In the Stubborn Student, Thijs Bonger continues his quest to find connections between Haydn and Beethoven, striking gold once again. Haydn’s 88th Symphony, written for Paris, is a piece to savor. Its infectious finale alone is a gem. The slow movement is based on a noble, compassionate theme. And wouldn’t you know it, that theme suddenly appears in Beethoven’s penultimate piano sonata, Op. 110! It’s an incredibly versatile, deeply felt work, in which Beethoven chronicles the numerous illnesses that plagued him and how he managed to overcome them.
Joseph Haydn: Symphony no. 88 in G major
Berliner Philharmoniker
Simon Rattle
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano sonata in A flat major op. 110
Richard Goode, piano
Joseph Haydn: 1st part of Symphony no. 85 in B major ‘La Reine’
Bamberger Symphoniker
conducted by Joseph Keilberth
