J. S. BACH (1685-1750):

English Suite n°3 in G minor, BWV 808

L. v. BEETHOVEN (1770-1827):

Piano Sonata n° 11 in B flat Major, Op. 22

F. CHOPIN (1810-1849):

Barcarolle in F sharp Major, Op. 60 &

Prélude in C sharp minor, Op. 45

M. RAVEL (1875-1937):

Gaspard de la Nuit

________

It is always said that Ravel’s “Gaspard de la nuit” is the most difficult piano work of all time. That’s certainly true, if you have the technical virtuoso, even acrobatic side in mind. However, Ivo Pogorelich, who put Ravel’s masterpiece at the end of his program, found in the book “Great Contemporary Pianists Speak for Themselves” published in 1991 that he considered Bach’s music to be the most difficult and challenging. Since he was 14 or 15 years old, he dreamed of playing Bach’s English Suites. At that time it was also clear to him that they came from the pen of a genius – “brilliant”, “fantastic” works. For years he carried the works with him in his thoughts, heard them again and again, and dealt with them. He waited so long, until he had the feeling to penetrate the pieces completely. When he was finally ready, he played them in concert for a year and then went to the studio to record numbers 2 and 3. With the third one he also opens this concert.