Another contestant not wasting her time this morning getting down to business. Knoll is opening her program with the Allegro inquieto movement I of Prokofiev's Sonata No. 7 in B-flat major, Op. 83. Strong performance. Knoll is demanding our attention through her playing. Before starting, she shared with us that this sonata was a war-time sonata. Prokofiev did not want to write it, but was forced to by Stalin. It is angular, lyrical in places and jarring as is Prokofiev's style.
Up next, the Allegro con brio movement I of Beethoven's Sonata for violin and piano in C minor, Op. 22. Violinist Timothy Klabunde is joining Knoll for this piece. Knoll is once again showing her ownership of the piece. The collaboration between the two is excellent. Well done.
To close her collaborative program, Knoll is playing the first movement (Andante sostenuto) of Saint-Saens Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 with pianist, Martha Fischer. Knoll provided some insight into the composer and concerto: Saint-Saens was a man of many talents. He was a philosopher, pianist, organist, etc. he was influenced by Bach and this concerto shows it in the use of a pedal point and a fugue-like opening theme. This concerto deviates slightly from the norm in that the soloist brings in the orchestra as opposed to the traditional bringing in of the soloist by the orchestra. Both pianists are doing a fabulous job.
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