Beethoven: Violin Sonata no. 5 in F, "Spring"

Playing this 'Spring' Sonata is not simple. Beethoven did not include any virtuoso playing here in the violin part, albeit the piano part may demand certain standard of technicality. But what is hard for the violin is creating a beautiful tone. Beethoven used a lot slurs in his movements (which means quite a handful of notes have be played in a single bow), and not even professional violinists could maintain the tone perfectly. Since the sonata is supposed to be a chamber music, moreover the violin is such a gentle instrument, the music should be played with utmost gentleness and feeling. Never overplay the vibrato or else the music would be too romantic and lose its 'classical' value.

There is no such thing as 'perfect' playing of the violin sonata. Anne-Sophie Mutter recently released her 'live' album of all Beethoven Violin Sonatas. She is bold and adventurous, uses vibrato to the fullest, and the change in her tempo and tone is daring. Personally speaking, the playing is too romantic and does not really fit Beethoven. While Itzhak Perlman on Decca played the sonata with perfect intonation and virtuosity, to an extent that the musical value is somehow shadowed.

On the other hand, Gidon Kremer (violin) and Martha Argerich (piano) teamed up and brought the sonata out beautifully. Their playing is full of sparkle and lightness, that one could not help but to smile involuntarily to the feeling of the music. This is a recording worth testing out.

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