Julius Berger / José Gallardo

The 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven was celebrated this year in the world of classical music. As a composer, he was a visionary whose fame spread far beyond the borders of his home country. With his compositions for piano and cello, he not only established a musical genre, but also drew attention to the tonal qualities of the string instrument, which later became increasingly established as a solo instrument. His works for piano and cello were almost a permanent feature of his musical life, thus enabling us to build up a profound understanding of his evolution as a composer and a human being.

In the course of the commemorations held in honour of Beethoven, Julius Berger and José Gallardo added their names to the chorus of celebrations, reproducing all of his original works for piano and cello on the two-disc CD Beethoven: Complete Works for Piano & Cello (2020, Solo Musica). These works were placed in the best possible hands, with two world-renowned and award-winning personalities being joined together, two figures who, more than any others, have shaped our musical and cultural heritage, both as musicians and teachers. For both Margarita Höhenrieder and Julius Berger, Beethoven is a musical god and they have devoted much of their lives to the study of his works: “We climb a steep path, in order to approach Beethoven more closely. The summit of this path is visible, but not attainable. That is why we keep returning to this path, endless as it is.”