David Finckel & Wu Han at Hertz Hall, November 20, 2016

Cal Performances presents David Finckel & Wu Han
2016-11-20
Hertz Hall
U.C. Berkeley, Bancroft Way at College Ave, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
3:00 PM, Sunday, November 20, 2016

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2016 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2016 event list! ☸ On to the next event!

• Bach: Sonata in G Major
• Beethoven: Sonata in C Major
• Brahms: Sonata in E Minor
• Rachmaninoff: Sonata in G Minor

[3:08 PM lights down, opening remarks from Wu Han; dead air; WH returns with DF to start the show]

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750): Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in G Major, BWV 1027 (c. 1736–41)

1. [3:11 PM] Adagio
2. [3:15 PM] Allegro ma non tanto
3. [3:18 PM] Andante
4. [3:20 PM] Allegro moderato
   [work ends 3:23 PM]

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827): Cello Sonata in C Major, Op. 102, No. 1 (1815)

1. [3:24 PM] Andante – Allegro vivace
2. [3:33 PM] Adagio – Tempo d’andante – Allegro vivace
   [work ends 3:38 PM]

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897): Cello Sonata no. 1, in E minor, Op. 38 (1862–65)

1. [3:40 PM] Allegro non troppo
2. [3:53 PM] Allegretto quasi Menuetto
3. [3:58 PM] Allegro
   [set ends 4:05 PM]

[4:24 PM lights down, band out]

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943): Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 19 (1901)

1. [4:25 PM] Lento. Allegro moderato
2. [4:36 PM] Allegro scherzando
3. [4:43 PM] Andante
4. [4:49 PM] Allegro mosso
   [set ends 4:59 PM]

1. [5:02 PM] Moderato; Andante dolce
   [show ends 5:07 PM]

• David Finckel: cello;
• Wu Han: piano.

As expected, today's show was quite excellent. I've enjoyed seeing this couple every time I've taken the chance, and my experience today indicates that I should continue that path!

Wu Han started out the event by walking onstage in a striking, hand-painted silk jacket or cape, and proceeded to give us a capsule version of the program – why they chose the works we would hear and how we were to listen to them. She was so cheerful that it set a merry tone for the entire afternoon, despite her admonishment that the first have was all stern, logical stuff. But, good stuff!

As might be guessed by folks who know me well, I liked the opening Bach best, but the Beethoven was also terrific, and even the long-winded Brahms wasn't too lengthy for me today, though I think I did snooze off a little during the opening movement.

Per Wu Han's preview, the second half of the program was to be the stormy, emotional side of the picture, and indeed, the duo gave an impassioned reading of the rich Russian treat penned by Rachmaninoff as he broke free of depression. Very heady stuff indeed!

And in a happy strange coincidence, Finckel & Han encored with the same Prokofiev Sonata that Sol Gabetta & Alessio Bax played earlier in the week. Could it be some sort of fight the totalitarian vibe in the air? Nah… probably just a happenstance, plus the well known tendency of human minds to place lines connecting dots that have nothing to do with each other. Anyways, I was pleased to hear the piece again!

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2016 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2016 event list! ☸ On to the next event!