Birmingham
A Recital by Johan Hock (violoncello) and Beatrice Hewitt
(pianoforte)
Beethoven's A major Sonata for 'cello and piano was published in April, 1809, at the same time as the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies. Written at the height of Beethoven's maturity, it is one of his finest chamber works. Its general character of good-humoured dignity is relieved only by the scherzo. In a work remarkable throughout for sheer loveliness of sound the chief subjects of the first' movement and finale are outstanding. The finale combines Beethoven's characteristic nobility and tenderness with an almost Mozartian light-heartedness ; the return of the chief subject is particularly memorable.
The 'Cello Sonatas, Op. 102,
No. 1, in C and No. 2, in D, were composed in the summer of 1815 at Baden. At that time Linke, 'cellist of the Rasumovsky Quartet was staying with the Countess Erdody at Jedlersee and Beethoven frequently visited the house. The C major which Beethoven himself called a ' free sonata ' is rather more austere in character than the A major which opens this programme.