Lugansky – Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 23 “Appassionata”

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor (“Appassionata“), Op. 57 (1804-1805) Nikolai Lugansky, 2020 Moscow Philharmonic Society [0:00] I. Allegro assai - Dev. 2:55 - Recap. 5:35 - Coda 8:22 - Più Allegro 9:46 [10:50] II. Andante con moto - Var I 12:43 - Var II 14:06 - Var III 15:17 - Var IV 16:23 [17:23] III. Allegro ma non troppo - Dev./Recap. 19:02 - Again 21:45 - Presto 24:32 “It is a superb example of the growth of Beethoven’s immense creations from two of the tiniest of germs (a) the first three opening notes—C, A flat, F—(b) the C, D, C in the third and fourth bars. The whole sonata grows as naturally from these as the huge oak from the acorn. Bridge subjects, second subjects, coda figures, the chief theme of the Andante, as also the impetuoso subject of the Finale, are all derived from these two little germs. Lenz calls the Sonata ‘a volcanic eruption, which rends the earth and shuts out the sky with a shower of projecti