La Folle Journée de Varsovie: KREUTZER SONATA IN THE MOONLIGHT (5)

Tickets go on sale on 1 September 2021, 11 a.m.

PROGRAMME

Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor Op. 27 No. 2 Moonlight Sonata (1801)
I. Adagio sostenuto
II. Allegretto
III. Presto agitato

Violin Sonata No. 9 A major Op. 47 Kreutzer Sonata (1803)
I. Adagio sostenuto – Presto
II. Andante con variazioni
III. Finale: Presto

PERFORMERS:

Jakub Haufa – violin

François-Frédéric Guy – piano

The Kreutzer and Moonlight Sonatas – perhaps the two most famous examples of solo sonatas in Beethoven’s oeuvre – will be featured together in the evening’s program. The story of the Kreutzer sonata is full of paradoxes. The powerful, approximately 40-minute-long sonata mulattica was dedicated to George Bridgetower, a British virtuoso of African-Polish descent. With no previous rehearsals, the 1803 premiere was very successful. Beethoven’s piece was not finished until the last minute, so the violinist had to sight-read some of his part from the composer’s piano score. Soon after the premiere the two performers had a disagreement. Beethoven changed the sonata’s dedication to Rodolphe Kreutzer – the foremost violin virtuoso of his day. However, Kreutzer refused to perform the piece. He met Beethoven only once and he didn’t like his music… The young countess Giulietta Guicciardi had very much different feelings towards the composer (and the feelings were mutual!). Beethoven dedicated Sonata No. 2, Op. 27, known as the Moonlight Sonata, to her. This name, inspired only by the first movement of the work, was given to it by the German poet Ludwig Rellstab. However, this is actually the final movement of a piece that remains a pianistic challenge to this day and amazes listeners with its ferocious expression. Thus, it is worth waiting for…