At the time he composed this sonata, Beethoven was already struggling intensely against the handicap of his deafness. After his attack of deep despondency, accompanied by suicidal thoughts, his extraordinary vitality regained the upper hand. This renewed energy led first to his Sonata, op.53, dedicated to Count Ferdinand von Waldstein.

Schumann’s work Carnaval, op.9, is mischievously subtitled “Scènes mignonnes sur quatre notes” (delightful scenes on four notes). This is a reference to the four letters A-S-C-H, which make up the name of the birthplace (Asch) of Ernestine von Fricken, his sweetheart of the moment.

Jean-Nicolas Diatkine comes from a family of recognised doctors and considers commitment to others to be the basis of his profession. It seemed impossible for him to do without this basic attitude in the exercise of his profession, which is why he always sees his artistic development as a return to the essential artistic values to which he has devoted himself over the last thirty years.