Playing Beethoven on 7 pianos from his lifetime

Representing nearly all of the pianofortes in Pianoteq's library from Beethoven's lifetime, this video features my own performances of selected piano works composed around the time each piano was manufactured. I picked works that Beethoven composed as nearly as possible to the date of each piano. I was limited to Pianoteq's library, so there is a glaring gap between 1796-1808 when Beethoven composed some of his finest piano works. Nonetheless, you can still hear a general outline of his stylistic development. As for the pianos, you'll hear lots of variance in characteristics between each instrument but not necessarily a linear "evolution." This selection of instruments portrays some of the many personalities of pianos in Beethoven's day, but does not represent a comprehensive exploration of them.

Beethoven's ages relate to the time of composition, not the date of the piano. I included some transitional preludes to protect your ears from any abrupt key changes, my treat.

00:00 Sonata WoO 47, No. 1 on a 1780 Schmidt
01:01 Selected Variations on 'Venni Amore' on a 1790 Walter
03:06 Sonata No. 3, Scherzo on a 1795 Donhal
04:40 Sonata No. 5, Finale on a 1796 Broadwood
06:16 Sonata No. 26, 'Les Adieux', mvt. I on an 1808 Weimes
08:42 Sonata No. 27 in E minor, mvt. II on an 1812 Schöffstoss
11:35 Six Bagatelles, Op. 126, III. Andante Cantabile on an 1826 Graf

If you like the sound of these instruments, I recommend Ronald Brautigam's exquisite recordings of Beethoven the fortepiano.

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