CD Review | For the King of Prussia/Beethoven: Sonatas for fortepiano and cello, Op. 5 (Arcana, 2023)

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For the King of Prussia/Beethoven: Sonatas for fortepiano and cello, Op. 5
Anna Fontana, fortepiano; Marco Ceccato, cello
Arcana, 2023

This new album, by celebrated early-music experts Marco Ceccato and Anna Fontana, features the two sonatas, Opus 5, and the 12 Variations on “See the Conqu’ring Hero Comes” WoO 45. Both pieces present listeners with a beautiful charge of energy, appropriately categorized as Mozartian rather than Beethovenian, on account of their compositional style and the articulation of their interpretation. Fontana’s sound is always vital and present, and Ceccato’s melodic lines consistently cantabile and warm. The album opens with the Sonata in F major, Op. 5. The first movement, despite being an Adagio, communicates a certain positive attitude, affirmed by the measured brilliance of the Allegro that follows. The last movement, a lively Allegro, is the rhythmic culmination of the whole piece, and is extremely virtuosic.

The 12 Variations on “See the Conqu’ring Hero Comes,” without opus number, are a perfect example of how a simple theme of pure melodic character can allow for a display of great virtuosic ability. This is precisely what Ceccato and Fontana manage to do: the rhythmic brilliance of the voices, and the melodic phrasing demonstrate a remarkable understanding of this repertoire. Anna Fontana manages to alternate moments of hyper-articulation with great melodic momentum; Marco Ceccato, for his part, shows impeccable intonation and remarkable skill. This series of Variations has an almost operatic character, with sections reminiscent of arias, and others of recitativo—elsewhere, a seeming dialogue between several characters. Melody is the main feature of the work, which makes it well suited to the two sonatas with which it is paired. The album concludes with the Sonata in G minor, Op. 5, No. 2. This also opens with an Adagio, here dramatic and dark, balanced by the final Allegro. This record offers us a Beethoven different to that which we know and love; instead of his piano sonatas or his well-known symphonies, listeners are presented with gallant music. The work done by the two musicians is remarkable, both in terms of overall cohesion, and their choices in terms of articulation and phrasing. A great album.

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