Description
With the “Grand Sonata for the Hammerklavier” op. 106, Beethoven ushered in his series of late piano sonatas while, at the same time, shattering all the hitherto established conventions of the genre. Composed between 1817 and 1819, this monumental work marks the transition to Beethoven’s third creative period in which alongside the three “late” piano sonatas, the Missa solemnis, the Diabelli Variations and the Ninth Symphony were also written. For a long time, its scope, contrapuntal density and legendary technical demands made the work seem nearly unplayable. Franz Liszt was the first to successfully bring the sonata to the concert platform. Today, it is regarded not only as a visionary masterpiece within Beethoven’s piano oeuvre, but also as a formidable touchstone for every pianist.
From an editorial point of view, opus 106 presents particular challenges, since the autograph has been lost, and the two original editions published in Vienna and London do not by any means contain congruent musical texts. Occasionally, the extensive group of preserved sketches can be consulted here for clarification, as described in the comments.
