Sonata or Fantasy? – Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-flat major, Op. 27/1, “Sonata quasi una fantasia” is played here by Knut Hanssen. The piece was the prelude to the campus concert at Beethovenfest Bonn 2021, held at the World Conference Center Bonn (WCCB) on August 28, 2021.
(00:00) I. Andante - Allegro - Tempo I
(05:19) II. Allegro molto e vivace
(07:21) III. Adagio con espressione
(09:50) IV. Allegro vivace
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) published two piano sonatas under the opus number 27: the Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-flat major, Op. 27/1 and the Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27/2, which became world famous under the title Moonlight Sonata. Both piano sonatas bear the title “Sonata quasi una fantasia”, which spotlights a fundamental contradiction: The sonata is characterized by a strict formal scheme, while the fantasia is not subject to a fixed form but rather allows a musical idea to develop freely. In this respect, Beethoven’s title “Sonata quasi una fantasia” refers on the one hand to a sonata, and on the other hand to the fact that the classical sonata form was more or less dissolved.
The Piano Sonata Op. 27/1 can be classified as a fantasia in that its various parts are played one after the other without pauses. Nevertheless, four movements can be discerned from the tempo markings. Thus, the sonata form somehow still forms the basis of Piano Sonata No. 13, although it recedes into the background due to the overriding attacca principle. But whether sonata or fantasia: Op. 27/1 belongs to Beethoven’s piano works that emanate a positive, in places almost lyrical-idyllic basic mood. The Piano Sonata 13 is characterized by the balanced alternation of leisurely cantabile and lively fast passages, which demand a high degree of virtuosity from the pianist.
Knut Hanssen, born in Cologne in 1992, impresses with his alert and authentic piano playing. From an early age, he received lessons in piano, percussion, singing and music theory, has received many commissions and has attended numerous master classes. In addition to the plethora of prizes Hanssen has received, the Citizens for Beethoven have honored him as the recipient of the Beethoven Ring in 2021. This prize is always awarded to one of the five youngest musicians participating in the Beethovenfest Bonn.
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