Photo Paul Mitchell
BEETHOVEN PREMIERE AT POTTON HALL
Fresh from receiving his latest Gramophone award, for his recording of the Ravel concertos and Debussy’s Fantasie, the charismatic French pianist, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, returns to Potton Hall for the next installment in his series of Beethoven sonata performances.
Last year Jean-Efflam gave an unforgettable recital at Potton Hall including Beethoven’s Pathétique Sonata and this time he will play the three sonatas of Beethoven’s Op.10.
Jean-Efflam will also give the first public performance of an earlier version of the first of these sonatas, including a discarded scherzo and an expanded version of the finale. This first sonata of the Op.10 sets an intense, dramatic work in the significant key of C Minor. These are highly contrasting works, beginning with the intense drama of the first, in the significant key of C minor in which the shadow of fate – alias Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony – is never far away. The second of the sonatas is more relaxed, even humorous and tongue-in-cheek at times and the Op.10 set is crowned by the grand and magnificent third sonata, one of the young Beethoven’s greatest achievements.
Jean-Efflam has recently had great reviews for the latest CDs in his Haydn project, all recorded at Potton Hall: “These performances sound natural, appropriate and in perfect structural and expressive proportion… Bavouzet’s recordings have a strong claim to be the finest Haydn playing of recent vintage on modern piano. They are the work of an insightful musician of profound culture and wide interests, whose intellectual and emotional identification with Haydn is unreserved, and whose playing, beautifully captured in technical terms, is a delight to listen to.” (International Record Review, April 2011).
“Bavouzet is perhaps the ideal pianist for Haydn: his clarity of touch, quickness of wit and sensitivity to different soundworlds make him an empathetic interpreter… Just the finesse and vibrancy we’ve come to expect from this superb artist.” (Classic FM Magazine, June 2011)
“Cleanly precise, sure-fingered yet beautifully delicate, Bavouzet warms the heart with his humour and gentle passion… A recording worth rushing to the shops for.” (Haydn: Sonatas Vol. 3 – Classic FM Magazine, November 2011)
Jean-Efflam has recently recorded Debussy’s early Piano Trio at Potton Hall with members of the Brodsky Quartet and produced by Jeremy Hayes and after this concert he will record these three Beethoven sonatas for forthcoming release on the Chandos label.
This concert should be unmissable!
Programme:
Sonata in C minor, Op.10 No.1
Sonata in C minor, Op.10 No.1 (first performance of early version)
Sonata in F, Op.10 No.2
Sonata in D, Op.10 No.3
Tickets are £15 and can be booked online here or by calling the box office 01728 885 650. Also available from Focus Organic, Halesworth and Serendipity, Southwold