大象传媒

Live from Cosmo Rodewald Hall, Manchester

Presented by Tom Redmond

As part of Piano Season on the 大象传媒, Korean pianist Sunwook Kim kicks off the first of six Monday night Live In Concerts with a recital of piano sonatas by Beethoven and Schubert.

Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas are considered by many as the pinnacle of keyboard writing - both for the technical demands they make on the performer and for the depth of Beethoven's musical utterances. Written between 1795 and 1822, they comprise one of the most important collections of works in the history of music. The conductor Hans von B眉low even called them "The New Testament" of music, with Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier being "The Old Testament". Being suitable for both private and public performance, Beethoven's sonatas form a bridge between the worlds of the salon and the concert hall.

The Beethoven baton was picked up by Franz Schubert, who contributed more than twenty of his own sonatas to the oeuvre. The Sonata in A major, D.959, is one of the last pieces he ever wrote, and is full of turbulence and drama, which perhaps points to the emotional turmoil in the composer's life due to his failing health.

Sunwook Kim came to international recognition when he won the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition in 2006, aged just 18. The competition's youngest winner for 40 years, as well as its first Asian winner, his performance for the finals unanimous praise from the press and led to concerto engagements with some of the world's finest orchestras as well as recitals throughout Europe.

Beethoven: Sonata in A flat major, Op.26
Beethoven: Sonata in C sharp minor, Op.27'2 "Moonlight"

Sunwook Kim (piano).