Beethoven's Complete Works for Piano: Part VII
Is Beethoven’s music great? How do we know? Piano department chair Bruce Brubaker encourages curious concertgoers to celebrate and reconsider Beethoven’s music and legacy.
75 NEC pianists present every work for piano that Beethoven ever wrote over the course of 13 recitals in spring and fall 2020. Hear well-known favorites like the “Moonlight” Sonata alongside rarely-performed works and decide for yourself: what does Beethoven mean today?
A virtuoso pianist himself, Beethoven composed dozens of works for the fortepiano, often making use of the new musical resources of the instrument as it developed rapidly throughout the composer’s lifetime. Approximately 1/3 of each concert program will feature rarely performed sets of variations that may offer insight into Beethoven’s own performances as an improviser.
The NEC Piano Department dedicates this Beethoven 2020 project to Distinguished Artist-in-Residence Russell Sherman who celebrates his ninetieth birthday in 2020. Mr. Sherman was the first American musician to record all of Beethoven’s piano sonatas and concertos. He has been a member of the New England Conservatory faculty since 1967.
WATCH CONCERT STREAM:
Beethoven's Complete Works for Piano:
PROGRAM SEVEN
Two Preludes through all twelve major keys, op. 39 (1789)
Artists- Xiaoye Wei, piano
Twenty-four variations on Vincenzo Righini's aria "Vieni amore", WoO 65
Artists- Yutong Sun, piano
Sonata No. 19 in G Minor, op. 49 no. 1 (1797)
I. Andante
II. AllegroArtists- Ziang Yin, piano
Sonata No. 20 in G Major, op. 49 no. 2 (1795-96)
I. Allegro ma non troppo
II. Tempo di MenuettoArtists- Tracy Tang, piano
Sonata No. 25 in G Major, op 79 (1809)
I. Presto alla tedesca
II. Andante
III. VivaceArtists- ZhuoYa Zhu, piano
Sonata No. 24 in F-sharp Major ("À Thérèse"), op. 78 (1809)
I. Adagio cantabile - Allegro ma non troppo
II. Allegro vivaceArtists- Boyi Fa, piano
Sonata quasi una fantasia in C-sharp Minor ("Moonlight"), op. 27 no. 2
I. Adagio sostenuto
II. Allegretto
III. Presto agitatoArtists- SongHyeon Kim, piano