Onslow's Sonata No.2 in c minor is the second of a set of three he composed in the early 1820's. It was dedicated to his friend the French cellist Louis Norblin and achieved considerable success, remaining in the repertoire throughout the 19th century. Onslow himself to increase the marketability of the works added a viola part in lieu of the cello, which works equally well. The well-known music critic and connoisseur Johann Friedrich Rochlitz reviewed the sonatas calling them highly original and deeply sensitive, stating that the passion and at time vehemence reminded him of him of Beethoven's Op.18 quartets. The work begins with an Allegro espressivo and is followed by a Minuetto allegretto, more in the nature of a scherzo. A lyrical Adagio reminded Rochlitz of Spohr. The finale is a clever Allegretto.
Perhaps no composer, more than George Onslow (1784-1853), illustrates the fickleness of fame. His chamber music was, during his own lifetime and up to the end of the 19th century, held in the highest regard, particularly in Germany, Austria and England where he was regularly placed in the front rank of composers. His work was admired by both Beethoven and Schubert. Mendelssohn and Schumann both regarded Onslow’s chamber music on a par with that of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. Publishers competed to bring out his works. However, after the First World War, his music, along with that of so many other fine composers, fell into oblivion and up until 1984, the bicentennial of his birth, he remained virtually unknown. Since then, his music, to the delight of players and listeners alike, is slowly being rediscovered, played and recorded.
Onslow was an excellent cellist as well as a fine pianist and these sonatas bear proof to that fact as the writing for both instruments is superb. It is not an exaggeration to note that these sonatas are superior to the cello sonatas of Beethoven because the cello is treated as an equal partner. These are not sonatas for piano with cello accompaniment, something which might said of Beethoven's. Highly recommended.
