During May and July 1796, Beethoven was in Berlin during a concert tour in the company of Prince Lichnowsky (before they became disaffected after the prince asked Beethoven to play for his guests, French officers, in 1806).
There in Berlin, the maestro began the composition of several important works for cello and piano, among which stand out the Variations for cello and piano in G major on a work by Handel, and the valuable two Sonatas of Opus 5, dedicated to Frederick William II, King of Prussia, who apart from ruling Prussia and a few other territories, played the cello without disturbing anyone.
The "first cello"
For the time, the composition of sonatas for cello and piano had no precedent. There were no models from which to take inspiration, in the works of Haydn or Mozart. Only very recently had the instrument begun to free itself from its traditional role of basso continuo. So the court orchestra of Frederick William II, King of Prussia, had a cellist who played, quite appropriately, the role of "first cello." His name was Jean-Pierre Duport (1741 - 1818). He was Frederick William's teacher, and for him, for Jean-Pierre, the two Sonatas of Opus 5 were written, and premiered in Berlin in May or June 1796, with Beethoven at the piano.
The little snuff box
Both sonatas were published in Vienna in February 1797. As was his custom, the Bonn master sought to dedicate the work to an influential person who was in a position to repay him in some way for his work. On the occasion, the honor fell to Frederick William II, who rewarded Beethoven with a snuff box filled with gold Louis, each equivalent to twenty francs. (Thirty years later, Chopin would charge that amount for his lessons.) It remains to be seen how much gold Louis fit in the little box, but it seems to be not a stingy gift.
Sonata for cello and piano No. 1 in F major op. 5 - Movements
Cello and piano. For these instruments the sonatas are written, and in that order. That is, we understand that the soloist is the cello. However, the piano assumes here a voice of similar prominence; quite a novelty, but well, the author is a pianist.
Sonata No. 1 has only two movements, lasting approximately 25 minutes.
00:00 Adagio sostenuto - Allegro: A slow introduction, in the style of Haydn's symphonies, precedes the main theme, the allegro.
18:26 Rondo. Allegro vivace: A rondo in 6/8, much lighter in character than the first movement, with almost humorous passages, very appropriate for each performer to display his or her ease with the instrument.
On the cello, a young Yo-Yo Ma (a cellist born in Paris of Chinese descent).
At the piano, another young man, Maestro Emanuel Ax (American born in Ukraine).
