Blue Griffin Recording releases Beethoven Piano Sonatas Nos. 1–4, 19, 20

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BLUE GRIFFIN RECORDING RELEASES YOUNG HYUN CHO’S BEETHOVEN PIANO SONATAS NOS. 1-4, 19, 20

A BRILLIANT NEW INTERPRETATION OF BEETHOVEN’S EARLY MASTERWORKS BY AN INTERNATIONALLY CELEBRATED PIANIST

LANSING, MI - On November 14, 2025, Blue Griffin Recording releases Beethoven Piano Sonatas Nos. 1–4, 19, 20 [BGR705], a captivating double album from acclaimed pianist Young Hyun Cho. Recorded at Blue Griffin’s Studio The Ballroom in Lansing, Michigan, this collection captures the full breadth of Beethoven’s early creative spirit, from the fiery drama of his F minor Sonata, Op. 2 No. 1 to the tender lyricism of the G major Sonata, Op. 49 No. 2. These six sonatas mark Beethoven’s emergence as a revolutionary voice in the late 18th century, spanning his first compositional period and showcasing his transformation of the piano sonata into a vehicle of profound expression and technical innovation. Cho’s interpretations are marked by impeccable technique, clarity of articulation, and expressive insight, traits that have earned her worldwide critical praise. “Cho would appear to be the perfect pianist for the project, given her impeccable technique and the clarity of expression and articulation,” notes Textura magazine, which has lauded her performances across Classical, Romantic, and contemporary repertoire.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

- Sonatas Nos. 1–3, Op. 2: Beethoven’s bold declaration of artistic independence, dedicated to his teacher Joseph Haydn.

- Sonata No. 4, Op. 7 “Grand Sonata”: Expansive and symphonic in scale, revealing Beethoven’s growing ambition.

- Sonatas Nos. 19 & 20, Op. 49 “Leichte Sonaten”: Intimate, lyrical works of Classical grace, designed for personal enjoyment and reflection.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Young Hyun Cho has performed throughout the world, from the Vienna Musikverein to the Berlin Philharmonic Concert Hall, from the Smetana Hall in Prague to the Solti Hall of the Liszt Academy in Budapest, and at the Seoul Arts Center in her native Korea. Young Hyun has appeared as a soloist with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, Euro Sinfonietta Wien, Filarmonica della Calabria of Italy, North Czech Philharmonic Teplice, Budapest Symphony Chamber Orchestra M.A.V ., Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic, Korean Broadcasting System Symphony Orchestra, Korean Symphony Orchestra, Seoul National Symphony Orchestra, and the Eastman Symphony Orchestra. She is an associate professor of piano at Michigan State University College of Music, following her tenure as an associate professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. Young Hyun's recordings have received worldwide critical praise: The music publication Textura noted that "Cho's complete set of Beethoven's sonatas would be well worth requiring," "She impresses whether she's playingsomething from the Classical, Romantic, or contemporary repertoire," and "Cho would appear to be the perfect pianist for the project, given her impeccable technique and the clarity of expression and articulation." A composer and critic, Steven Kennedy, lauded her "great command of dynamic shading" and "precision of the performances," and Fanfare music magazine praised newspaper in Germany described her live concert as a "blessed interpreter of Beethoven," noting "the strength and fullness of her touch, the sensitively rendered legati of the cantilena were alive with expressiveness, passion, and temperament." She was born into a non-musical family in Korea and introduced to Western classical music at a young age. Her father, an anesthesiologist with a passion for classical music, sparked her love for the piano. After her formative years at Yewon School, Seoul Arts High School, and Seoul National University in Seoul, she continued her musical journey in the United States. She earned her Master of Music and Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music. Young Hyun's personal life is as vibrant as her professional life. She is married to the distinguished nuclear physicist Dean Lee, head of theoretical nuclear science at Michigan State University and the founder of the Advanced Studies Gateway program at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). Together, they direct the FRIB Concert Series as part of the Advanced Studies Gateway. Deeply compassionate animal advocates, they share their home with three rescue dogs and a cat. She speaks English and Korean and enjoys swimming and exploring new languages in her spare time.

ALBUM DETAILS

Label: Blue Griffin Recording

Catalog #: BGR705

Total Time: CD1 – 78:32 | CD2 – 48:14

Release Date: November 14, 2025

Producer/Engineer: Sergei Kvitko

Recorded at: The Ballroom, Lansing MI

Graphic Design: Eleonora Machado

Listen to the album: www.bluegriffin.com

For more information, interviews, or review copies, please contact:

Ari Gayer

Email: ari.gayer@bluegriffin.com

Website: www.bluegriffin.com