All-Beethoven/Brahms Chamber Faculty Concert

Sunday, March 6, 2016

3:00 p.m.

Wilson Hall/Concert Hall

 All-Beethoven/Brahms Chamber Faculty Concert by Leslie Nichols, clarinet; Julia Goudimova, cello; Bryan W. Petty, piano and Shuko Watanabe, piano.

Spring and Romance come together at the all-Beethoven/Brahms chamber faculty recital.  The program features early and middle period Beethoven as well as early and late works by Johannes Brahms. Julia Goudimova, cello, and Dr. Shuko Watanabe, piano, perform Ludwig von Beethoven’s early Op. 5 Sonata for piano and violoncello in the first half and are joined by Les Nichols, clarinet, in the second half in the Brahms' Trio Op. 114 for clarinet, cello, and piano. These pieces are each preceded with works of an extra-Romantic nature performed by pianist Byron Petty—the Andante Favori and Andante espressivo.

The Andante Favori – so named by Beethoven – was originally intended for his famous Waldstein Sonata Op. 53 for piano solo. However, he pulled it just before publication and dedicated it to Countess Josephine Brunsvick. For the young 29 year old Ludwig, this was the beginning of a secretive three year relationship with the recently widowed Countess.

Brahms composed his early Sonata for piano No. 3, Op. 5 at the tender age of 20. The third movement Andante espressivo, which he often performed as a separate movement, is headed with the following romantic verse by C.O. Sternau:              

                  Through evening’s shade the pale moon gleams,

                            While, rapt in loves ecstatic dreams,

                            Two hearts are fondly beating.

You are invited share in Beethoven and Brahms' personal worlds of Romance.

No tickets are required.