Beethoven: The Arc (Jianan Xu)

Beethoven’s Sonatas Nos. 5, 21, and 30 trace a compelling arc through Beethoven’s creative life, revealing both the revolutionary force of his early voice and the inward, visionary language of his late style. 

Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10 No. 1 marks Beethoven on the threshold of his compositional maturity. Jianan Xu brings forth Beethoven already challenging Classical style conventions and projects the intensitity that became the hallmark of Beethoven’s musical identity. 

Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 54, “Waldstein” shows Beethoven’s heroic period and the dramatic expansion of scale and sonority. In this recording Xu brings the Sonata’s radiant, slow introduction into the finale and its ecstatic conclusion, providing the listener with a feeling not of conflict, but of transcendence.

The album ends with Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109, showcasing  the late-period Beethoven as introspective, deeply personal, and poetic. Together, Xu’s recording of these sonatas forms not simply a selection of masterpieces, but a portrait of Beethoven’s evolving vision—restless, bold, and ultimately profound.

Piano Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 10 No. 1

1. I. Allegro molto e con brio (5:34)

2. II. Adagio molto (8:20)

3. III. Finale. Prestissimo (4:52)

Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 “Waldstein”

4. I. Allegro con brio (11:03)

5. II. Introduzione. Adagio molto (3:17)

6. III. Rondo. Allegretto moderato – Prestissimo (10:00)

Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109

7. I. Vivace ma non troppo – Adagio espressivo (3:48)

8. II. Prestissimo (2:28)

9. III. Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo. Gesangvoll mit innigster Empfindung (12:26)