Ludwig van Beethoven - The Sonatas for Piano and Cello (Paul Watkins; Alessio Bax)

Information

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

• Cello Sonata No. 1 in F Major, Op. 5, No. 1
• Cello Sonata No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 5, No. 2
• Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69
• Cello Sonata No. 4 in C Major, Op. 102, No. 1
• Cello Sonata No. 5 in D Major, Op. 102, No. 2

Paul Watkins, cello

Alessio Bax, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Signum Records

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This double-disc Signum Classics release presents the complete cello sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven, performed by cellist Paul Watkins and pianist Alessio Bax. The cycle spans Beethoven’s early, middle, and late compositional periods, from the Op. 5 sonatas of 1796 to the mature Op. 69 work and the late Op. 102 sonatas, illustrating his evolving formal innovation and expressive depth. Recorded in December 2024 at Cedars Hall, the set highlights the intimate dialogue between cello and piano, emphasizing Beethoven’s expanding conception of chamber music across his creative life.

Paul Watkins (born 1970) is an acclaimed cellist, chamber musician, and conductor with a wide-ranging international career. He has served as Artistic Director of the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival since 2014, was a member of the Emerson String Quartet from 2013 to 2023, and has held professorships, including at the Yale School of Music. A prizewinner at the 2002 Leeds Conducting Competition, he has also led ensembles such as the English Chamber Orchestra and worked as guest conductor with major orchestras worldwide. Watkins is a frequent soloist with leading orchestras, a dedicated chamber collaborator, and an extensive recording artist, known for both classical and contemporary repertoire, including premieres of works written for him.

Alessio Bax (born 1977) is an internationally acclaimed pianist known for combining lyrical sensitivity with formidable technical command. He rose to prominence after winning First Prize at both the Leeds and Hamamatsu International Piano Competitions and has since performed with over 150 orchestras worldwide, including major ensembles such as the New York Philharmonic and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, collaborating with leading conductors including Sir Simon Rattle and Vladimir Ashkenazy. A versatile artist, Bax is active as a soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist, and has released a widely praised discography on Signum Classics. He also serves as Artistic Director of the Incontri in Terra di Siena Festival and teaches at the New England Conservatory in Boston.