Jonas Vitaud - Beethoven 1802, Heiligenstadt (2021)

In 1802, realising that he had become irreversibly deaf, Beethoven went through a personal crisis of unprecedented intensity. Mulling suicide in his Heiligenstadt hideaway, he decided to confront his destiny and produced works reflecting his evolution towards hope. This is what Jonas Vitaud demonstrates through a choice of works: from underlying despair of the ‘Tempest’ Sonata, to the calming Op. 33 & 34, and the flamboyant optimism of the ‘Eroica’ Variations.

Tracklist
1. Variations and Fugue in E-Flat Major, Op. 35 (23:40)
2. 7 Bagatelles, Op. 33: I. Andante grazioso quasi allegretto (03:08)
3. 7 Bagatelles, Op. 33: II. Scherzo - Allegro (02:57)
4. 7 Bagatelles, Op. 33: III. Allegretto (02:16)
5. 7 Bagatelles, Op. 33: IV. Andante (03:22)
6. 7 Bagatelles, Op. 33: V. Allegro ma non troppo (02:21)
7. 7 Bagatelles, Op. 33: VI. Allegretto quasi andante (04:18)
8. 7 Bagatelles, Op. 33: VII. Presto (02:00)
9. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 "The Tempest": I. Largo - Allegro (08:56)
10. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 "The Tempest": II. Adagio (07:59)
11. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 "The Tempest": III. Allegretto (06:50)
12. 6 Variations in F Major, Op. 34 (13:53)