On March 26, 1827, Ludwig van Beethoven breathed his last in a stormy Vienna. One of the most brilliant composers of all time is no more. Two hundred years and eleven days later, the renowned Dutch pianist Ronald Brautigam and the Swiss cello virtuoso Christian Poltéra pay a beautiful tribute.

Ronald Brautigam has been among the absolute top for years. His recordings on historic fortepianos of the works of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven are acclaimed worldwide and are considered a benchmark in piano literature. In 2024, he received the Edison Classical Lifetime Achievement Award. Together with cellist Christian Poltéra, he forms an internationally celebrated duo. Central to their interplay is the equality between cello and piano, exactly as Beethoven envisioned in his later cello sonatas.

The three cello sonatas you will hear during this concert beautifully demonstrate how Beethoven’s music developed over time. They span over fifteen years and showcase three very different sides of his style. In between, you hear his Piano Sonata No. 28, a restrained and poetic work in which everything revolves around atmosphere and refinement.

Program

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Cello Sonata No. 5 in D, Op. 102/2
Piano Sonata No. 28 in A, Op. 101

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Cello Sonata No. 4 in C, Op. 102/1
Cello Sonata No. 3 in A, Op. 69