Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 96 (with Score)

Ludwig van Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 96 (with Score) Composed: 1812 Violin: Isabelle Faust Piano: Alexander Melnikov 00:00 1. Allegro moderato (G major) 11:33 2. Adagio espressivo (E♭ major) 16:56 3. Scherzo. Allegro (G minor) – Trio (E♭ major) 18:50 4. Poco Allegretto (G major) Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 96, composed in 1812, was his final work in the genre. It was dedicated to his pupil and patron, Archduke Rudolph, and was premiered in Vienna on 29 December 1812 by the violinist Pierre Rode and Rudolph himself. Beethoven wrote the sonata for Rode’s concert and noted in a letter to Archduke Rudolph that he had to take Rode’s playing into consideration, particularly in the finale, since the violinist did not favor the rapid and brilliant passages often found in finales. Beethoven subsequently revised the work several times before publication, and the sonata was issued by S. A. Steiner in Vienna in July 1816. Because the complete autograph reflecting the post-premiere revisions has not survived, the precise form of the work at its premiere cannot be fully reconstructed. The sonata consists of four movements and is characterized by lyrical intimacy and refined dialogue between the violin and piano rather than the dramatic intensity of Beethoven’s earlier violin sonatas. The first movement, Allegro moderato, is a G major sonata form built around an opening trill and a theme exchanged between the two instruments. The Adagio espressivo in E-flat major is a lyrical movement in which violin and piano continually share and answer each other’s melodic ideas. The third movement, a G minor Scherzo, is rhythmically playful and sharply contrasted by its E-flat major Trio. The finale, Poco allegretto, is a cheerful theme followed by 8 variations, reflecting Beethoven’s deliberate response to Rode’s style. The work as a whole is marked by balance, subtle counterpoint, and a serene lyricism characteristic of Beethoven’s later period. Wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violin_...) International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP) (https://imslp.org/wiki/Violin%20Sonat...)