Piano Sonatas Op. 78 & 90

[v russo]

Is anyone familiar with these middle/late period sonatas? They are both in 2 movement form and are quite unique. The Op. 78 is very compressed and economical while the Op. 90 struggles for tranquility with movements like; "Struggle with the head and the heart" and "Conversations with the beloved". The latter is one of the most blissful movements Beethoven ever wrote.

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v russo

[This message has been edited by v russo (edited March 07, 2004).]

[Peter]

Yes they are both gems, and I can well understand how Beethoven considered Op.78 finer than the 'Moonlight'. I think the 2nd movement of Op.90 is almost Schubertian in its song like quality.

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'Man know thyself'

[Chris]

Yes, Op. 78 in particular is one of my favorite of the sonatas.