On September 17, 2012, cellist Benjamin Capps and pianist David Kaplan arrived at VPR's studio in Colchester to begin a recording odyssey: all five of Beethoven's monumental sonatas for cello and piano.  These works represent all parts of Beethoven's life as a composer, from his early days trying to make a name for himself in Vienna, to the avant-garde works he wrote late in his life that challenged listeners at the time and still challenge our musical ideals to this day.

Ben and David will perform all five works on Saturday, January 5th, at 7:30 pm at College Street Congregational Church in Burlington, under the auspices of Burlington Ensemble.  This week, we'll hear all five of these recordings in the 3 pm hour on VPR Classical, and Ben and David have graciously offered these recordings, made in VPR's own performance studio in September, October, and November of 2012, as a gift to the community for free download through January 31, 2013.  VPR Classical is proud to present this project in collaboration with Burlington Ensemble. 

The Beethoven Project

Benjamin Capps, cello
David Kaplan, piano

Recorded May 30, 2013 at Vermont Public Radio in Colchester, Vermont, as part of Vermont Public Radio and Burlington Ensemble's Beyond Beethoven collaboration.

Recording engineer: John Billingsley


Johannes Brahms: Cello Sonata No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 38

Benjamin Capps, cello
David Kaplan, piano

Recorded May 31, 2013 at Vermont Public Radio in Colchester, Vermont, as part of Vermont Public Radio and Burlington Ensemble's Beyond Beethoven collaboration.

Recording engineer: John Billingsley


Felix Mendelssohn:  Cello Sonata No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op. 45

Benjamin Capps, cello
David Kaplan, piano

Recorded December 7, 2013 at Vermont Public Radio in Colchester, Vermont, as part of Vermont Public Radio and Burlington Ensemble's Beyond Beethoven collaboration.

Recording engineer: John Billingsley


Felix Mendelssohn: Cello Sonata No. 2 in D Major, Op. 58

Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano in G Minor, Op. 5/2
Benjamin Capps, cello; David Kaplan, piano

Recorded at Vermont Public Radio, Colchester, VT
Producer: Joe Goetz
Audio Engineer: John Billingsley

Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 5 No. 2

Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata No. 4 for Cello and Piano in C Major, Op. 102/1
Benjamin Capps, cello; David Kaplan, piano

Recorded at Vermont Public Radio, Colchester, VT
Producer: Joe Goetz
Audio Engineer: John Billingsley

Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 4 in C Major, Op. 102 No. 1

Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata No. 3 for Cello and Piano in A Major, Op. 69
Benjamin Capps, cello; David Kaplan, piano

Recorded at Vermont Public Radio, Colchester, VT
Producer: Joe Goetz
Audio Engineers: Sam Sanders, John Billingsley

Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69

Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata No. 5 for Cello and Piano in D Major, Op. 102/2
Benjamin Capps, cello; David Kaplan, piano

Recorded at Vermont Public Radio, Colchester, VT
Producer: Joe Goetz
Audio Engineer: John Billingsley

Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 5 in D Major, Op. 102 No. 2

Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata No. 1 for Cello and Piano in F Major, Op. 5/1
Benjamin Capps, cello; David Kaplan, piano

Recorded at Vermont Public Radio, Colchester, VT
Producer: Joe Goetz
Audio Engineer: John Billingsley

Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 1 in F Major, Op. 5 No. 1

Vermont Public Radio, VPR, and VPR Classical.

The Beethoven Project

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