This new recording presents three lesser-known chamber music works by the young Beethoven, the Piano Quartets WoO36.

Like every musician in Europe the young Beethoven was well acquainted with Mozart’s compositional works and he was a great admirer of them. He performed Mozart’s piano concertos with the court orchestra in Bonn and later played viola in performances of Mozart’s operas.

Beethoven’s Piano Quartets were modelled on the two great examples in this genre by Mozart. At a young age Beethoven was already a phenomenal pianist who explored the boundaries of existing piano technique, and in doing so extended them. The piano technique displayed in these works was unheard-of at the time, in particular where it applies to fingerings, pedal use, left hand technique, and sheer virtuosity.

Played on period instruments by fortepianist Bart van Oort and the Van Swieten Society. Bart van Oort has an impressive discography to his name, including the Complete Piano Works by Mozart, Haydn Klavierstücke and Sonatas, works by Chopin, Dussek and several chamber music project (complete Haydn Piano Trios)