I revisited Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 24, “Thérèse,” which I plan to include on my fourth CD. Thanks to my advisor’s guidance, I think it has improved quite a bit compared with the version I performed about five years ago.
The piece is written in the rather unusual key of F-sharp major, with six sharps—but with MIDI programming, that presents no difficulty at all. It was dedicated to a young noblewoman named Thérèse, whom Beethoven seems to have taken on as a piano pupil. I’ll leave the surrounding stories and background to the program notes.
Around this period, Beethoven’s musical language begins to shift noticeably, with a greater emphasis on lyrical and expressive melody. One might say he was entering his so-called “cantabile period.” This sonata in particular is filled with warmth and songfulness; its lines feel deeply lyrical and full of heartfelt expression.
Title: Piano Sonata No. 24 in F♯ major, Op. 78, "Thérèse"
Sound Source: SYNCHRON CONCERT D-274
Audio file format: mp3 (Streaming on a PC?)