Programme:
Liszt. Selection of Schubert’s song transcriptions for piano
“The Wanderer” S 558/11
“The Erlking” S 558/4
“Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel” S 558/8
“Serenade” S 558/9

Prokofiev. “Pastoral Sonatina” Op. 59/3
Prokofiev. Piano Sonata no 8 in B-flat Major Op. 84

Prokofiev composed his 8th Piano Sonata during the challenging 1940s. It is considered the last of the three so-called “war sonatas” (sonatas no. 6-8) and is the grandest and emotionally overwhelming in scale, reflecting the echoes of war from afar. This somber yet major-key sonata envelops the listener from the first notes and guides them through three sections of a grand, alarming finale.

Before the eighth sonata, I perform “Pastoral Sonatina”, which is written in the composer’s favourite key – C major. However, this short and beautiful ear-candy hides a hint of the dark times already on the way.

 At these nerve-wracking times, the human spirit may crave immediate intimate connection the most. This can be fulfilled by Liszt’s piano transcriptions of Schubert’s deeply personal songs, performed at the start of the concert.

Age Juurikas

One intermission, duration 1 h 40 min