Ludwig van Beethoven Kakadu Variations in G major Op. 121a Beethoven’s Kakadu Variations comprise an introduction and 10 variations on a popular theme from the Viennese stage. It has a compositional history that extends over more than two decades, with a … Continue reading
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In this week's e-news we talk about fundraising in these strange Covid times, and we share a moving testimonial about legacy giving from VRS subscriber and donor Rick Carswell. Plus, pianist Stephen Hough is advocating for the end of intermission at concerts (which is sure to be a little bit controversial). Read it all here: bit.ly/3lyXBu3
We have a new Beyond the Concert Hall video to share... this week Leila chats with trombonist Peter Moore, who was supposed to make his Canadian debut on our series earlier this month. Plus, Yo-Yo Ma has a new album coming out, appropriately titled 'Songs of Comfort and Hope'. And, as always, we're sharing the music we're listening to right now. All in this week's e-news: bit.ly/2J6F1Md
In this week's e-news, we're sharing a video of Paul Lewis playing Beethoven’s 4th Piano Concerto with the Oslo Philharmonic under the baton of Spanish conductor Juanjo Mena. Balm for the soul. bit.ly/3fe9SCl
Program Notes: Lucas & Arthur Jussen
Posted onJohann Sebastian Bach Three Chorale Preludes (arr. György Kurtág) The chorale, a hymn setting of pious verse in simple note values, was a central element in Lutheran liturgical practice, whether sung in unison by the congregation, in four-part harmony by … Continue reading
Program Notes: George and Andrew Li
Posted onWolfgang Amadeus Mozart Sonata in D major K. 381 for Piano Duet In the 1760s, when Wolfgang & his sister Nannerl were touring Europe as child prodigies, the keyboard duet was a popular novelty item on their programs, one that … Continue reading
Program Notes: Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason
Posted onLudwig van Beethoven 12 Variations on “Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen” from The Magic Flute Op. 66 Beethoven’s set of variations on a theme from Mozart’s Magic Flute features twelve sharply chiselled operatic duets between piano and cello, widely differentiated in … Continue reading
Program Notes: Danish String Quartet
Posted onJohann Sebastian Bach The Well-Tempered Clavier Book I Fugue No. 16 in G minor BWV 861 (arr. Förster) If you have ever happened to see one of those cooking shows in which a chef is challenged to create an entire … Continue reading
Program Notes: Z.E.N. Trio
Posted onFranz Schubert Notturno in E-flat major Op. 148 Schubert’s Adagio for Piano Trio D 897 was composed in 1827 but only published decades later, under the publisher’s title Notturno. And indeed, the opening section does conjure up images of nighttime … Continue reading
Program notes: Nikki and Timmy Chooi and Angela Cheng
Posted onClaude Debussy Sonata in G minor for violin and piano The sound of Debussy’s music confounded many of his contemporaries. From a tonal point of view, it floated in stasis in a world of pastel sounds that arrived at their … Continue reading
PROGRAM NOTES: TETZLAFF-TETZLAFF-VOGT TRIO
Posted onWolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Trio No. 1 in B-flat Major K 502 The piano trio developed out of the ‘accompanied’ keyboard sonata, a makeshift compositional genre that attempted to compensate for the weak ‘tinkly’ tone of the early fortepiano (forerunner … Continue reading
Program notes: Andrew Tyson
Posted onAlban Berg Sonata Op. 1 The tonal system in use throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, from Bach to Tchaikovsky, was predicated on the understanding that pieces would be in a home key – from which they would depart, and to … Continue reading
Program Notes: Jonathan Roozeman
Posted onLuigi Boccherini Sonata in A major G 4 Luigi Boccherini was perhaps the greatest cellist of the 18th century, and like his compatriot of a previous generation, Domenico Scarlatti, he spent the most active portion of his professional life at … Continue reading