Beethoven Explored, Vol. 3

Albumbeschreibung

The Beethoven Explored series on Britain's Metier label apparently seeks to situate Beethoven's music for violin and piano within its original surroundings. (They do not, however, use period instruments.) As such, the three early sonatas included on this disc receive their original designation as being "for piano and violin." The results are easy to hear in the performances by violinist Peter Sheppard Skaerved and pianist Aaron Shorr; they don't hesitate to let the piano dominate in passages where the piano writing has a full texture. Beyond that, the booklet goes into a great deal of detail about the original performers of these pieces and their relationship to Beethoven, with an intent toward demystification of the composer. The violinist was Ignaz Schuppanzigh, whose string quartet later premiered Beethoven's last works, and Beethoven is depicted as, among other things, joshing the musician about his obesity. This may even have had musical ramifications. The value of this kind of investigation is debatable, but the result here is a set of lively performances that highlight the humorous aspects of these sonatas. The final component of the Beethoven Explored series is the inclusion of a work by one of Beethoven's contemporaries, bearing in some way on the Beethoven pieces on the program. This disc concludes with the Variations on André Ernest Modeste Grétry's opera Barbe Bleu for solo violin of Franz Clement, a violinist of apparently formidable abilities. The work, seemingly a cross between a potpourri and a variation set, seems to have little stylistic connection with Beethoven, but the idea is worthwhile nonetheless. The entire program has the effect of taking Beethoven down off his pedestal and presenting him as a working musician, and it's highly recommended.
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