Martin Roscoe

Beethoven and Improvisation

Programme:
Beethoven - 3 Bagatelles
Schubert - Impromptus D.935 no.2&3
Beethoven - Sonata in C minor op.13 "Pathetique"
Fauré - Impromptus no.1&2
Chopin - Impromptu no.2 in F sharp op.36
Chopin - Fantaisie-Impromptu op.66
Beethoven - Sonata no.31 in A flat major, op.110

Beethoven's reputation as a pianist and improviser was even greater at the beginning of his time in Vienna than his reputation as a composer, so I thought it would be interesting to compare two of his sonatas and three shorter pieces by him with some Impromptus by the very different composers Schubert, Chopin and Fauré, specifically to show the ways in which all four composers used formal structures and yet still managed to give the impression of freedom and chance. The title Impromptu was first used by the Czech composer Voříšek for short character pieces for piano, and Schubert quickly adopted it and made it his own. The Beethoven sonatas in the programme are two of his very greatest and are from each end of his compositional life.

Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall
Tickets: £20
£18 (advance saver - available until 13 November)
FREE - Students and Under 16s

Martin Roscoe will be taking a masterclass in the afternoon before this concert which is free for all to attend. Click here for further details.

This concert has been sponsored by a member of FUAM and is dedicated to the memory of Chris Sheppard.