Violinsonate Nr. 9 A-Dur op. 47

Beethoven composed his virtuosic “Kreutzer” Sonata in the course of 1802 and 1803, when he was living on Petersplatz, originally for a joint concert with the violinist George P. Bridgetower. However, the first edition of the sheet music, published in 1805, was dedicated to Rodolphe Kreutzer, who gave the composition its famous sobriquet. In a break with previous sonatas, the violin is given greater prominence than was customary at the time. The piece marks a move away from chamber music as such, and towards virtuoso concert music. This shift is clear from the opening bars of the sonata, as shown in this recording. The Presto in A minor is preceded by an “Adagio sostenuto” introduction in A major, in which the violin introduces itself as a solo instrument.

The recording features the duo (and married couple) Nap de Klijn (1909–1979) and Alice Heksch, who were both from Amsterdam. Little is known about their respective biographyical. Heksch was one of the Jews supported through the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands by Aart Vos, a member of the Dutch resistance. After the Second World War the couple resumed their careers as concert musicians, performing as a chamber duo in various European countries. They enjoyed considerable success, particularly with their performances of Mozart.
(Constanze Köhn)