Ludwig van Beethoven composed Cello Sonatas No. 4 and No. 5 simultaneously in 1815, during a time in which he experienced a period of ailments and difficulties which included his deafness. Sonatas no. 4 and no. 5 were composed seven years after his sonata no. 3 for cello and piano and clearly belong to Beethoven’s last creative period (Wiki). Since then, there have been many variations and interpretations of Cello Sonata No. 4. Two variations include one by Rostropovich, the other by Yo Yo Ma.
Both Rostropovich and Yo Yo Ma perform Beethoven's Cello Sonata No. 4, and with both you get two different interpretations of the same song. When listening to the Rostropovich interpretation, I can imagine it being played alongside a silent black and white film. It is as if the cello and the piano are hav
ing a conversation, bantering back and forth. In that sense, the Rostropovich interpretation would help narrate the silent film. The Yo Yo Ma interpretation is much different. It is softer and more harmonious than the Rostropovich interpretation. Yo Yo Ma performs a much gentler version of the Sonata and at a slightly faster tempo than Rostropovich.
Nice!
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