Notes and Editorial Reviews
All but the last of Beethoven’s ten violin sonatas were composed in a little over five years. Beethoven returned to the genre one last time in 1812, the eventful year in which he finished his seventh and eighth symphonies, and met Goethe during a sojourn in Teplitz. Violinist, Barbara Govatos, and pianist Marcantonio Barone have partnered on Beethoven's sonatas for many years. Ms. Govatos is a member of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Mr. Barone is a leading soloist and chamber musician, most active in the Philadelphia area.
R E V I E W S:
"The New York state label Bridge seems to favor Philadelphia composers and musicians, most notably for their landmark series of recordings of the works of George Crumb, a
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project that has received worldwide acclaim. They have just released a highly satisfying set of the complete music for violin and piano of Beethoven, featuring Philadelphia Orchestra violinist Barbara Govatos and the superb pianist and Bryn Mawr native Marcantonio Barone. Sure, the material hasn’t been lacking in top-flight recordings, but this bold, richly expressive playing warrants comparison to the best." -- Peter Burwasser, City Paper (Philadelphia)
"There's an easy give-and-take between these performers that turn the music into a lively conversation between old friends. Both Govatos and Barone play with precision, which makes them well-matched. These are very clean performances. And energy isn't sacrificed for accuracy either." -- http://the-unmutual.blogspot.com
"Govatos and Barone literally ravish each phrase with musical attention, everything is done with meaning and purpose, and they have a complete understanding of the architectural aspects of the music and how they serve the emotional content. Govatos has a tremendous violin sound, one of the best I’ve heard, and the entire recording has been beautifully captured. Great interaction, lustrous phrasing throughout. This has displaced the formidable set from Gidon Kremer and Martha Argerich as the first choice." -- http://thebigcityblog.com Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Sonata for Violin and Piano no 9 in A major, Op. 47 "Kreutzer" by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Barbara Govatos (Violin),
Marcantonio Barone (Piano)
Period: Classical
Written: 1802-1803; Vienna, Austria
2.
Sonata for Violin and Piano no 8 in G major, Op. 30 no 3 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Barbara Govatos (Violin),
Marcantonio Barone (Piano)
Period: Classical
Written: 1801-1802; Vienna, Austria
3.
Sonata for Violin and Piano no 7 in C minor, Op. 30 no 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Barbara Govatos (Violin),
Marcantonio Barone (Piano)
Period: Classical
Written: 1801-1802; Vienna, Austria
4.
Sonata for Violin and Piano no 6 in A major, Op. 30 no 1 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Barbara Govatos (Violin),
Marcantonio Barone (Piano)
Period: Classical
Written: 1801-1802; Vienna, Austria
5.
Sonata for Violin and Piano no 5 in F major, Op. 24 "Spring" by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Barbara Govatos (Violin),
Marcantonio Barone (Piano)
Period: Classical
Written: 1800-1801; Vienna, Austria
6.
Sonata for Violin and Piano no 4 in A minor, Op. 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Barbara Govatos (Violin),
Marcantonio Barone (Piano)
Period: Classical
Written: 1800; Vienna, Austria
7.
Sonata for Violin and Piano no 3 in E flat major, Op. 12 no 3 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Barbara Govatos (Violin),
Marcantonio Barone (Piano)
Period: Classical
Written: 1797-1798; Vienna, Austria
8.
Sonata for Violin and Piano no 2 in A major, Op. 12 no 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Barbara Govatos (Violin),
Marcantonio Barone (Piano)
Period: Classical
Written: 1797-1798; Vienna, Austria
9.
Sonata for Violin and Piano no 10 in G major, Op. 96 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Barbara Govatos (Violin),
Marcantonio Barone (Piano)
Period: Classical
Written: 1812; Vienna, Austria
10.
Sonata for Violin and Piano no 1 in D major, Op. 12 no 1 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Barbara Govatos (Violin),
Marcantonio Barone (Piano)
Period: Classical
Written: 1797-1798; Vienna, Austria
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 1 Customer Review )
Lively and expressive April 10, 2013
By Ralph Graves (Hood, VA) See All My Reviews
"Barbara Govatos and Marcantonio Barone have been performing as a duo for over a decade, which makes their traversal of Beethoven's ten violin sonatas so enjoyable. There's an easy give-and-take between these performers that turn the music into a lively conversation between old friends. Both Govatos and Barone play with precision, which makes them well-matched. These are very clean performances. And energy isn't sacrificed for accuracy either. The early sonatas -- especially the Op. 12 set -- sound lively and exuberant. I especially enjoyed the Spring sonata (op. 24). Govatos' playing was light and airy. Her bow seemed to just glide over the top of the strings. Another high point of the set for me was the the seventh sonata (Op. 30, No. 2). The duo's smooth execution and full-throttle rush to the big cadence points ramped up the excitement. Contrast that with the hear-breaking delicacy of the slow movement, and you have a real winner. The Kreutzer sonata (Op. 47) sounded a little restrained at first, but the energy level picked up as it went along. Overall, these are solid performances. The drama is there -- it's just not over the top. The recording quality of this release is quite high. There's not a lot of room ambiance, but the instruments are recorded with enough distance to provide some natural resonance. The result is a very transparent sound that makes it easy to hear the interplay between the instruments."
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