By Anastasia Huppmann at the Yamaha Concert Hall in Vienna.
Beethoven Moonlight Sonata (actually the Piano Sonata no 14 in C-sharp minor “Quasi una fantasia”, Op. 27, No. 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven) is one of the famous classical piano works in the world. Completed was Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven in 1801 and dedicated in 1802 to his pupil, Countess Giulietta Guicciardi.”The change that has taken place in me now is caused by a sweet, wonderful girl who loves me and is loved by me.” – wrote Beethoven.
Moonlight Sonata was published in Bonn, although from the first months of 1802 Juliet had a clear preference for the composer Wenzel Galenberg and, as a result, married him. Six months after writing the sonata, October 6, 1802, Beethoven wrote desperately “Heiligenstadt testament.” Some Beethoven scholars believe that it was to the Countess Guicciardi that the composer addressed a letter, known as a letter “to an immortal lover.” It was discovered after the death of Beethoven in the secret drawer of his wardrobe. Beethoven kept a miniature portrait of Juliet along with this letter and “Heiligenstadt testament.”
Moonlight Sonata is one of Beethoven’s most popular compositions for the piano.
Technically known as Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# Minor, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata is arguably one of the most beautiful pieces for piano ever written. It is actually interesting to mention that this piece was originally called sonata quasi una fantasia… which roughly translates to “sonata in the manner of a fantasy”. It was not until the year 1834 when a poet would ascribe it the name that we have come to know and grown to love. Even those who are not fans of classical music are well aware of the opening melody that has come to define the first movement. And it is for this reason that many consider the piece to arguably represent the most well-known work created by such a prolific composer. As a pianist… I naturally wanted to capture the emotions that Beethoven must have been experiencing. However, I also desired to convey the sonorous beauty associated with this work for modern viewers and for my fans in general.
My Journey with Beethoven: From the Solemn to the Impetuous Storm
The first movement of Moonlight Sonata is dominated by a slow and almost yearning rhythm; as if Beethoven himself were in a state of lamentation. As I played this adagio sostenuto, I soon began to realise that there are some human emotions which are best put into musical form. There is simply no way that words could describe what can only be called a mournful state of beauty. As if I were walking with Beethoven himself underneath the pallid moonlight… I felt completely swept away in a sense of forlorn sorrow and yet, I could not help but to be captivated by this state of sublime rapture. These emotions would soon be replaced by a sense of personal transition which accompanied the second movement and finally, by the extremely turbulent nature associated with the third (presto agitato) section. I felt as if I were being swept off of my emotional feet into a state of ethereal agitation. There was a sense of tempestuous yearning and the frenetic tempo only served to heighten my senses until they hovered somewhere between uncertainty and magnificent bliss…