Beethoven’s Pathétique Sonata and some monumental Liszt frames the ravishing sound world of Debussy’s piano music.
This recital begins with one of Beethoven’s most popular sonatas and ends with a monumental concert piece by Liszt – its difficulty and emotional range suggested by the fact that the composer later arranged it for two pianos as “Concerto Pathetique”.
At the heart of this program is an evocation of the moon. Debussy sets the scene with his famous Clair de lune before introducing ruined temples, mysterious watchers gathered in contemplation of the beauty of the night, and – in his ballet Jeux – a nocturnal game of tennis. And Wagner’s transcendent music from Tristan und Isolde tenderly summons the oblivion that can be found only in the “realm of night”.
“Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s flexible virtuosity and innate grasp of Debussy’s style and sound world yields ravishing, freshly minted interpretations…”
Gramophone
BEETHOVEN Pathétique Sonata, Op.13
DEBUSSY
Clair de lune (from Suite bergamasque)
Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fût (from Images, Series 2)
La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune (from Préludes, Book 2)
WAGNER arr. Liszt Isolde’s Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde
DEBUSSY arr. Bavouzet Jeux
LISZT Grand solo de concert, S176
Pre-concert talk by Robert Murray at 6.15pm in the First Floor Reception Room
Hear Jean-Efflam Bavouzet play Liszt’s Second Piano Concerto on 3, 4, 5 March.