Beethoven: Sonata No.18 in E-flat Major, "The Hunt" (Kovacevich, Biret)

Beethoven’s last Op.31 sonata is one of the most warm, big-hearted, lyrical things he wrote. It’s the second-last sonata in 4 movements (the last is the Hammerklavier), and it contains no slow movements. (Also worth noting that 3 of them are in full-fledged sonata form!)
The first movement is a total delight to listen to: from the surprising harmony that opens the piece, to the richly textured chordal response and the theme group that grows out of it, the repeated recollections of the sort-of-motivic-introduction that begins the work (cf the Pathetique!), & the wonderful soaring thing that is the second theme, all air and light.
The second movement is one of my all-time favourites: it’s hilarious & a total earworm. Everything comes together so well: the bassoon-like bass, the off-beat accents, the absurd little held F across bars 2&3, the violent contrasts and semidemiquaver-against-semiquaver textures in the second theme, those repeated Cs that sound like the performer has had a disastrous memory slip.
The third movement is the last minuet movement Beethoven ever wrote: after this sonata it looked like the form didn’t quite have enough dramatic potential for him, although what we have here is a real nice example of Beethoven’s ability to write a beautiful melody when he really wanted to.
The last movement is full of rhythmic swagger: from the tarantella-like first idea, to the vigorously funny second, to the insistent third, & the suddenly coruscating textures (almost Waldstein-like) that suddenly emerge, everything comes together perfectly in an utterly natural expression of pure joy.
MVT I, Allegro
EXPOSITION
00:00 - Theme Group 1, quasi-introduction (two motifs: a dotted-rhythm falling 5th and four chords, three short following by one long). Note recurrence through movement.
00:26 - “Main Entrance” of Theme 1 (developing the two motifs just introduced)
00:45 - Transition, following the quasi-introduction
01:02 - Theme Group 2, Theme 2
01:25 - Theme Group 2, Theme 3
01:46 - Codetta
DEVELOPMENT
03:55 - Development of quasi-introduction, landing on C min at 4:02
04:07 - Falling 5th motif
04:11 - Theme 1, in C
04:21 - A distinctly orchestral variation on Theme 1, emphasizing the three-short-one-long motif with gently muted dissonances in the bass. Modulation to F. Note also that the run at 4:28 (and similar passages) borrows from the arpeggiated flourish in Theme 3
04:38 - Modulation, which
04:48 - lands on an F min chord, in turn revealed as
RECAPITULATION
04:54 - the supertonic chord of Eb maj, thus ushering back the quasi-introduction
05:38 - Theme Group 2 enters, this time without a transition
06:32 - We get the original codetta, which sounds like it’s bringing things to a close, but this only leads to the real
CODA
06:42 - The quasi-introduction, this time implying Ab maj
06:51 - The dominant seventh harmony signals a new harmonic twist
07:01 - which seems to lead back to familiar territory. The quasi-introduction seems to be repeated normally, but
07:19 - instead pauses, and leads to a lovely closing passage.
MVT II, Scherzo: Allegretto vivace
07:40 - Theme 1
08:23 - Theme 2
08:41 - Theme 3 (or an extended cadence, if you like)
DEVELOPMENT
10:11 - The music slips into C maj
10:14 - Theme 1
10:21 - Theme 2, in Bb min, modulating into C min
10:36 - Theme 1
10:40 - Variation on Theme 1, with glissando-like passages
RECAPTULATION
11:06 - Theme 1
11:30 - More voices are added into Theme 1
11:50 - Theme 2, appearing in a rather shocking key
12:08 - Theme 3
12:05 - CODA
MVT III, Menuetto: Moderato e grazioso
12:33 - Menuet, Part A
13:04 - Menuet, Part B
13:33 - Trio, Part A
14:01 - Trio, Part B
14:51 - Menuet, Part A
15:35 - Menuet, Part B
15:50 - Coda
MVT IV, Presto con fuoco
EXPOSITION
16:11 - Theme 1, Part 1
16:18 - Theme 1, Part 2
16:32 - Theme 2
16:50 - Theme 3 (Or extended cadence)
DEVELOPMENT
17:50 - Theme 1 Part 2, in Gb
17:58 - Theme 1 Part 2, reduction, in F#
18:01 - Transition to B min, beginning of modulating sequence. G maj, C min, Ab maj (VI of C min), Db maj (Neapolitan of C min), V7 of C min/maj, then C maj
18:16 - Theme 1 Part 2, in C
18:21 - Introduction of diminished 7th harmony, modulation
18:32 - Recollection of figuration from Theme 2. Ab, F min, Bb V7 chords.
RECAPITULATION
18:49 - Theme 1, with rhythmic gaps now filled in
19:09 - Surprising shift to Gb maj
19:13 - Theme 2, in Gb
19:31 - Theme 3, which at first refuses to modulate, further establishing Gb
19:38 - Theme 3 slips into Eb min
19:45 - We arrive at V7 of Eb min, also V7 of Eb maj, so arrive at the
CODA
19:55 - Theme 1, in LH (but jumping all over the keyboard) modulating to F min and Ab maj
20:12 - A nice little sequence: pause on a dramatic diminished 7th chord, Theme 1 Part 1 in stretto, an elaboration on the LH texture of T1, and then another pause on a diminished 7th
20:21 - Theme 1 Part 1 in stretto, fragmented, then transformed into a chromatic elaboration on the V7, and then the final cadence.
.

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

Kovacevich: 00:00 - Mvt 1 07:39 - Mvt 2 12:33 - Mvt 3 16:11 - Mvt 4 Biret: 20:37 - Mvt 1 29:19 - Mvt 2 34:23 - Mvt 3 39:17 - Mvt 4 Kovacevich is one of the very, very, few pianists that can play the first movement of this sonata with the kind of lightness that you need: just listen to how the second theme takes off at 3:00, or the bass drum-strokes in the development. He sometimes also deviates from the score in rather nice ways: the extra LH accents at 3:31, for example. He does this too in his beautifully taut, punchy account of the second movement: at 10:41 there is an extra trill, and in the passage immediately after he takes the quasi-glissandi at a flat mf dynamic, creating a long-term anticipation of the wonderfully perky passage leads back into the recapitulation. The minuet is taken at a quick(-ish) tempo, and the last movement is broad and vigorous. Biret brings a certain magic to this sonata: listen to how she articulates the theme at 24:22, with those chirp-like slurs, compared to Kovacevich at 5:57, who plays them straight (this is an unresolved point of interpretive uncertainty, it seems: Schnabel and Schiff also exaggerate the slurs). The trills are also handled amazingly well: listen to them in the first theme, or at 24:34. And you might notice how the chromatically descending middle voice emerges 21:11. In the second movement she shows off some *stunning* staccato technique in the bass and at 31:25 (and similar) - in the latter it’s kind of miraculous how those huge chords, punched out like that, die away so fast. The tempo is slower than Kovacevich’s in both the second and third movements, but there’s a certain earthiness to the interpretation that’s pretty compelling, and a unexpected tenderness in the third movement in particular. The last movement is taken with very little pedal, and a beautifully sharp, focused attack, especially in the development. One last thing: I struggled a lot re whether or not I should place Kovacevich’s or Korstick’s account here, but you should definitely check out Korstick’s recording too. It’s more heavy-going than Kovacevich’s, but the contrasts are *really* satisfying.

[@Mrmmm88]

Ashish Xiangyi Kumar I'm so happy to see a recording of Biret. I think she's one of the most overlooked pianist's of our time. Thank you for this wonderful upload

[@nguyenkien2256]

"It’s the second-last sonata in 4 movements (the last is the Hammerklavier)" Wait, but what about Opus 101? Or maybe because its 3rd mvt is well-connected to the 4th so you are considering them one large movement?

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

@@nguyenkien2256 Yeah, I really think of the Op.101 as having one big 3rd mvt!

[@verygood9206]

Thank you so much for doing this and sharing with the world!

[@timward276]

@@nguyenkien2256 I think what's meant is 4 independent movements. The op. 110 has 4 movements, too, sorta, but 3rd (arioso) and 4th (fugue) are interleaved. Technically the op. 110 finale has 6 sub-movements if you really want to slice it finely (recitative, first arioso, first fugue, second arioso, second fugue, coda) but you'd never play any of them as independent movements.

[@pantoleonantonio9653]

Fun fact: In Hungary we call this the "jó reggelt" sonata which means "good morning". The 1st movement's theme has a dum du dum rhythm which is the same as the rhythm as saying good morning In Hungarian. Also in my opinion it sounds like the break of dawn, where all the animals come out and the birds start chirping.

[@martinyoung99]

Wow, that's quite interesting! I didn't know about this before. Thanks for the info.

[@jimmyrustleberg5646]

That doesn't make any sense

[@benjaminbiro5849]

I am Hungarian and I've been familiar with Beethoven's sonatas for over 10 years but never heard this title for this particular one :D very apt though

[@benjaminbiro5849]

@@jimmyrustleberg5646 for this you must know how "jó reggelt" is pronounced, that way it does indeed make sense.

[@ligatural4768]

Actually, we call itt "jó napot!" instead of "jó reggelt!", try to pronounce it to the starting rhythm, and will discover why 😉 mármint mi, magyarok 😉😉😉 anyway, your interpretation of its mood is nice 👍

[@verycoolpersonguy]

The first movement makes me want to run through my neighbourhood and greet everyone. This piece is so joyful that it took me a little bit to realise that Beethoven wrote it.

[@eduardoguerraavila8329]

Beethoven's Baton The art of Beethoven is so complete and universal that covers absolutely all the colors and feelings of mankind.

[@steffen5121]

Original user-name.

[@e.hutchence-composer8203]

‘Beethoven: Sonata No. 18 in E-flat Major’

[@aperson6934]

Beethoven is like the old guy at the family gatherings who seems like a total downer until he says something sarcastic/humorous and it ends up being funnier than the usual class clown

[@therealrealludwigvanbeethoven]

Thank you! I appreciate the kind words!

[@aegeanbo]

I went back to take piano lessons after I retired from my non-musical profession. While many listeners find this joyful and call it their favorite sonata, I have an usual experience while learning this piece. I found it humorous. I thought Beethoven was in a particular jocular mood writing the first 2 movements. My 93 year old piano teacher was discussing this music with me and somehow we both burst out laughing! This never happened to me before or after. I just felt good all over learning and playing this sonata. It was a very personal experience, in how music affects my emotion. Many thanks to Mr. Kumar for giving me such pleasure in my retirement. I always agree with your choices.

[@isaacvandermerwe744]

I, too, have laughed listening to and playing the sonata :)

[@musicalmichael5643]

I love Beethoven so much. I love his sonatas so much.

[@cdiegorodriguez]

Extremely based

[@pedrodoubek4008]

@@cdiegorodriguez based on what?

[@andrewkennaugh1065]

Pedro doubek I think he meant biased...😋 But based is open to more discussion...

[@andrewkennaugh1065]

MusicalMichael How much...?!!😂

[@soap6441]

Omg same! Everytime I listen to a Beethoven sonata I haven't heard before, I go like "ok, this is my new favourite sonata you can't change my mind" 😂

[@bradleyscarffpiano2921]

That fourth movement to me is just the most musical expression of careless fun I have ever heard. It's truly gorgeous.

[@charleyfeng2054]

Not if Wim or Alberto plays it in double beat :)

[@miguelisaurusbruh1158]

The fourth movement is the best, and yes i think is better than the second

[@happypiano4810]

@@charleyfeng2054 I still don’t understand exactly what they are saying. I often see them play slow pieces or even sections at the tempo we play it now. They seem to believe it only applies above a certain tempo, and only until a certain time period. Like, the beginning of this piece would be absurd at half this tempo.

[@satosmi9408]

I suggest Mouvement by Debussy

[@stapler942]

That ii 6/5 harmony at the opening is such a daring gesture for his time, I think.

[@tylerstoner7051]

It really was. Probably why he put it in his sonata which would be a more private work

[@gerardbegni2806]

@@tylerstoner7051 Indeed, it really was, since the seventh on ii generally follows a tonic chord. But the most exciting thing is that this seventh is not resoleved on the domainant at all as usually, but goes to a cadenza to the tonic through a consequent chromatic prograssion, using in particuler a diminished seventh outside the tonic region before the first tonic perfect chord. As I wrote upper, Ravel used this example to explain a rather complex section in his own 'Valses Nobles et Sentimetales'.

[@breadbutter2476]

@@gerardbegni2806 HEY YOU SEEM SMART. DO YOU KNOW ANY OTHER COMPOSERS BEFORE BEETHOVEN THAT USE THE CHORD

[@happypiano4810]

@@breadbutter2476 I’m not him, but something I think is close to what you’re looking for is the opening to Bach’s St. John passion. It doesn’t resolve right, but it’s INCREDIBLE. As for use of 6 chords in general, baroque music in general has more than you’d think.

[@WilliamDurrant-ll8xy]

@@gerardbegni28066/5 over the 4th scale degree in the bass -> diminished chord over #4 -> 6/4 over 5 is a cliché, not a novel or surprising idea in itself. It's in basically every mozart concerto, it's used a lot in bach (especially in the minor key), and basically every composer beyond the baroque period

[@jameshaydn3341]

I love the first few bars. They are so tension-building. They are very Debussy-romantic to modern style. I see this style in many of his pieces and Symphonies. He just composes how his heart is telling him to. And I love that about Beethoven!

[@WolfyGreen]

When I stop listening to Beethoven for a period, returning to him reminds me of his forward thinking and audaciousness. The classical language is all there - but transformed into something vibrant, new and sometimes, downright shocking.

[@franklinhill4341]

Thank you, Ashish Xiangyi Kumar , from the bottom of my heart. This is how most music videos should be produced, with this kind of point-to-point description, with a convincing hand, pointing out things to us that we may miss, without overbearing or distracting intrusion.

[@edwardyang8254]

Beethoven writes what I know the most miraculous musical phrases when transitioning from one melody or motive to another. It's absolute joy to listen to the genius designs.

[@olivierdrouin2701]

Des exemples , s il vous plaît !

[@andrewwiemken6443]

I had to stifle myself from laughing out loud during a performance of this sonata, at the recapitulation of the scherzo (11:00). It's just so damn CHEEKY. You KNOW that theme is coming back like nothing happened, it just HAS to, and when it does, it's such an exquisite combination of anticlimax and inevitability. LVB does this so much in this sonata - it's all over the place in this movement, but also in the first movement, where the second theme's virtuoso cadenzas lead right back to where they started. The second movement of the first sonata in this set, 31 no.1 in G, also does this to extreme effect - the cadenzas are absolutely ludicrous, and when they lead RIGHT back to the nonchalant, smugly elegant theme, it's comedic gold. Classic comedic structure - buildup>surprise/anticlimax. Beethoven's humor has been hugely underrated. The Diabellis are basically a laugh a minute, but done with such penetrating intelligence and style.

[@WBensburg]

When I played this I always did a 'Chico Marx' move on those descending chromatics - I concur completely on Beethoven's humor being underrated. :)

[@erichetherington9314]

What an excellent and thoughtful reply! It is indeed cheeky!

[@andredelacerdasantos4439]

I think it's truly a miracle how Beethoven can get laughs out of music without lyrics or any visuals.

[@esauponce9759]

I couldn’t stop smiling and dancing in the second movement. What a great sonata!

[@sapphire6722]

I am awestruck at how well these pianists play this delightful piece!

[@apostolismoschopoulos1876]

practice and practice

[@defunct1373]

and then some more practice

[@andredelacerdasantos4439]

And audio editing

Thank you so much for providing us with an sonata-analysis in the description, as well as the sheets to follow while listening! This is really helpful!

[@ludovicosilvestri3251]

One of my favourite Beethoven Sonatas! Love the description and the 4th movement always surprises me! Thanks for the upload.

[@cristinamaiapm]

Ludorgel vsfu corno

[@burz96]

Probably my favorite Beethoven sonata; especially the 1st movement. I've been waiting for this upload!

[@classicalmusicanalysis]

Mine too! It reminds me of good summer times, traveling around with my bike, discovering new places.

[@johnvalentine4720]

I love this sonata. It's one of Beethoven's most playful pieces and full of his wicked humour.😄😄

[@miguelisaurusbruh1158]

The second and fourth movement are SO NICE

[@kofiLjunggren]

Very nice!!

[@Trooman20]

"Nice" is an understatement

[@miguelfontesmeira]

I love that 2nd movement!

[@Jcabsa1]

Ouça o pequeno prelúdio 933 de bach…

[@jeromeweingart5596]

This sonata is endless delight.

[@curiouslyme524]

Such a gorgeous & under-rated sonata full of humor & complexity. Beautiful interpretation!

[@erichetherington9314]

LOVE LOVE LOVE this sonata.

[@knelson3057]

there's something just a little jazzy about the first movement, i love it so much

[@danielvalenciabegazo4325]

Kovacevich maneja muy bien las dinámicas y los tiempos. Se escucha bien clásico.

[@felmusik5043]

I love the nocturnes perfoming by Idil Biret every night in my youth I listened.

[@gustavosousa473]

Wow! Thank you for the detailed comments presented in the description!

[@3niknicholson]

well today's the day I listened to three versions of this remarkable piece of music that I'd never heard before and felt a great depth and width of delight, cheers Ludwig vB!

[@roy8769]

I am learning this song now. It's a beautiful song.❤❤

[@andrewdeehan6292]

Absolutely Awesome.

[@snowcarriagechengcheng-hun3454]

Thanks for uploading!

[@ambienthangout]

The last mvt is an absolute BEAST.

[@timward276]

I just started learning this one. I have always loved the whimsical Scherzo and the high-spirited finale, but didn't love the first movement until I started playing it. Now it's growing on me. So many fun little turns in unexpected directions, from literally the opening chord. It's funny that this sonata doesn't have the heaven-storming power of the Appassionata (or even its partner, the Tempest in this same opus) or the serene lyricism of the last 3, but it's a delight all the same. Also the finale is very pianistic, so it's not as hard as I first feared. Certainly not *easy* but manageable for a skilled amateur. As tarantellas go, it's not nearly as scary to learn as the Schubert D. 958, for example.

[@LAK_770]

Yiiiiikes the Schubert 958. That finale is maybe the scariest thing I've ever performed. That B theme with the hand crossing, leaps, repeated thick chords, etc gets really, really knotty. Not to mention managing not to rush. But MAN what a fantastic tarantella. Schubert was the world heavyweight champion of tarantellas. Death and the Maiden of course has another staggeringly brilliant one. It's almost as if his impending early death gave him special powers to channel that genre better than anyone else.

[@ms-dosguy6630]

I love D.958 too but I've decided to play D.959 first and some other stuff (WTC fugues, mozart sonatas, rondos etc, beethoven rondos ) before I attempt it, not that I want to hold on until playing it. It just looks pretty demanding... particularly the 4th mov

[@davidfranklin272]

Very nice detailed performance.

[@RicAbapo]

Biret's solid pulse in the 4th mvt makes it sound really enjoyable and "uncrippled" from little breaths (which a lot of pianists do) by being unable to play as firm as Biret.

[@PeterSchellhase]

Ah, a great favorite of mine, and one I try to learn. Great to hear these interpretations.

[@cubanbach]

I did want to add that this is one of those pieces that evokes a Jazz - kind of time machine - in my mind in the last movement around rehearsal letter #75. Anyone sense something similar? That transition is such a delight!

[@truBador2]

Thank you! Considering this and Op 32 #2, this quite a happy opus for Beethoven! "This pregnant introductory measure [1st mvmt]...may be played in various ways...The refined and emotional rendering of this one measure is a wellnigh decisive touchstone for the innate taste and musical talent of the player." - Hans von Bulow.

[@segmentsAndCurves]

Happy 250th birthday Beethoven!

[@yehoshuki]

It's really good to hear that when you sleep it's relaxing and doing good for me too so Bravo Beethoven your sonatas will be hear in the future and after

[@user-ru8vy1uz7c]

Bravo super sonata

[@allegroinquieto]

I had the pleasure of meeting Biret last month, her personality is as lovely as her playing. Thank you for this post.

[@cristinamaiapm]

egenginol fudac nerd bobaum

[@diabolik2280]

Nobody gives a shit

[@andredelacerdasantos4439]

Usually classical music is characterized by contrasts but the way Beethoven does it here is extraordinary. He alternates long, static passages in the tonic or merely in V - I cadences with unstable, unpredictable and unconventional harmony in a way that makes us hop with joy at the playfulness one minute but feel like this could actually be dangerous the next.

[@SmeagolTheBeagle]

This sonata is heroine in my vanes, first time hearing it just astonishing

[@shupingwang3392]

Kovacevich will be forever remembered.

[@tinibari456]

The almost ragtime fourth movement is pretty uncanny. It's not to say that later musicians just ripped Beethoven off, because jazz and such has a distinct origin, but it's still impressive that Beethoven had these rhythms in him a hundred years before they became a popular style.

[@abdallahhassan8321]

I love this sonata very much and I think it deserves to be much more famous.. it has got very good melody lines and its harmony is perfect in my opinion!

[@supersonication]

아이 너무 멋있따..ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ 베토벤 고마워요 이런 곡들을 남겨줘서

[@kinki24451]

It’s Beautiful music✨

[@howardchasnoff208]

After having played the Schumann string quartet no 3 many times and having revisited this Beethoven Piano sonata I notice a similarity. The opening movement of the quartet uses a descending fifth with the same chord a ii 7 chord in a major key which acts a a pre-dominant. The descending fifth is repeated throughout the movement. Schumann was an admirer of Beethoven. and borrowed his material.

[@MrRjcosta]

How Woderful 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎼🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶💛

[@tamirbermann6962]

Ashish thank you very much for this upload. Great selection of performances. Looking always forward to your new uploads and tasteful texts. I think this is one of the fewest pieces Beethoven allowed himself to be really humorous. The phrasing is often a bit like that: "serious, serious, oh actually not really serious".

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

If you think this one's funny, you should really love the Op.31 No.1!

[@granttherock9121]

Underrated sonata

[@howardchasnoff208]

In measure 8 and 9 first movement as in almost all the sonatas, Beethoven keeps the regularity of 4 measure phrases but tricks the listener into perceiving an extension of the phrasing by suddenly adding sixteenth notes and triplets so that there are more notes in the same amount of time.

[@nezkeys79]

1st Movmement: I prefer Kovacevich. Very light and playful. Trills are clearer too. The tempo is slightly faster which i like 😀

[@memedreams8558]

Probably my second favorite Sonata after the Pathétique

[@federicozimerman8167]

1:03 in my mind Beethoven used this theme in the 5th symphony , 1st mov when the key changes to E-Flat major.

[@sehankwon9515]

0:49 Tristan Chord

[@CFDavid847]

I find it interesting that people in the comment section are decreeing that this piece is mozartian or heavily influenced by Mozart. I could not DISAGREE more. Beethoven had a certain quirkiness in his music that Mozart simply did not have. Mozart is a lot more “straight laced” for lack of a better term. This piece is quintessential “quirky” Beethoven. Now if one wanted to make an argument (which in my opinion would even be a stretch) one could say that it’s more Haydnesque … but even so Beethoven was more daring and more “in your face” about his quirkiness than Haydn was.

[@ComposedBySam]

Couldn't agree more! 👏

[@p-y8210]

15:50 beethoven went full chopin.

[@danielperkins6023]

Chopin apparently hated this sonata

[@peterjongsma2754]

First time I've heard this. Where have I been? Should be as well known as the Pathetique. Very catchy.

[@steveegallo3384]

My favorite is ST ILL his very FIRST Sonata, that Last Movement (hear Richter)...I can almost play it myself. Now, I'm steeped in The Master's Late String Quartets...takes real concentration. Greetings from San Agustinillo!

[@gerardbegni2806]

Ravel quoted the first chord (7th on II) as a model for his "valses nobles et sentimentales'.

[@wastrel09]

interesting hypothesis ... Ravel was not fond of Beethoven's music, and wrote critically of it. But you may be right

[@gerardbegni2806]

@@wastrel09 T You know, the issue is jusr to begin a work by a seventh harmony within the main tonality, bur not on tonic and dominant. Ravel analyzed a part of hid avlse nobles & sentimantales" as a section fully controlled bt y this 7/II harmonic field, with unsolved appogiaturas, chords from remote tonal firllds, etc. Bethoven was just the composer who started with this peculiar harmony. It could have been somebody else.

[@miguelisaurusbruh1158]

Ok... The Fourth movement is the best, perfect in every way, beating the second

[@ylchen77]

琴聲顆粒，圓潤。很好聽。

[@user-sm5nk3rk1r]

7:39 Mvt2 is so nice.

[@gerzonsosa8009]

Beauty and expressive donate, and appassionaty.

[@user-zv2xx4do1i]

정말 너무 감사드립니다. 잘듣겠습니다. 팬데믹 상황에, 다들 많이 지치고 힘이 드시겠지만 그래도 더 힘내고 버티시길 바랄게요. 다른 방법이 아직 없으니까요. 힘내세요. 이런 말씀밖에 드리지 못해 죄송합니다.

[@gerzonsosa2902]

Thank you too much.

[@jeremysmith8763]

Little hints of jazz at the beginning-anybody else agree?

[@user-kp9qb6gz7v]

18:42 goosebumps moment!!!

[@user-lt6rz7ws6k]

beethoven piano sonata ~~ all time music bible~!!!

[@masamichisekiguchi4916]

Beethoven said, "Everyone can hear a horn, but I can't hear it. This is an unbearable humiliation." , "The Hunt" No.18 in E-flat Major, began with a twice horn This is descriptive music. Aristocrats run their horses side by side with a horn signal. The prey is a fox. There is a description that Fox escapes sadly. However, it returns to the depiction of following fox bravely. If you are a horse enthusiast, you will notice trot or gallop running as listning music.

[@sav3789]

Yet as a bird enthusiast, I can still hear the horse. I am also playing that “The Hunt”.

[@jcbsrm]

Biret's beethoven is superb

[@user-mj7pr6mv9y]

самая лучшая и красивейшая соната

[@aegeanbo]

This is a very special Beethoven Sonata, my favorite. I laughed aloud at the humor in this! Does anyone feel this or I am just crazy? Thank you for this upload and the detailed comments!

[@geralteld1332]

*favourite *humour Idiot.

[@franklinhill4341]

The lyrical grace and explosive shock and relief in laughter and ultimate undiluted satisfaction of a Buster Keaton or Chaplin masterpiece.

[@kellikim3850]

the sad part is that you people are so idiotic and stupid that you can't comprehend the fact that there are multiple ways to spell in the english language. (sometimes) so get a life.

[@Mrmmm88]

aegeanbo I agree 100% ! It took me a long time to appreciate this sonata. I wish I had learned it in college when my teacher encouraged me too. Anyway no. 16 always made me laugh out loud and I never understood why. Same with number 6. Beethoven's humor goes beyond all conceivable measure and intellect. It is forever infinite just like his music.

[@colinmurphy2214]

Electronic Goat it’s American English you nit, get a life

[@panchodiaz8893]

Gracxz paparazzi la mia mama en italya loving d' le music

[@miguelfontesmeira]

The first theme of the menuetto seems the inversion of the first theme of mvt 1

[@n0ctilux]

Miguel Fontes Meira yes-you’re right! I observed that while playing them.

[@neto6517]

16:42 hm, me recuerda a cierto pasaje del 3er movimiento de la sonata 17

[@PEDRO_boaro]

Beethoven write the 16th, 17th and 18th in a row. There was reciclable themes

[@danieleps1926]

@Ashish Xiangyi Kumar Such a wonderful sonata one my favourites. Have you heard the wonderful Schnabel recordings, or maybe the great Solomon recordings would of interest to the channel?

[@jarjuicemachine]

16:37 part of the melody from tempest movement 3

[@iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivy]

0:48 sounds Wagnerian, in terms of the half-diminished chords and the upward climb of those chords. It's a wonderful few seconds in an already great piece.

[@wrongaddress420]

Exactly what i thought as well

[@Paul_Franz]

In fact, the chord at 0:50 is note-for-note the Tristan chord.

[@iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivy]

@@Paul_Franz It's used as a half diminished chord in this case, so not exactly the same function as the Tristan chord. But Wagner definitely used half finished chords frequently, so yes good observation

[@Paul_Franz]

@@iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivy Oh, I definitely agree that it's not being used functionally in the same way, especially since Beethoven 'resolves' it to a full diminished chord (plus the notation is, of course different than Wagner's). Beethoven may have been way ahead of his time, but we can't quite give him credit for the inventiveness of Wagner. ;)

[@iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivy]

@@Paul_Franz indeed

[@alexanderreikreik]

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticide is very effective against earworms and other lepidopterous (caterpillar) insects such as cabbage loopers. It is derived from a naturally occurring soil bacterium, is considered safe for humans, and is suitable for organic gardening.

[@bonscott6353]

the 4th movement reminds me so much of "rage over a lost penny" .. Anyone else..??

[@remsan03]

Whenever I hear the 4th movement, it reminds me of Schiff's masterclass where he said, "This is the hunt, galloping horses and very Italian." You can sing the tune with "Mamma-mia, mamma-mia, mamma-mia." I find that hilarious and so true. Now I crave for a bowl of spaghetti.

[@mrnarason]

I'm an uncultured swine who isn't experienced enough to grasp the reference in its entirety

[@alejandrolenin93]

WTF this is awesome

[@nickroosh9407]

1:18 22:09

[@wtzhangwtzhang9439]

I'm currently practicing this sonata and I would say it is really fun to play, especially the second and forth movements. However, in terms of difficulty, this piece is hard and the hardest movement goes to the forth movement while the easiest movement goes to the third movement.

[@joantrilla9425]

QUE. BONIC. LO MILLOR DEL DIA👍😄😄

[@nordicpiano6592]

Not sure if the Russian virtuoso Evgeny Kissin is able to play this wonderful Sonata with the same degree of humour & warmth as Idil Biret. She is the best Turkish pianist I have ever heard! Far better than the jazzy, overly individualistic Fazil Say.

[@chopin65]

Beethoven sets a man's head right.

[@Kyubiwan]

The 2nd mvt is not a Scherzo. It's a slow movement but in a slightly faster tempo.

[@lucioblanel69]

Sorry...the last Beethoven's Menuetto is the ironic third movement of 8th Symphony. Thanks for sharing this extraordinary music!

[@345everything]

3:55 The real origin of Rach 2

[@user-gl7qx1ww6r]

BAHAHAHAHAHAH

[@wonkalub]

"It’s the second-last sonata in 4 movements (the last is the Hammerklavier)", but 28th Beethoven sonata also has 4 movements, so this sonata(18th) is third-last

[@MusicWithDan]

Is it odd that I sometimes get the melodies of measures 5 and 13 of the Minuetto mixed up?

[@colinmurphy2214]

Never heard this one before

[@musical_lolu4811]

I first saw it played briefly by Glenn Gould. I've liked it ever since. What's your elo rating?

[@vincent-ataramaniko]

Can someone give tips on how to do the insane jump at 20:06 ?

[@jimwinchester339]

Trio around 13:50 - He plays those accent marks stacatto - which is not how they're marked. I have no problem with that - but it's not the way I learned it.

[@nezkeys79]

4:01 lol that shift to the minor chord came out of nowhere. Loved it 😂 Beethoven is such a troll (in a good way)

[@tarikeld11]

16:50 Schubert's last Sonata 4th movement?