Daniel Barenboim
Sep. 6th, 2009 06:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
zalenaThis article about Daniel Barenboim caught my attention in the Financial Times this week. First, because it was in the FT, (which my boss subscribes too, but fails to read) but also because it's about Barenboim's political activism of which I was unaware.
I saw Barenboim on his last Complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas tour. My Swiss cubemate and I went to see him at Carnegie Hall and ended up in the front row. It was transcendent, and perhaps this is where my Beethoven obsession starts... though I think 'rediscovered' is a better word, since currently Beethoven feels like a thread running through my life. My brother even pointed out how much I enjoyed playing Beethoven, and I told him I've considered returning to the piano sheerly for the joy of playing Beethoven.
Note: I am not a very good pianist. My Swiss cubemate was quite accomplished. But even sitting in the front row neither of us could even aspire to touch the hem of Barenhoim.
That night he played:
Sonata No 9 in E Major, Op 14, No 1 (1798)
Sonata No 4 in E-Flat Major, Op 7 (1796-7)
This has always been a favorite of mine because my mother used to play it when I was very small.
Sonata No 22 in F-Major, Op 54 (1804)
Sonata No 32 in C Minor, Op 111 (1821-2)
It was the last that really got to me that evening. It is also known as 'Beauty & the Beast' for its contrasting themes, but I didn't know that until later.
I saw Barenboim on his last Complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas tour. My Swiss cubemate and I went to see him at Carnegie Hall and ended up in the front row. It was transcendent, and perhaps this is where my Beethoven obsession starts... though I think 'rediscovered' is a better word, since currently Beethoven feels like a thread running through my life. My brother even pointed out how much I enjoyed playing Beethoven, and I told him I've considered returning to the piano sheerly for the joy of playing Beethoven.
Note: I am not a very good pianist. My Swiss cubemate was quite accomplished. But even sitting in the front row neither of us could even aspire to touch the hem of Barenhoim.
That night he played:
Sonata No 9 in E Major, Op 14, No 1 (1798)
Sonata No 4 in E-Flat Major, Op 7 (1796-7)
This has always been a favorite of mine because my mother used to play it when I was very small.
Sonata No 22 in F-Major, Op 54 (1804)
Sonata No 32 in C Minor, Op 111 (1821-2)
It was the last that really got to me that evening. It is also known as 'Beauty & the Beast' for its contrasting themes, but I didn't know that until later.
