Showtime and serenity

Piano virtuosos of the 19^th century

We’re in the 19^th century. Clara Schumann is a lioness on the piano and has an impressive career as a solo pianist. With her world-class playing, she tours throughout Europe, inventing the piano recital as we know it on the side. She also composes pieces, but at an early age her husband hinders her from writing more music. Who knows what else would have been possible…

Composer Johannes Brahms is head over heels for her. An impossible love: Clara is married to Robert Schumann. However, his muse did inspire Brahms to write the masterful short pieces that he dedicated to her and that you will hear tonight. You can hear a love-struck Brahms, but attentive listeners will also notice a modern Brahms approaching the end of his life: do we hear hints of Schönberg? 

Of course, we would be remiss to exclude that other composer and master of keys, Franz Liszt. Like Clara Schumann, his concerts and virtuosic playing make him one of the founders of the piano concert. Although he started his career with neigh-impossible feats on the piano, his later work is defined by a remarkable quietude. Enrico Pace, winner of the Liszt competition and highly appreciated pianist on the Dutch stage, is the ideal interpreter for tonight’s program.