Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sonata in A major “Kreutzer”, Op. 47 will be performed in the second concert of the festival, on 22nd March, by Ivan Monighetti (cello) and Pavel Gililov (piano).
This is how Adam Walaciński describes the piece in the Festival Catalogue: “Although the original introduction with a solo violin part in polyphonic texture happens in A major, Movement One is maintained in A major, and the second, Andante con Variaconi with its beautiful theme, in F major, it is only the final Presto ̶ tempestuous and dazzlingly bright ̶ that reverts to the main key.” The catalogue includes also the extraordinary genesis of the Sonata.
The first part of the concert includes two pieces by Fryderyk Chopin, namely Introduction and Polonaise brillante in C major, Op. 3 and the Sonata in G minor for piano and cello, Op. 65, the latter being the composer’s last grand work:
“For many years, the Sonata in G minor remained outside the mainstream of Chopin’s oeuvre. Its stylistic disparity did nothing to facilitate understanding, triggering criticisms of extreme and unjust. (…)
The work only emerged from the shadows in the twentieth century. There is no doubt today that it is a high – and separate – point in Chopin’s career. It is both the most eminent composition of his late style phase and music of uncommon beauty, particularly strongly revealing of its creator’s personality.”
(Mieczysław Tomaszewski, from the Catalogue of the 14th Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival).