Sonata No $ in A Minor (1800) Op 23 - Beethoven

Sonata No 9 in A (1803) Op 47 - Beethoven

The violin and the piano are not natural partners, and every work for the combination challenges the performers to find compromises that will allow a temporary equality of esteem. In the opening presto of Sonata No 4, this performance leaned towards an unnecessary competitiveness, but in the andante scherzoso a friendly rivalry prevailed, each player yielding in turn to the other.

Sonata No 9 ("Kreutzer") is a much more emphatic work and better suited to the natural forcefulness of Anthony Byrne's playing, and Alan Smale on the violin strengthened his tone to make a good match.