An experienced early-keyboard specialist brings his expertise to the ‘New Testament’ of the piano repertoire. ‘Period’ performances of Beethoven sonatas have become relatively mainstream during the present century, through artists such as Robert Levin and Ronald Brautigam. Through them, we have learnt, or rediscovered, that the turns of phrase in Beethoven’s musical thinking take on a particular shape and agility when played and heard on the kind of instrument for which he was writing. All the same, most modern fortepianos are exactly that: modern. In this bold new project, Simone Pierini presents the first nine of Beethoven’s sonatas – from Op.2 to Op.10 – on fully original instruments of the period. These instruments are identified as the work of piano-makers Johann Haselmann (end of 18th centuryearly 19th century), Matthias Müller (1822) and Conrad Graf (1830).