Violin Sonata No. 9, Op. 47 in A major ‘Kreutzer Sonata’ – Ludwig van Beethoven

Violin Sonata No. 9, Op. 47 in A major ‘Kreutzer Sonata’ by Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven completed this sonata in 1803. The work was originally dedicated to the half Polish half Barbadian violinist George Bridgetower. Beethoven met Bridgetower in 1803 in Vienna, and was so impressed by Bridgetower’s talents that he made him the dedicatee of this sonata and organised for Bridgetower to be the violinist at the premiere performance.

The premiere was given in May of 1803 at the Augarten Theatre with Beethoven at the piano and Bridgetower on the violin. The performance went well, despite there being little time for rehearsal and starting at the unusual time of 8am in the morning. At some time after the performance, Beethoven took offence to a comment Bridgetower made towards a woman (it is unclear who) and removed Bridgetower as the dedicatee on the sonata. Beethoven re dedicated the work to the German violinist Rodolphe Kreutzer.

Despite this dedication, Kreutzer never performed the work and indicated that he felt it was too difficult and unintelligible. The name ‘Kreutzer’ has become affixed to this work despite the strange circumstance surrounding the premiere of this piece.

The work is comprised of three movements:
I. Adagio sostenuto – Presto
II. Andante con variazioni
III. Presto