Beethoven Pno Sonata Eb Op81a BA

Composed in 180910, Beethovens Sonata Op.81a expresses his very personal feelings. He titled its three movements Das Lebe wohl (The Farewell), Die Abwesenheit (The Absence) and Das Wiedersehn (The Return) in reference to the hasty departure of his good friend and patron Archduke Rudolph of Austria who fled Vienna with the imperial family on 4 May 1809 to escape Napoleons approaching troops.

Beethoven referred to Op.81a as a characteristic sonata, not in the sense that it had an underlying programme, but because it lent musical expression to his feelings. He reacted angrily when his publisher printed French translations of its title and movement headings. This however did not prevent Op.81a from becoming widely known by its French name Les Adieux.

- Introduction by Misha Donat

- Notes on performance practice by Jonathan Del Mar and Misha Donat

- Scholarly-critical Urtext edition at the cutting edge of scholarship

- Elegant engraving and optimal page turns

- Informative Introduction (Eng/Ger)

- Includes a Critical Commentary (Eng)

Piano Sonata in E-flat major Op.81a "Les Adieux"