Chopin Plus - Beethoven & Chopin
In the year of the 200th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven's death, Pietro Massa dedicates himself to a program of extraordinary artistic density. Two of Beethoven's last piano sonatas, op. 109 and op. 110, meet the four ballades by Frédéric Chopin. Beethoven's late sonatas open up a space beyond the classical form. They are characterized by tonal concentration, inner contemplation and a language that takes us to the limits of what can be said. In them, music takes on an existential expressiveness, fragile, searching and of quiet grandeur. Chopin's four ballads are in no way inferior. They combine narrative power with poetic freedom and technical virtuosity. Each ballad unfolds its own world between drama and intimacy.
The juxtaposition of these works creates a field of tension of particular intensity. It is a program that not only touches the Olympus of piano literature, but also leads into a sphere that goes beyond the purely musical and opens up an experience of poetry and metaphysical depth. Pietro Massa presents this theme with a clear, unsentimental style and it is precisely this approach that makes the emotional depth of the music all the more immediate. His approach does not seek the external effect, but the inner truth of the works. In this way, listening itself becomes an experience.
PROGRAMME
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Sonata No. 30 in E major op. 109
I. Vivace ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo
II. Prestissimo
III. Singing, with the most heartfelt emotion. Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo
Sonata No. 31 in A flat major op. 110
I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
II. Allegro molto
III. Adagio ma non troppo - Fuga. Allegro ma non troppo
PAUSE
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Four Ballades No. 1 in G minor op. 23
No. 2 in F major op. 38
No. 3 in A flat major op. 47
No. 4 in F minor op. 52
Translated with DeepL
