Guest Artist Young-Hyun Cho: Solo Piano Recital Program


Sonata in E major No. 30, Op. 109 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
I. Vivace, ma non troppo – Adagio espressivo
II. Prestissimo
III. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung. Andanto molto cantabile ed espressivo


Estampes by Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
  I. Pagodes
II. Soirée dans Grenade
III. Jardins sous la pluie

Ballade No. 2, S. 171 by Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

[Intermission]

Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant Jesus by Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992)
I. Regard du Pére
II. Regard de l’étoile
IX. Regard de temps
XI. Premiére communion de la Vierge
XIII. Noël
X. Regard de l’Esprit de joie

Additional Notes:

Debussy, one of the most influential composers of the twentieth century, varies form and style in each of the three movements of Estampes. “Pagodas” has an East Asia flavor, incorporating Chinese and Japanese folk melodies, with percussion influenced by Javanese Gamelan. While “Pagodas” uses pentatonic scales, La soiree dans Grenade uses the Arabic scale to suggest the Spanish city of Grenada. Jardins sous la pluie uses French folk melodies, and chromatic scales.

Beethoven’s Sonata in E major No. 30, Op. 109 is one of his final half dozen sonata compositions. Like many of Beethoven’s last works, it is innovative and exploratory, as it refers to the past (the Baroque) and presages the modern.

  In addition to spanning the 19th and 20th centuries, three of these composers were also prominent keyboard players (Beethoven and Listz on piano, Messiaen on organ.) While also a pianist, Debussy was known more for his keyboard compositions.

  This year marks the 200th anniversary of Liszt’s birth, and the 150th of Debussy’s.