Much Playfulness

Beethoven cello sonatas
and variations -
heard by
ROBERT ANDERSON

'Fournier and Gulda give Handel a rousing send-off ...'

Beethoven: Complete Works for Cello and Piano. Pierre Fournier and Friedrich Gulda. © 2012 Regis Records

Both Mozart and Beethoven had reason for gratitude to Frederick William II of Prussia. The former produced for him three final string quartets, while the latter managed two cello sonatas and Variations on Handel's 'See the Conqu'ring Hero Comes'. Frederick was not only a good cellist but happened also to be particularly fond of Judas Maccabaeus. Frederick's own warfare was by no means distinguished, and he blotted his political copybook by allying himself with the French Revolution...