The year 1802 was a decisive one for Beethoven. In the autumn, he wrote the 'Heiligenstadt Testament', in which he clearly expressed his awareness of the outcome of his inexorably increasing deafness. At almost the same time, he told his friend Krumpholz that, 'not satisfied' with his 'work so far', he was planning to embark on 'a new path'. It so happens that the works here, skilfully grouped together by Andreas Staier, correspond precisely to that new direction.

CD 1:

I. Allegro Vivace

II. Adagio Grazioso

III. Rondo: Allegretto

I. Largo

II. Adagio

III. Allegretto

I. Allegro

II. Scherzo. Allegretto Vivace

III. Menuetto. Moderato E Grazioso

IV. Presto Con Fuoco

CD 2:

Thema. Adagio. Cantabile

Variation I

Variation II. Allegro Ma Non Troppo

Variation III. Allegretto

Variation IV. Tempo Di Menuetto

Variation V. Marcia. Allegretto

Variation VI. Allegretto - Coda - Adagio Molto

Introduzione Col Basso Del Thema. Allegretto Vivace

Thema

Variation I

Variation II

Variation III

Variation IV

Variation V

Variation VI

Variation VII. Canone All'ottava

Variation VIII

Variation IX

Variation X

Variation XI

Variation XII

Variation XIII

Variation XIV. Minore

Variation XV. Maggiore. Largo - Coda Espressivo

Finale Alla Fuga. Allegro Con Brio