2/ SONATAS by BEETHOVEN & ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH, his student and patron

Lucie Sedláková Hůlová – violin ▪︎
Jaroslav Tůma – fortepiano

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Programme:
Archduke Rudolph (1788-1831): Sonata in f minor for Fortepiano and Violin (1812)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Sonata Nr.10 op. 96 G Major for Fortepiano and Violin (1812, dedicated to Archduke Rudolph)

Rudolph, Archduke of Austria and later Archbishop of Olomouc is closely associated with Ludwig van Beethoven in the world of music. Archduke Rudolph was a pupil of Beethoven for over twenty years (first in piano playing, later in composition), then as a friend and patron, and these relationships were constantly interconnected. Beethoven composed his most important work for the Archduke – the Missa solemnis – and dedicated many other compositions to him, including the Sonata in G major, Op. 96, which the Archduke premiered as a pianist. He composed mainly  chamber works himself. He wrote  only one sonata for fortepiano and violin, around 1812, the same year as Beethoven composed his op. 96. It is therefore very probable that it was the experience of interpreting Beethoven’s sonata with an important violinist that inspired the Archduke to create his own for the same  combination. The autograph of his sonata is stored in the world-famous music archive in Kroměříž.

This programme is performed on period instruments, both fortepiano and violin.