Beethoven: Sonata in F-sharp Major, Thrse (Biss, Kovacevich, Jando)

Coming 5 years after the morbidly dramatic Appassionata, the sonata could not present a more striking contrast to its predecessor. Despite its slight two-movement structure, it appears that Beethoven thought of this work as highly as he did the Appassionata, and not without reason. The first movement of this sonata is remarkably tender and lyrical, and features one of Beethoven's loveliest run-on melodies. It's notable its highly cellular nature: the first subject, for example, is comprised of a moti