Beethoven: Complete Violin Sonatas

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Artists: Kristóf Baráti (violin), Klára Würtz (piano)

Tracklist below.

Sonatas for piano with violin, Beethoven thought of them, and the early set of three Op. 12 does seem to look back towards the early Classical, even late-Baroque emphasis on the multi-voiced part to which the violin adds emphasis or decoration as required. But the genre matured with Beethoven, and by the time of the ‘Kreutzer’ he was composing a fullyfledged, pre-Romantic virtuoso journey for the combination, vast in breadth of expression and length. These works have always attracted great artists, but every generation must come to them afresh, and here are two superb musicians from Hungary to add their own approach: on ‘traditional’ rather than ‘period’ instruments but interpretatively untrammelled by one or another performing dogma.

Kristóf Baráti is one of the most exciting violinists of the younger generation. After winning several important prizes (top-3 prize winner of the Elizabeth Competition when he was 18 years old, first prize at the prestigious Paganini Competition in Moscow) he is building an international career, playing with important orchestras and conductors (Ivan Fischer, Charles Dutoit, Marek Janovski, Kurt Masur).

Klára Würtz needs little introduction to Brilliant Classics fans: her many recordings (Mozart, Schubert, Schumann) show an exceptional artist, with a natural musical instinct, effortless virtuosity and heart-warming charisma.

00:00:00 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D, Op. 12 No. 1: I. Allegro con brio
00:08:01 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D, Op. 12 No. 1: II. Tema con variazioni
00:14:45 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D, Op. 12 No. 1: III. Rondo: Allegro
00:19:01 Violin Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 12 No. 2: I. Allegro vivace
00:25:02 Violin Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 12 No. 2: II. Andante, più tosto allegretto
00:30:02 Violin Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 12 No. 2: III. Allegro piacevole
00:34:45 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat, Op. 12 No. 3: I. Allegro con spirito
00:42:49 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat, Op. 12 No. 3: II. Adagio con molt’espressione
00:48:15 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat, Op. 12 No. 3: III. Rondo: Allegro molto
00:52:12 Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23: I. Presto
00:59:08 Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23: II. Andante scherzoso, più allegretto
01:06:08 Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23: III. Allegro molto
01:10:57 Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24 ‘Spring’: I. Allegro
01:20:03 Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24 ‘Spring’: II. Adagio molto espressivo
01:25:35 Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24 ‘Spring’: III. Scherzo: Allegro molto
01:26:36 Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24 ‘Spring’: IV. Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo
01:32:46 Violin Sonata No. 6 in A, Op. 30 No. 1: I. Allegro
01:39:37 Violin Sonata No. 6 in A, Op. 30 No. 1: II. Adagio molto espressivo
01:46:31 Violin Sonata No. 6 in A, Op. 30 No. 1: III. Allegretto con variazioni
01:54:02 Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30 No. 2: I. Allegro con brio
02:01:09 Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30 No. 2: II. Adagio cantabile
02:09:48 Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30 No. 2: III. Scherzo, allegro
02:13:01 Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30 No. 2: IV. Finale: Allegro
02:17:39 Violin Sonata No. 8 in G, Op. 30 No. 3: I. Allegro assai
02:23:23 Violin Sonata No. 8 in G, Op. 30 No. 3: II. Tempo di menuetto
02:30:56 Violin Sonata No. 8 in G, Op. 30 No. 3: III. Allegro vivace
02:34:08 Violin Sonata No. 9 in A, Op. 47 ‘Kreutzer’: I. Adagio sostenuto – Presto
02:47:01 Violin Sonata No. 9 in A, Op. 47 ‘Kreutzer’: II. Andante con variazioni
03:01:23 Violin Sonata No. 9 in A, Op. 47 ‘Kreutzer’: III. Finale: Presto
03:09:42 Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96: I. Allegro moderato
03:19:48 Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96: II. Adagio espressivo
03:25:05 Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96: III. Scherzo: Allegro
03:26:54 Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96: IV. Poco allegretto

[archiejones]

I think Kristof and Klara are a wonderful duo together. They sound as though they are having the time of their lives making beautiful music together. Bravo!!!

[marazulization]

The music of Beethoven is my soundtrack for sad days, happy days, everything in between my life and death, this is specially an amazing performance ! Makes me happy to be alive, thank you so much.

[SabineRizvi]

00:00:00 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D, Op. 12 No. 1: I. Allegro con brio
00:08:01 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D, Op. 12 No. 1: II. Tema con variazioni
00:14:45 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D, Op. 12 No. 1: III. Rondo: Allegro
00:19:01 Violin Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 12 No. 2: I. Allegro vivace
00:25:02 Violin Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 12 No. 2: II. Andante, più tosto allegretto
00:30:02 Violin Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 12 No. 2: III. Allegro piacevole
00:34:45 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat, Op. 12 No. 3: I. Allegro con spirito
00:42:49 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat, Op. 12 No. 3: II. Adagio con molt’espressione
00:48:15 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat, Op. 12 No. 3: III. Rondo: Allegro molto
00:52:12 Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23: I. Presto
00:59:08 Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23: II. Andante scherzoso, più allegretto
01:06:08 Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23: III. Allegro molto
01:10:57 Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24 ‘Spring’: I. Allegro
01:20:03 Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24 ‘Spring’: II. Adagio molto espressivo
01:25:35 Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24 ‘Spring’: III. Scherzo: Allegro molto
01:26:36 Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24 ‘Spring’: IV. Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo
01:32:46 Violin Sonata No. 6 in A, Op. 30 No. 1: I. Allegro
01:39:37 Violin Sonata No. 6 in A, Op. 30 No. 1: II. Adagio molto espressivo
01:46:31 Violin Sonata No. 6 in A, Op. 30 No. 1: III. Allegretto con variazioni
01:54:02 Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30 No. 2: I. Allegro con brio
02:01:09 Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30 No. 2: II. Adagio cantabile
02:09:48 Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30 No. 2: III. Scherzo, allegro
02:13:01 Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30 No. 2: IV. Finale: Allegro
02:17:39 Violin Sonata No. 8 in G, Op. 30 No. 3: I. Allegro assai
02:23:23 Violin Sonata No. 8 in G, Op. 30 No. 3: II. Tempo di menuetto
02:30:56 Violin Sonata No. 8 in G, Op. 30 No. 3: III. Allegro vivace
02:34:08 Violin Sonata No. 9 in A, Op. 47 ‘Kreutzer’: I. Adagio sostenuto – Presto
02:47:01 Violin Sonata No. 9 in A, Op. 47 ‘Kreutzer’: II. Andante con variazioni
03:01:23 Violin Sonata No. 9 in A, Op. 47 ‘Kreutzer’: III. Finale: Presto
03:09:42 Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96: I. Allegro moderato
03:19:48 Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96: II. Adagio espressivo
03:25:05 Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96: III. Scherzo: Allegro
03:26:54 Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96: IV. Poco allegretto

[davidtuggy]

Stellar performance by both players. I could listen to them all day. (And Beethoven all day, of course!)

[daviddouglass]

My compliments to our two performers! Although they aren't big names and are on a budget label, I find the music going beyond technical excellence (which is common these days) to being heartfelt, alive, and musical.

[guillermomiranda]

This couple of young virtuosos have made a truly wonderful interpretation of these Sonatas in a way that seems like a magic teleportation to Beethoven"s lifetime and perhaps listening in that cloud-like reality to Ludwig himself playing the violin and to a piano advanced lady student of the has been exhilarating !!!..

[edwardlobb]

This is an extraordinary contribution to the world of Beethoven, thanks to your amazing combined artistry.

[shibamusique]

Timeline

No.1 in D Major(0:00)
No.2 in A Major(19:01)
No.3 in Eb Major(34:45)
No.4 in a minor(52:12)
No.5 in F major(1:10:57)
No.6 in A Major(1:32:46)
No.7 in c minor(1:54:02)
No.8 in G Major(2:17:39)
No.9 in A Major(2:34:08)
No.10 in G Major(3:09:42)
It's Just based on the first movement!!😮

[ACELog]

Bought this in 2018 via Amazon. A really lively performance! And that's what Beethoven intended!

[fionmcordeliomarmol]

—in a single, undeviating, irresistible outpouring of all the forces of my life

[brigittestewartkaufman]

What an amazing cooperation, in sound, atmosphere, so equal and mutually understanding. Love it! Kudos to these artists.

[Hot]

I was going to listen to the version by Oistrakh and Oborin for the millionth time but I'm glad I changed for once because your interpretation is fantastic!

[andorsagi]

My heart is full of gratitude for this awesome, free music ❤

[coralreef]

Sonatas for piano and violin
I’m off to Vienna to rehearse four programmes of Mozart’s music which violinist Erich Höbarth and I are playing this season in Perth Concert Hall, Scotland’s newest concert hall (our first concert is on November 11). We’re tackling twelve of Mozart’s sonatas for piano and violin.
Piano and violin, I hear you say? Isn’t it ‘violin and piano’? Well, not according to Mozart who called them ‘sonatas for piano and violin’. In his letters, he mentions playing the piano parts himself ‘with the accompaniment of a violin’. That was how they were perceived until the nineteenth century and the age of the celebrity violinist, when things flipped around. These works, and many others like them, started to be listed as ‘violin sonatas’, and the piano part was suddenly ‘the accompaniment’. Even today the violinist is often the one with their photo on the record cover, the one whose name is in bigger font in the programme, or the only one whose name is mentioned at the end of the radio broadcast.
Why does this matter? It matters because the re-labelling tricks people into perceiving things falsely. They expect the violin part to be the leading voice, when in fact the meat of the musical narrative is in the piano part. If you approach these works expecting the violin part to be pre-eminent, you experience a kind of cognitive dissonance as you listen: often the violin is doing something quite modest, and you sense that the piano part is full of interest and information, but you don’t understand why such prominent material should be relegated to ‘the accompaniment’. The answer is that it isn’t an accompaniment. If you switch to hearing the music as piano with violin, everything falls into place. Of course you still need an excellent violinist, and perhaps even more importantly, an excellent musician, both of which I’m fortunate to have.
With more historical awareness, and with the intervention of a few strong-minded pianists, things are beginning to move back to Mozart’s original concept of ‘sonatas for piano with violin’. If you look up all the available recordings on Spotify, you’ll find about half of the duo sonatas advertised with the pianist’s name first, the other half with the violinist’s name first. This shows the confusion around the topic. It’s clearly a situation in transition, but at least there is movement.
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[corneliahalapciuc]

Amazing how much I liked to listen this brilliant of classical music!

[Rx-mnfv]

So good! So good! A marvelous companion for the human spirit!

[tiborweil]

Excelente interpretacao, ambos artistas de grande valor. Parabéns ! Gostaria de convida-los para o Brasil.

[Traylortrio]

U know I didn’t really think I’d enjoy classical music . Even though I can pretty much listen to anything but here we are few hours in . And I’m vibing

[centrodeapoyoalamujeryalan]

La sonata primavera, se escucha genial, alucinante, increiblemente hermosa. Gran, gran Beethoven, excelentes ejecutantes!! Que más se puede pedir en la vida, sí puedo escuchar esta maravilla

[shin-i-chikozima]

These music have a healing s effect, and a panacea for the soul