麻豆社

Live from Wigmore Hall, London

Presented by Louise Fryer

Since emerging from Soviet Russia in the 1970s, Elisabeth Leonskaja has become one of the most celebrated pianists of our time, winning audiences across the world with performances of great depth and intelligence. Today she performs two works with literary inspiration: Schumann's collection of minature 'Butterflies' is derived from the final scene from Jean Paul's novel 'Flegeljahre' which is set at a masked ball and tells of unfulfilled love and psychological transformations which are echoed in the musical transformations of the piece. The second of Liszt's Petrach Sonnets also takes a literary starting point in the poetry of the 14th-century Italian humanist whose 104th Sonnet bemoans an unattainable love. The Tchaikovsky Grand Sonata which ends the recital has no extra-musical inspiration but this 30-minute work of symphonic proportions should really be better known and in the hands of Leonskaja has surely found a ready and persuasive advocate.

Schumann: Papillons Op 2
Liszt: Petrarch Sonnet No. 104 from 'Ann茅es de p猫lerinage, deuxi猫me ann茅e, Italie'
Tchaikovsky: Grand Sonata in G major Op 37

Elisabeth Leonskaja (piano).