CD 1:
12 Variations on “See, the Conqu’ring Hero Comes” from Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus, WoO 45
Sonata for Piano and Cello No. 1 in F, Op. 5/1
Sonata for Piano and Cello No. 2 in G minor, Op. 5/2

CD 2:
12 Variations on “Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen” from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Op. 66
Sonata for Piano with Horn or Cello in F, Op. 17
7 Variations on “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen” from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, WoO 46

CD 3:
Sonata for Piano and Cello No. 3 in A, Op. 69
Sonata for Piano and Cello No. 4 in C, Op. 102/1
Sonata for Piano and Cello No. 5 in D, Op. 102/2

Jennifer Kloetzel’s lifelong journey with Beethoven began early: she was eight years old when her teacher placed the composer’s second cello sonata on her music stand, opening the door to an odyssey of intrigue and, ultimately, obsession with the composer’s music. Since then, rarely has a day passed without Beethoven being a part of Jennifer’s life. She has studied and performed all the composer’s duos and trios. As founding cellist of the Cypress String Quartet, she spent 20 years rehearsing, performing, and recording the string quartets. Jennifer now arrives at a career milestone with this recording of Beethoven’s Complete Works for Cello and Piano.

Views vary as to what comprises Beethoven’s “complete” works for cello and piano. Jennifer’s discerning choice includes the five Sonatas for Cello and Piano, three sets of variations – based on arias from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus – and the Horn sonata for which the composer also wrote a cello part.

Jennifer spares no attention to detail across the entire spectrum of this significant recording project. Her performing partner Robert Koenig plays on a 19th century Blüthner concert grand piano. The illuminating liner notes are penned by Beethoven scholar William Meredith who boldly states, “if there were only the five cello sonatas of Beethoven left of all his music, these alone would have cemented his place in history.” The recording was made in the stellar acoustic of Skywalker Sound. The 3CD set is lavishly packaged in a deluxe digipack. The title track, “The Conquering Hero” – from the opening set of variations from Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus – evokes everything for Jennifer about Beethoven’s music, coming from a place of triumph and joy.

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Recorded: 26–28 August 2019 (Sonatas 3 & 4, Handel Variations), 16–18 December 2019 (Sonata No.2, Horn Sonata, 7 Mozart Variations), 8, 9, 11 September 2020 (Sonatas 1 & 5, 12 Mozart Variations), Skywalker Sound, a Lucasfilm Ltd company, Marin Country, CA