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3 Sonatas Op. 10
Ludwig van Beethoven

3 Sonatas Op. 10

Roberto Prosseda

Label: Challenge Classics
Format: CD
Barcode: 0608917200485
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Catalog number: CC 720048
Releasedate: 06-02-26

- Performed on an original 1820 Conrad Graf fortepiano, revealing the colors and textures Beethoven himself would have known
- Prosseda reimagines these familiar works with rhetorical phrasing and dynamic contrasts that modern instruments often obscure
- From the tragic power of No. 1 to the wit of No. 2 and the emotional depth of No. 3, each piece shows a different facet of Beethoven’s genius
- Combines scholarly awareness of period practice with Prosseda’s deeply individual and expressive artistry
- Follows his acclaimed Op. 2 recording for Challenge Classics, reinforcing his reputation as a leading interpreter of Beethoven on historical instruments

Beethoven’s three Sonatas Op. 10, written between 1796 and 1798, mark a decisive step from the Classical clarity of Haydn and Mozart toward a bolder, more individual language. Each sonata displays a distinct character: the C minor No. 1 combines tragic urgency with structural concentration; the F major No. 2 reveals Beethoven’s emerging humor and rhythmic invention; and the expansive D major No. 3 unfolds an unprecedented emotional and architectural scale, crowned by the visionary Largo e mesto. The unifying rhythmic motif of “short–long” pulses through the set, foreshadowing the composer’s later dramas. Performed on an 1820 Conrad Graf fortepiano, Roberto Prosseda’s interpretation restores the music’s raw contrasts, speaking timbres, and anti-rhetorical gestures that modern pianos often smooth away.

In his personal note, Prosseda explains how returning to these works on a historical instrument transformed his understanding of Beethoven’s expression. The fortepiano’s transparency, differentiated registers, and responsive mechanism invite a freer phrasing and more rhetorical, speech-like delivery. He aims not for novelty but sincerity—seeking to rediscover familiar music through its original sound world. Prosseda is one of Italy's leading pianists with a distinguished career, celebrated for his complete Mendelssohn and Mozart recordings and for reviving the pedal piano. This Beethoven Op. 10 album follows his acclaimed Op. 2 set for Challenge Classics, continuing his exploration of early Beethoven on period instruments.