Kreutzer Sonata

Kreutzer Sonata is the name of three different works of art.

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• In 1802, Beethoven published his Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major. It was very briefly known as the Bridgetower Sonata, named after the half-Polish half-West Indian violinist George Bridgetower (1779 - 1860) who performed with Beethoven at the premiere. However, after the performance, while the two were drinking, Bridgetower insulted the morals of a woman who turned out to be Beethoven's friend. Enraged, Beethoven changed the name of the piece to the Kreutzer Sonata, dedicating the piece to Rudolphe Kreutzer, considered the finest violinist of the day. Ironically, Kreutzer never performed it, and considered it unplayable.
• In 1889, Leo Tolstoy published a short story entitled The Kreutzer Sonata, using the Beethoven piece as an example of how people can be led astray by their unruly passions.
• The latter story in turn gave rise to Leos Janacek?s first string quartet.