Ludwig van Beethoven - Violin Sonatas Nos. 4, 5 & 7 (Viktoria Mullova; Alasdair Beatson)

Information

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

• Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23
• Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 "Spring"
• Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30 No. 2

Viktoria Mullova, violin

Alasdair Beatson, fortepiano

Date: 2026

Label: Signum Classics

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This re-release features violinist Viktoria Mullova and pianist Alasdair Beatson continuing their acclaimed, historically informed exploration of Ludwig van Beethoven’s violin sonatas using period instruments. Originally recorded in 2020, the album pairs Mullova’s 1750 gut-strung Guadagnini violin with Beatson’s Paul McNulty fortepiano. The curated program features the dramatic Sonata in A minor (Op. 23), the lyrical "Spring" Sonata (Op. 24), and the intense Sonata in C minor (Op. 30 No. 2). Heard in tandem, these core masterpieces brilliantly illustrate Beethoven's expanding, complex dialogue between violin and keyboard during a pivotal stage of his early artistic maturity.

Viktoria Mullova (b. 1959) is an internationally acclaimed violinist whose artistry combines virtuosity, versatility, and curiosity across genres. Trained in Moscow, she gained early fame by winning the 1980 Sibelius Competition and 1982 Tchaikovsky Competition, before her dramatic defection to the West in 1983. Since then, she has performed with leading orchestras and conductors worldwide. Mullova is especially admired for her Bach interpretations, often performed on gut strings with period ensembles, alongside acclaimed recordings. Her career also embraces crossover projects exploring jazz, world, and Brazilian music, as well as new commissions. Recent highlights include her Beethoven sonata series with Alasdair Beatson and collaborations with her son, bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado.

Alasdair Beatson is a Scottish pianist celebrated for his versatility on both modern and historical instruments, active as soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. In 2025 he performs at Wigmore Hall, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw with the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, and numerous international festivals. Renowned for imaginative programming, he combines a deep affinity with classical, Schumann, and Fauré with adventurous explorations of rarer repertoire, from Catoire to Adès. He has appeared with leading orchestras including Britten Sinfonia and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and records prolifically, notably with Viktoria Mullova. A former student of John Blakely and Menahem Pressler, he teaches at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and directs Switzerland’s Musikdorf Ernen festival.

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