Beethoven - Sonata in C, op.53 "Waldstein" ("L'Aurore")

[andhow04]

this is my first go at the Waldstein sonata which for me is the greatest of all Viennese Classical sonatas. among its many difficulties, the task of holding the first movement together is a heavy one.. the third movement has some physicality but its much easier to arrive at the Flow.

not only does the sonata feature beethoven's trademark motivic obsessions, but there is something psychological in many layers, for instance, the fact that each movement is started by the left hand, the continuous return to the extremes of the keyboard (F's and G's), certain rhythmic echoes that are not literal quotations, but not completely independent either. for all its brightness and uplifting quality you can really get lost in the musical material, looking for arcane things..

but in the end its the freshness of C major and the elemental power of the music that led the French to call it The Dawn. i usually hate traditional nicknames but I admit I like this one. anyways, i hope to play this sonat many more times and improve it

[lelle]

Very impressive performance! I listened all the way through. Lots of very nice details, great energy and musicianship across the board.

My only main gripe is when you transition into the second theme of the exposition/recapitulation of the first movement, I feel it's a bit abrupt and direct. There a lot of places in the piece where he kind of wants you to be direct, but I think you could take slightly more care of the transition into the "chorale", prepare it just a bit more so to speak, and just take good care of your phrases in general here. Of course this is a matter of taste, so if you disagree with me I have no objections.

[andhow04]

Very impressive performance! I listened all the way through. Lots of very nice details, great energy and musicianship across the board.

My only main gripe is when you transition into the second theme of the exposition/recapitulation of the first movement, I feel it's a bit abrupt and direct. There a lot of places in the piece where he kind of wants you to be direct, but I think you could take slightly more care of the transition into the "chorale", prepare it just a bit more so to speak, and just take good care of your phrases in general here. Of course this is a matter of taste, so if you disagree with me I have no objections.

thanks my thinking was to keep the first movement rather taut, so the third could be contrasted with more freedom. but one mustn't be too strict !

[dinoimeri]

this is my first go at the Waldstein sonata which for me is the greatest of all Viennese Classical sonatas. among its many difficulties, the task of holding the first movement together is a heavy one.. the third movement has some physicality but its much easier to arrive at the Flow.

not only does the sonata feature beethoven's trademark motivic obsessions, but there is something psychological in many layers, for instance, the fact that each movement is started by the left hand, the continuous return to the extremes of the keyboard (F's and G's), certain rhythmic echoes that are not literal quotations, but not completely independent either. for all its brightness and uplifting quality you can really get lost in the musical material, looking for arcane things..

but in the end its the freshness of C major and the elemental power of the music that led the French to call it The Dawn. i usually hate traditional nicknames but I admit I like this one. anyways, i hope to play this sonat many more times and improve it

Hello, andhow04!

To me, it sounds like you really understand the music and it's so obvious in your performance that you love it as well. I rarely enjoy listening to performances of the "Waldstein" because so often pianists just play it through like a technical exercise from Hanon, but I certainly enjoyed listening yours.

Thanks for sharing, keep up the good work!
Dino

[andhow04]

Hello, andhow04!

To me, it sounds like you really understand the music and it's so obvious in your performance that you love it as well. I rarely enjoy listening to performances of the "Waldstein" because so often pianists just play it through like a technical exercise from Hanon, but I certainly enjoyed listening yours.

Thanks for sharing, keep up the good work!
Dino

thanks for the nice words, i saw that you posted Rachmaninoff Sonata no.1 which i am currently learning, so i will be sure to listen and comment as soon as i have a chance