Klaviersonaten

Is there anything new, interesting and "true" to say about the interpretation of Beethoven's sonatas? I think so, provided we break the conventions that have emerged from the tradition of interpretation and discography, whereby in 98% of cases a modern piano is used. For this reason, I thought that the decision to record Beethoven on a historical instrument could also be a way for a more individualized interpretive exploration, free from the models to which one has become accustomed when listening to famous recordings on a modern piano. I do not believe there is a 'right' or a 'wrong' instrument on which to play Beethoven's Opus 2 sonatas. What matters is the musical result. It depends on the alchemy that develops between the performer and the instrument. Before choosing the Graf No. 429, I extensively tried various modern examples of fortepianos from the years 1795 to 1800 to get closer to the sound and expressive world of early Beethoven. However, because I had the opportunity to have a Graf fortepiano (no. 429) in my studio, which was restored in 2023, I was able to prepare this recording on this instrument by playing it regularly for a year and thus becoming familiar with the mechanics and sound response of the instrument, which has stayed with me. (Roberto Prosseda)