Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer: Jennifer Kloetzel, Robert Koenig
Number of Discs: 3
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Avie
Catalogue: AV2450
Release: 2022
Size: 5.63 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
01. 12 Variations on ‘See the conqu’ring hero comes’, WoO 45
Sonata No. 1 in F Major, Op. 5
02. I. Adagio sostenuto – Allegro
03. II. Rondo: Allegro vivace
Sonata No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 5
04. I. Adagio sostenuto ed espressivo – Allegro molto più tosto presto
05. II. Rondo: Allegro
CD 02
01. 12 Variations in F Major on ‘Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen’, Op.66
Sonata for Horn and Piano, Op. 17
02. I. Allegro moderato (Version for Cello and Piano)
03. II. Poco Adagio, quasi (Version for Cello and Piano)
04. III. Rondo. Allegro moderato (Version for Cello and Piano)
05. 7 Variations on ‘Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen’, WoO 46
CD 03
Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69
01. I. Allegro ma non tanto
02. II. Scherzo: Allegro molto
03. III. Adagio cantabile – Allegro vivace
Sonata No. 4 in C Major, Op. 102 No. 1
04. I.
05. II. Adagio – Tempo d’Andante – Allegro vivace
Sonata No. 5 in D Major, Op. 102 No. 2
06. I. Allegro con brio
07. II. Adagio con molto sentimento d’affetto
08. III. Allegro – Allegro fugato
Jennifer Kloetzel’s lifelong journey with Beethoven began early: she was eight years old when her teacher placed the composer’s Second Cello Sonata on her music stand, opening the door to an odyssey of intrigue and, ultimately, obsession with the composer’s music. Since then, rarely has a day passed without Beethoven being a part of Jennifer’s life. She has studied and performed all of the composer’s duos and trios. As founding cellist of the Cypress String Quartet, she spent 20 years rehearsing, performing and recording the String Quartets.
Jennifer now arrives at a career milestone with this recording of Beethoven’s complete works for cello and piano. Views vary as to what comprises Beethoven’s “complete” works for cello and piano. Jennifer’s discerning choice includes the five Sonatas for Cello and Piano, three sets of Variations – based on arias from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus – and the Horn Sonata for which the composer also wrote a cello part.
Jennifer spares no attention to detail across the entire spectrum of this significant recording project. Her performing partner Robert Koenig plays on a 19th century Blüthner concert grand piano. The illuminating liner notes are penned by Beethoven scholar William Meredith who boldly states, “if there were only the five Cello Sonatas of Beethoven left of all his music, these alone would have cemented his place in history”.
The recording was made in the stellar acoustic of Skywalker Sound. The title track, “The Conquering Hero” – from the opening set of Variations from Handel’s “Judas Maccabaeus” – evokes everything for Jennifer about Beethoven’s music, coming from a place of triumph and joy.