Beethoven Piano Sonata Op. 109 3rd movement

The final movement of Beethoven's towering sonata no. 30 in E major, Op. 109. This is the first of the epic trilogy of his last three sonatas - arguably the greatest piano sonatas ever written.

[@trimatch-king6103]

its a moving happiness to see young people in these days giving their life/time to play Beethoven ! Bravo Young man!!!

[@johnbertram8462]

Just beautiful .... I've listened to this sonata so many times, but it was like listening to it for the first time.

[@dreamernaturallife5095]

Yes exactly. Its absolutly the best tje best the best!!!!!!!

[@GarySchmidtPianist]

I played this piece way back in college but man, now I feel like have it heard it for the first time. Divine from another place.

[@anteb.k.composer1837]

Hi! I'm a pianist just finishing my studies at a Music Academy. Man when I've read you didn't play for ten years and started again when you were 28 I was like wtf. That's crazy! You got me with this Beethoven, I like it really really a lot. I thought Gould's interpretation was the top, this stands very near for me. You have a good heart. I salute you on your good work and courage on continuing playing music, hope I will hear you live! Greetings from Croatia

[@garfreed]

One of the great profound moments in Beethoven.

[@MrGar11]

+Gary Freedman great profound moments in Beethoven

[@MissMark999]

“From the heart, may it go to the heart” (Beethoven’s own words) - Simply sublime.

[@tyrrelllox7392]

I believe he wrote that on the manuscript of his Missa Solemnis.

[@ame1432]

One of the most beautiful themes ever written, and beautifully underlined with this performance. Thanks.

[@malcolmlowe1935]

That's the nicest performance of that wonderful piece I've ever heard - and I've heard a good many.

[@MissMark999]

Simply from another World. Thank you James for opening the door. One day, some of us may be allowed through it.

[@bradders47]

Just took up the piano again after 25 years. Grade 3 this year hopefully. It's never too late to start playing and this music inspires me, very moving. Thank you so much

[@pauloliberato6953]

gosh... this guy is beautiful and made me cry!... Beautiful, beautiful!.. Thanks for sharing :*

[@ricardsanchiz4779]

James you are my inspiration in the world of music. I know a little your story, and really the music saves lives. I am happy that you still lives to be able to offer pieces of music so exquisite someday I want to play pieces like these.

[@hw2510]

I've listened to Op.109 at least a thousand times in the past decade with 20+ different versions. Jumppanen is the best interpreter of this piece I think. You are pretty close to him for this movement, especially the most difficult final part. Great!! By the way, I've listened to Op.111 over 10 thousand times in the past decade with about 100 different versions.

[@Silfydee]

You played this 5 years ago and tonight I'm crying under the fullmoon. Yes, I believe in immortality. 🙏

[@planetyam6044]

wut

[@dbev100]

James, since reading your books, 'Instrumental' and 'How to Play the Piano', two ago , you've helped me appreciate piano music so much - it's been a spark that's started me on a journey with listening to classical music and finding out about the composers and their lives. As a result, I now have a piano and am taking lessons. The music from 12:57 onward is so beautiful but I realise it is made even more so because of the contrast with the music that came in the minutes before it. All the best.

[@inaspen]

Thank you. I am now, at last, beginning to understand this sonata.

[@radiokid2]

Again, that warm piano SOUND! Like liquid chocolate or maybe warm wax dripping gently down the side of a candle. Also your street vibe cool, as if you're a jazz guy improvising all this music...you make it your own. That's the way it's supposed to be...Beethoven, Bach etc were all street people I think, not fantasy characters of of academic wet dreams! You have a great career ahead. Classical ain't gonna die with players like you around. Thanks!

[@noonesflower]

You are fast becoming one of my favorite pianists. I found you just by looking up different recordings of the Rachmaninov prelude in C-sharp minor.Thank you.

[@tap17xx]

Wonderful, terrific performance, not the slightest complaint. And the last three sonatas are certainly the greatest ever composed.

[@carlosbashuertas]

It is a metaphor for peace after war, for the calm that follows the storm, for resignation in the face of defeat, and for love after hatred. Beethoven abandons the Italian categories of allegro, adagio etc. and marks the slow movement of Opus 109 with a phrase in German: "Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung", "Singing with the deepest feeling".

[@evergreensceptre]

What a Beautiful variation, I'm a self induced insomniac (aka I think sleep is boring, so i stay awake) and this was so lovely I'm glad i was awake to find it otherwise i would have missed this. Thank you James! You've made my night that much more charming and magical.

[@grazidaz]

Sebastian Langueneur

[@MrSamc94]

One of my favourite beethoven sonatas. You truly did it justice. Great steinway to play on i imagine. Can't wait to see you in melbourne on the 20th of October, i'm sure you won't disappoint!

[@J4ckith]

Saw this on the documentary... Can I just say that you may be the reason I'm about to fall madly in love with Beethoven? I'd always admired his work, but never quite fully appreciated it, in the sense that it sounded good to me, but just hadn't yet connected with me. Hearing you talk about him and play this piece is exactly what I needed - thank you, so much :)

[@robrobbins1565]

Terrific! I played this for my senior recital in college (the whole sonata). Still love it and love your interpretation. Always looking for more of your recordings.

[@bsdml]

I am a composer/arranger/pianist/guitarist/bassist, etc. (just for a little background), and for what it's worth, I think this is some of the most absorbing playing of this work I've ever heard. I won't say I think it's better than Schnabel or Stephen Bishop-Kovacevich, or similar company, but I would say without hesitation that it is easily in their league. Really moving interpretation. Just brilliant and fresh and.. beyond words.

[@theodorusvandewiel5354]

Michel Paull

[@cribedadabecri5764]

Sublime, James. Enough for mi soul for today.

[@TheCriticsAreRaving]

Wonderful. This movement never made much sense to me until tonight, when the 2nd variation crept suddenly into my mind, then the 4th, then the initial theme. Now that I've heard it again the whole thing makes sense. Funny how great music just clicks when you least expect it to. Great performance/presentation as well.

[@kaynelsonp]

Just beautiful, love the subtitles, love the music!

[@carlosbonds2513]

00:6 this scene seems to be from the film The crow , playing Beethoven. Your interpratation is amazing one of the best sonatas ever written.

[@paulbu6003]

NEVER heard Beethoven like this before!!

[@PianoMan10]

Wonderful job. Great interpretation of this movement.

[@tonybooth4]

Just saw you on 730 report and agree the last 5 Beethoven sonatas are amazing, my dar old dad now since departed saw Donald Tovey perform all 32 sonatas from memory over 3 nights, just extraordinary. I hope James you get to listen to old recordings of Solomon which in my opinion are the best although 50 years old now Cheers

[@MrInterestingthings]

His op.106 might get people back in the recital hall ! I cried because of his Bach-Chaconne and Ive heard every recorded performance of that work placing DeLarrocha above Michelangeli and Rubinstein and dozens but she never made me cry .Please come t Florida . We want this experience ! This sonata has an unbearable sweetness to it Myra Hess recorded it but the directness here speaks like noon else . He has a power like Argerich to remove boundaries - its largesse of personality. Any feild he walks in willbe his ! He chose music .The classical music audience will grow because of him .I love McGregor and her insistence on contemporary music lets all move into the new light !

[@VladTheImpaler454]

Very nice, I just heard this sonata for the first time a few nights ago at the South bank centre and found the first variation very moving. First time I have heard of you - will look out for a recital in London :)

[@Hillepupp]

so deep, make's me wheeping. thank you!

[@svlamb]

Wonderful playing. Helpful subtitles. More please.

[@antonygonzalez9506]

This is probably the calmest 3rd movement I've ever heard

[@ricardopereira-wx3ve]

I'm guitarist, you are a great inpiration for me, thank you very much, Ricardo from argentina.

[@TheStruggleUK.]

From a fellow James and budding bachian/pianist good job James! good tone and economic with the pedal which is always nice to hear; how do you feel about the overall tempo? It seemed quite slow to me, slower than I've heard before, still good though kept the line through all the changes, thanks for the vid!

[@Gahanaholic101]

I do like the pedal there-i was thinking just that-it was a bit of an homage to the first movement---just lovely James as always-please continue to hammer away at the "Classical stigma"- it is your calling :) Suzy

[@rosek4346]

Best interpretation this is !!!!!! and Steinway really shines your performance out too :D

[@greezly1976]

Sad, but bright music. Thanks!

[@rachmaniSiul]

Una excelente interpretación de una de las piezas más bellas jamás escritas por Beethoven, la cual espero tocar algún día. Me encanta tu programa, un saludo desde Colombia. An excellent interpretation of one of the most beautiful pieces ever written by Beethoven, which I hope to play someday. I love your show men, greetings from Colombia. keep that way

[@starguidemehome]

Miraculous, amazing - thankyou :)

[@wimlassche]

Great play and that Steinway sounds wonderful!

[@MontegoFilms]

Breathtaking.

[@philgrant8927]

Very good, better than many famous artists. But at 6:27, to give one example, you neglect an incomparable joyous bliss. I play with a bit of delay and emphasis that I think brings that out. At a time of great despair when I was 20 - like Beethoven I had come close to suicide more than once - I had his last three sonatas, 30-32, playing in the “background”. . . . . . and their inestimably profound, eternal meaning slowly seeped into my mind . . . giving for the first time meaning and direction to my life. They also inspired me to attempt, despite their extreme difficulty, to learn the piano and play them. Now, 50 years later-thanks in part to a virtual piano with every note of a stunning Bösendorfer Imperial recorded at 100 levels of intensity, that I play by means of an electronic keyboard through my computer, which also gives me unlimited editing possibilities-I’ve posted the first of these on KZbin (search Phil Grant, Beethoven). Please pardon my self-promotion, but I genuinely believe I understand these works far better than any artist I’ve heard, as I’ve been attempting to not just play but most importantly live their Truth my entire adult life-and I encourage anyone with a similar feeling to give my rendition a try. Also, for those interested, there is a long discussion of the works posted with the video.

[@mikestewart6517]

James, could it be the composition that profoundly moves me? Could it be the marvelous piano? Maybe its the professional recording. But then, it just might be your passionate rendition. A happy convergence of all four! That must be it. A marvelous convergence of all four! Be good, be well, be happy, Live a thousand years and every one of those years filled with music. Mike Stewart

[@MegaPianogenius]

great, i too love classical piano and rach is one of my favourites i play but started late unfortunately, none of my family were musical minded but i bought a piano when listening to kate bush, and my technique is rubbish i admire you i know you don't put yourself up with sokolov or kissin as you said but perfection is not important,your hands are similar to mine, just watching your new prog on the mental health home, it is wonderful to share with them the music, ppl are missing out on a lot

[@dreamernaturallife5095]

My favourite pianist only from this☆☆♡♡♡♡

[@AardbijVsAardappel]

Very beautiful, beethoven is my favorate composer and you play it very good :D Too bad the video is not completely running at the same time as the music, but please upload more of Beethoven :D:D!

[@TheSammadan]

hi friend ... how are you .. i hope fine ... i really like your channel .. it is so interesting .... i love your adagio Bach in c for toccata ... i wanna ask you how do you record your performance ??.. sound and video?? ,, so beautiful .. what camera was used???? so professional .. and thank you

[@mamaduke16]

Enchanting wonderful WOW!!

[@kevfulchester]

I don't think you need the word "arguably" in the description. There's no argument :) Superbly played as always.

[@jamesrhodepianist]

@garyjpreston thanks champ. Yeah I like the pedal there even if it's not usually done. Fits much better with the rest of that variation to use pedal at the start as well I think... Also feels like a bit of an echo back to the 1st movement IMO.

[@vk2nf]

Variation 6 WOW!!!

[@AdrianCamus]

No other composer has so many and great piano sonatas than Beethoven !!! of course I respect and love Mendelshon,Mozart,Schubert's amzaing works too >>

[@Haamidpianoman]

Jmes ur a legend JUST BRILLIANT, someone aked me 'u love piano, so who is ylur favourite pianist' i sed '5. Valentina Lisitsa 4. Lang Lang 3. Kissin 2, Barrenboim. 1.James Rhodes!!!' It's just fantastic, my friend who is into modern songs, just listened to the whole of it like with a break, and i'm thinking YES U'VE DONE IT AGAIN!

[@tenisalot]

Clearly influenced heavily by Schnabel...thats a compliment

[@artbugzrecords]

Sublime

[@telmacardoso565]

I love your music

[@carlosbashuertas]

Great!

[@nicolaker]

amazing

[@dhanirivai]

u r genius,james

[@Gusakov]

Bravo !

[@Mslalacelestine]

I love how his make lines and balance in voicing, but I think some parts of the articulation, Beethoven hasn't written it that way :(

[@sebastianrc]

Any chance you upload the first and the second movements? Not complaining about this one though

[@taaehamid1365]

I was really shocked by the use of pedal in variation 2

[@whackamole]

Fu*king beautiful xx

[@saintgermaine33]

bravo!

[@brendanhall3265]

ncie hair

[@brendanhall3265]

nice*

[@taruca]

Hermoso

[@alejandroolivares2887]

DId you really started again at 28???

[@ternitamas]

Which are the other 2 epic ones?

[@belzart2001]

Last 3 sonatas. 109, 110, & 111

[@ternitamas]

belzart2001 thanks!

[@pranexian]

Татуировка Сергей Рахманинов - удивляет и радует:)

[@brandonscherrer]

uhh... where?

[@shaber58]

Beautiful....who are the 6 t***'s that clicked on 'dislike'?????

[@josepmariapuigcalderon9629]

Malgrat l'afició que tinc per la musica des de la infància. Mai he tingut una especial predilecció pels instruments solistes (llevat del orgue) He tingut ocasió de llegir el llibre de James Rhodes INSTRUMENTAL i això m'ha fet escoltar uns quants vídeos d'aquest virtuós del teclat. Personalment, no trobo tants matisos a les composicions com i troba el senyor Rhodes (es lògic, degut al meu "primari" coneixement de la musica) però si que es cert que com mes escoltes interpretacions solistes, vas descobrint matisos que abans, només trobava en les grandioses obres simfòniques. (mai es massa tard per aprendre)

[@sebastianrc]

10:13

[@user-go8yl3nu9d]

👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏😊😊😊🇰🇷

[@theonenonlyizze]

i remember listening to this on pandora for the first time. i fell in love with this sonata, maybe i'll finish it soon. wonderful interpretation, though i would suggest washing the hair... sorry.

[@joseluiscastellanosramirez8068]

Es muy difícil, algo mejor.

[@Brangutang]

It sounds quite nice, and you have a good enough technique (if a little too much staccato), but the emphasis and underlining is all over the place :c

[@johnstaf]

He plays it the way HE thinks it should be played.

[@Brangutang]

johnstaf ofc :) that's fair enough. was just offering my thoughts

[@VladTheImpaler454]

lol these comments crack me up

[@yasoda2012]

really cares?

[@saintgermaine33]

Słabo zagrane. Za wolno i to takie uczniowskie

[@pianomatheus]

Bravo!