Beethoven is a towering figure in Western Music; his music represents the ultimate realisation of one tradition and the explosive birth of another. Rediscover his work with Jean-Bernard Pommier & Maurice Bourgue at King's Place from the 22nd April to the 30th May.

 

Kings Place

90  York Way, Islington,  London,  N1 9AG

WEDNESDAY 22 – SUNDAY 26 APRIL BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED: WEEK SIX

Beethoven is a towering figure in Western music; his music represents the ultimate realisation of one tradition and the explosive birth of another. But his was not just a revolution on the public stage; some of his most radical inspirations are contained in his music for solo piano or string quartet. As Beethoven Unwrapped, Kings Place’s own eight-week exploration of the composer’s chamber music, reaches its sixth week the focus is on his sublime music for wind ensemble, including rarely-performed gems. For these three concerts the legendary French oboist Maurice Bourgue will be joined by a stellar group of European instrumentalists. Jean-Bernard Pommier reaches the tumultuous Appassionata in his sonata cycle, Peter Cropper gives an inimitable lecture recital and there’s a chance to catch legendary Beethoven performances on film.

CONCERT LISTINGS:

THURSDAY 23 APRIL

WORKSHOP BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED: WEEK SIX MASTERCLASS WITH JEAN-BERNARD POMMIER

Distinguished French pianist Jean-Bernard Pommier works on one of the piano sonatas that he will be performing on Friday with a conservatoire-level student.

Hall One 7pm £5.50

MUSIC BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED: WEEK SIX MUSIC FOR WINDS 1 Maurice Bourgue and friends Sergio Azzolini fagot Peter Watkins horn Maurice Bourgue will be joined by Carolin Widmann, violin; Hariof Schlichtig, viola; Christoph Richter, cello and Graham Mitchell, bass for the magnificent Septet, a violin concerto in all but name.

Plus a rare opportunity to hear the unfinished Quintet for oboe, bassoon and three horns.

Hall One 7.30pm £15.50, £20.50, £25.50 Saver Seat £9.50

FRIDAY 24 APRIL

MUSIC BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED: WEEK SIX THE PIANO SONATAS 6 Jean-Bernard Pommier piano

Jean-Bernard Pommier reaches the earth-shattering Appassionata Sonata, followed by the serene and heartfelt Les Adieux.

Hall One 7.30pm £17.50, £25.50, £32.50 Saver Seat £9.50

SATURDAY 25 APRIL

WORKSHOP BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED: WEEK SIX STUDY DAY: THE CHAMBER MUSIC

Violinist Peter Cropper shares a lifetime of playing experience with the audience, giving illustrated talks on the violin sonatas and the performance of the string quartets. In the afternoon, Professor Barry Cooper explores the extraordinary originality of the string quartets.

St Pancras Room 10.30am – 4.30pm £37.50 Refreshments and lunch included in ticket price

FILM BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED: WEEK SIX BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED ON FILM: SYMPHONY NO. 4

Symphony No. 4 Boston Symphony Orchestra, dir: Charles Münch USA 1961 (35 mins)

Triple Concerto Martha Argerich, Renaud & Gautier Capuçon, Flanders SO/Alexandre Rabinovitch France 2005 (36 mins) A warmly spontaneous performance of Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony by the Boston players, Martha Argerich in the Triple Concerto.

Hall One 11.30am £5.50

BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED: WEEK SIX MUSIC FOR WINDS 2

Maurice Bourgue and friends Sergo Azzolini fagot Peter Watkins horn The Octet, with its beautifully clear, classical unfolding, is partnered with the richly textured Sextet and the plangent French Horn Sonata, Op. 17 in F. The Trio Op. 11 is played by Laia Masramon, piano; Christoph Richter, cello and Maximiliano Martin, clarinet.

Hall One 7.30pm £15.50, £20.50, £25.50 Saver Seat £9.50

SUNDAY 26 APRIL

MUSIC BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED: WEEK SIX MUSIC FOR WINDS 3

Maurice Bourgue and friends Sergo Azzolini fagot Peter Watkins horn A menu of rare delights, from the Duet for Clarinet and Bassoon and a Trio for two Oboes and Horn. Cor anglais player Rosie Staniforth joins oboists Maurice Bourgue and Gordon Hunt.

Hall One 11.30am £9.50

 

WEDNESDAY 27 MAY – SATURDAY 30 MAY BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED: WEEK 7

Beethoven is a towering figure in Western music; his music represents the ultimate realisation of one tradition and the explosive birth of another. But his was not just a revolution on the public stage; some of his most radical inspirations are contained in his chamber music. In the penultimate week of Kings Place’s eight-week Beethoven Unwrapped series, Christoph Richter and Dénes Várjon tackle the music for cello and piano, including the first two Sonatas and the sparkling sets of variations on themes by Handel and Mozart. There will also be a chance to see legendary cellists perform the same repertoire on film, and Kenneth Hamilton gives a lively lecture recital on the evolution of the piano through Beethoven's lifetime to the present day."

WEDNESDAY 27 MAY

 FILM BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED: WEEK 7 BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED ON FILM: ARTURO BENEDETTI MICHELANGELI Sonata No. 11, Op.22.

Dir. Janos Darvas 1981 (15 mins) Sonata No. 32, Op. 111, Germany 1970 (20 mins) Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15, Vienna SO/Guilini Austria (36 mins) The elusive Italian pianist gives a fascinating account of Op. 111, and the concerto shows the dynamic collaboration between him and the ever-expressive Guilini.

Hall One, 7pm, £5.50

THURSDAY 28 MAY

MUSIC BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED: WEEK 7 MASTERCLASS WITH JEAN-BERNARD POMMIER

Jean-Bernard Pommier piano ‘The destiny of the man through his music’ Distinguished French pianist Jean-Bernard Pommier works on one of the piano sonatas that he will be performing on Friday with a conservatoire-level student.

Hall Two, 7.00pm, £5.50

MUSIC BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED: WEEK 7 THE CELLO SONATAS 1

Christoph Richter cello Dénes Várjon piano A renowned European duo present the early Sonatas for cello and piano, along with the delightful variations on themes from Handel’s Judas Maccabeus and Mozart’s Magic Flute.

Hall One, 7.30pm, £22.50, £17.50, £12.50 Saver Seat £9.50

FRIDAY 29 MAY

MUSIC BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED: WEEK 7 THE PIANO SONATAS 7 Jean-Bernard Pommier piano

The French pianist scales the giddy heights of one of Beethoven’s most challenging works, Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 – the Hammerklavier.

Hall One, 7.30pm, £32.50, £25.50, £17.50 Saver Seat £9.50

SATURDAY 30 MAY

MUSIC BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED: WEEK 7 STUDY DAY: THE UNKNOWN BEETHOVEN – SONGS, FOLKSONGS AND TENTH SYMPHONY

Paul Reid, author of the Beethoven Song Companion, will speak about collecting the lieder, while lieder expert Amanda Glauert explores ways of understanding these little-known works. In the afternoon Barry Cooper investigates the strange history of Beethoven’s folksong settings and he concludes the day with an examination of the legendary Tenth Symphony and other unfinished works.

St Pancras Room 10.30am – 4.30pm, £37.50 (refreshments and lunch included in the ticket price)

MUSIC BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED: WEEK 7 BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED ON FILM: CELLO Sonata No. 1, Op. 5, No. 1

Mstislav Rostropovich with Sjvatoslav Richter BBC/Idéale audience, 1964 (22 mins) Sonate No, 2 Op. 5 No 2 Jacqueline Du Pré with Daniel Barenboïm France 1970 (25 mins) Sonate No. 3, Op. 69 Paul Tortelier with Sergio Lorenzi France, 1969 (26 mins) Three great cellists of the 20thcentury.

Hall One, 11.30am, £5.50

MUSIC BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED: WEEK 7 BEETHOVEN’S PIANOS

Kenneth Hamilton piano and lecturer How did Beethoven’s piano music actually sound on instruments of his own day compared to those of today? Using a selection of historical and modern pianos, renowned pianist and scholar Kenneth Hamilton will lead his audience through the dramatically differing sound worlds of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.

Hall One, 7.30pm, £22.50, £17.50, £12.50 Saver Seat £9.50

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