When an artist such as pianist Katherina Treutler has been engaged as soloist with such major orchestras as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony, the San Diego Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony, and others, I can assure you we are in for an evening of music-making of the highest order.
Her choice of programming music of Liszt and Grieg is exciting! Liszt, along with Chopin, is among the two most important and influential composers of the Romantic period, and especially for the piano. The entire first half is dedicated to the piano music of Franz Liszt. Liszt’s music is larger than life, and has the most brilliant, thrilling virtuoso writing, along with beautiful melodies and poignant harmonies. The specific choices of Liszt’s music here are equally interesting as most of the works are Liszt’s view on other composers- opening with Liszt’s take on Bach, then a few Schubert songs arranged for piano by Liszt, and the dazzling paraphrase on Verdi’s opera, “Rigoletto.” The first half closes with the famous showstopper, Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz. No doubt, you will get up from your seat at the end of this first half, feeling you have already gotten more than your money’s worth.
The second half with the Romantic music of Edvard Grieg is a striking contrast to the Lisztian first half.Grieg, who is from Norway, brings an array of Scandinavian musical delights. His music is filled with Norwegian melodies and dance rhythms, and like no one else, depicting Norwegian life, its people, their traditions, and the beautiful landscape. The music is tender, lyrical, charming, and graceful.
Program:
Franz Liszt
- “Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen” (variations on a theme of Bach)
- “Serenade” by Franz Schubert arranged by Liszt
- Paraphrase on Verdi’s opera “Rigoletto” arranged by Liszt
- “Margaret at the Spinning Wheel” by Franz Schubert arranged by Liszt
- Mephisto Waltz
Intermission
Edvard Grieg
- Scenes of Country Life, Op. 19
- Mountain Tune
- The Bridal Procession Passes By
- Carnival Scene
- Jeg Elsker Dig (I Love You), Op. 41
- March of the Dwarfs, Op. 54, No. 3
- Nocturne, Op. 54, No. 4
- In the Hall of the Mountain King, Op. 46
Katharina Treutler has given numerous recitals around the world, performing in Europe, Asia and the USA. As a soloist she has worked with leading orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Camerata Jerusalem, the Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonisches Orchester Erfurt, the Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha, the Meininger Hofkapelle and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.
