Beethoven’s Sonata, Op 17, was first performed on 18 April 1800 in Vienna, with the virtuoso horn player Giovannni Punto and Beethoven as the pianist. This piece is typical of Beethoven’s sonatas in that it could easily be described as a piano sonata with a horn obligato. Allegedly Beethoven had first arrived in Vienna and was rather bemused to see a billboard for a concert the following day to include a new sonata for horn and piano. As he had no time, he quickly wrote out a horn part for Punto and improvised the piano part himself. At the performance the piece was rapturously received, so much so that the audience demanded a repeat performance!

from notes by Richard Watkins © 2019