Piano Sonata no. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 (Appassionata) - Beethoven/Henle

This masterpiece's famous nickname “Appassionata” (the passionate) does not stem from Beethoven, but was assigned to the sonata by posterity. However, it could hardly be more appropriate! Beethoven's friend Ferdinand Ries tells of a walk during which Beethoven “had the whole way been humming to himself or sometimes howling” without actually singing specific notes. To his friend's enquiry he answered, “here I have come upon a theme for the final Allegro of the sonata”. This graphic description of the event is a harbinger of the wildness and passion of the entire sonata!

This new Urtext edition from G. Henle Publishers is based on the autograph (unfortunately heavily water damaged) and on the original edition published in Vienna in 1807. At last this central work is available in a new edition from the successful Beethoven workshop of Norbert Gertsch und Murray Perahia – provided, as usual, with fingering by the great pianist.