Beethoven regarded his piano sonata no 11 in B-flat major, opus 22, as the best sonata he had written till then. Beethoven was proud of it, but it has never been popular. Composed in 1799-1800, this ‘Grande Sonate pour le Piano Forte’ is absolutely grand: extensive, virtuoso and four-part. At the same time it may be the most conventional: innovative and expressive power are not what makes this sonata grand. But compositional perfection is. As Charles Rosen put it: ”Opus 22 demonstrates Beethoven’s control of all the conventions of Viennese style. The works that follow are more openly radical. This sonata is his farewell to the eighteenth century.” This sonata marks the end of Beethoven’s first creative period and of the traditional classical sonata. As of opus 26, the sonatas become more experimental in form and concept.

In the first movement, Allegro con brio, the full orchestra can be heard. Earlier sonatas were reminiscent of chamber music, mainly the string quartet, but this sonata moves in the regions of the orchestra. The themes are neutral. The interest lies in how Beethoven handles the material. The opening theme, a rising and falling third, as well as the second theme, falling thirds and rising sixth, remind of the great Hammerklavier sonata, opus 106, also in B-flat major. The opus 22 sonata can be seen as a preliminary study for Hammerklavier.

The rich and lyrical second movement, Adagio con molto espressione, contains elements of both concerto and opera. Beethoven’s ‘Espressione’ can, at least in this sonata, be described as ‘gravity’, i.e. the weight of his music. A novelty at the time. The dissonant harmonies are extraordinary and create a mysterious atmosphere. The main motif returns in the minuet.

The minuet of the third movement, Menuetto – Minore, is lighter, after the heavy first and second movement. The Minore is quite dramatic. Schumann was so impressed by it that he used it in his Humoreske.

The fourth movement, Rondo: allegretto, is a traditional Viennese rondo final. Playful and elegant.

Sonata No.11 is sponsored by Mity Houwink-Han