Of Beethoven's five cello sonatas, the Grande Sonate op. 69, published in 1809, is not only the centerpiece, but also musically the most significant. The artful coupling of the two instruments is on display from the outset in analmost programmatic manner, when the cello with its tenor timbre first intones a melody that the piano then continues. In this sonata, too, Beethoven dispenses with a slow movement while nevertheless compensating us with anenchanting Adagio cantabile introduction to the f