Sasha is beginning her collaborative recital with three Rachmaninoff Etudes-Tableaux, Nos. 7, 8 and 9 from Op. 33 in E-flat major, G minor ad C-sharp minor respectively. Love these Etudes. They display the harmonies and haunting melodies that are so typical and wonderful in Rachmanioff's writing. They also display his incredible pianistic virtuosity. Gorgeous and challenging works. Sasha's rendering of these pieces is sensitive and forceful to meet the requirements of each one. Great opening pieces for her.
We are going to be graced again with the first movement of Brahms' Sonata for cello and piano in E minor, Op. 38. Collaborating with Sasha is cellist Scott Tisdel of the MSO. Both musicians are demonstrating sensitive playing. This movement has an under-lying intensity sustained throughout. In places, the music opens up into a passionate out-pouring of emotion, only to return to the quiet yearning that opens the movement. This yearning is resolved as quietly as it began. The form is the standard sonata-allegro form.
The first movement of Mendelssohn's first piano concert in G minor, Op. 25 is next! So excited. I love this concerto. Pianist Martha Fischer will be playing the orchestral reduction. Sasha had this to say about the work as a whole and the movement she is playing for us today: Mendelssohn composed this concerto in 1831. He told his family it was hastily and carelessly done. Sasha disagrees. :) I second her opinion. But to continue, this concerto is considered to be the first truly Romantic concerto. Rather than opening with a long orchestral tutti in which the first theme is introduced, the orchestra has a brief opening, like a drum roll, androgen the piano enters with vim and vigor introducing g the first theme. Sasha has some absolutely marvelous finger-work and turn aroids at the tops of scales and arpeggios are beautiful.
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