Marc-André Hamelin at Herbst Theatre, July 20, 2021

San Francisco Performances presents Marc-André Hamelin, with the Alexander String Quartet Herbst Theatre
Veterans' Building, San Francisco War Memorial Performing Arts Center, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102-4522 USA
7:30 PM, Tuesday, July 20, 2021

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• Scriabin: Fantasy in B minor, Op. 28;
• Prokofiev: Sarcasms, Op. 17;
• Feinberg: Piano Sonata No. 3;
• Schubert: Sonata in B-Flat Major, D. 960

• CPE Bach: Rondo in C minor, Wq 59/4
• Beethoven: Sonata in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3
• Hamelin: Nowhere Going Fast for Piano Quintet (featuring the Alexander String Quartet) (World Premiere)
• Beethoven: Sonata in B flat Major, Op. 106, “Hammerklavier”

[7:35 PM] {lights down; announcements by Melanie Smith; MAH out}

1. [7:37 PM] Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788): Rondo in C minor, (1784) H. 283, Wq 59/4
   [7:42 PM] {work ends; pause}

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827): Piano Sonata in C Major, (1795) Op. 2, No. 3

1. [7:43 PM] Allegro con brio
2. [7:50 PM] Adagio
3. [7:58 PM] Scherzo: Allegro
4. [8:01 PM] Allegro assai
   [8:07 PM] {work ends; MAH off for a brief break after ovations; pause to set up for ASQ}

1. [8:10 PM] Marc-André Hamelin: Nowhere Fast for Piano Quintet (featuring the Alexander String Quartet) (2020; World Premiere)
   [8:17 PM] {work ends; bows, then all off; pause to reset the stage}

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827): Piano Sonata in B-flat Major, (1818) Op. 106, Große Sonate für das Hammerklavier

1. [8:23 PM] Allegro
2. [8:34 PM] Scherzo: Assai vivace
3. [8:37 PM] Adagio sostenuto
4. [8:55 PM] Introduzione: Largo… Allegro – Fuga: Allegro risoluto
   [9:07 PM] {set ends; applause & bows; back and forth; then MAH returns to introduce the encore}

1. [9:09 PM] Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788): La Complaisante, H.109, Wq.117/28 (1756)
   [9:12 PM] {show ends; all done after another minute or so}

• Marc-André Hamelin: piano.

with the Alexander String Quartet

• Zakarias Grafilo: violin;
• Frederick Lifsitz: violin;
• David Samuel: viola;
• Sandy Wilson: cello.

I thought tonight's show was excellent. Curiously, Marc-André Hamelin played the entire recital from memory – EXCEPT for his own work!

That one was apparently commissioned and composed to be premiered at the SF Performances 40th Anniversary Gala that was to have taken place in April 2020. Aptly named, I liked it, and would like to hear it again sometime. Tonight it served as a nice bit of variety between the two long Beethoven sonatas that anchored the program.

I think my favorite part of the evening was the long slow Adagio sostenuto movement of the Hammerklavier sonata. I like it when Beethoven gets spacey!

Program Notes or program notes

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2021 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2021 event list! ☸ On to the next event!