Benjamin Grosvenor

Sofia Gubaidulina Chaconne Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Sonata no.13, K.333 Ludvig van Beethoven Piano Sonata no.14, op.27 no.2 ‘Moonlight’ Interval Alexander Scriabin Piano Sonata no.2, op.19 Ferenc Liszt Three Petrarch Sonnets Frédéric Chopin Piano Sonata no.2, op.35 Benjamin Grosvenor programmes some all-time favourites - Beethoven’s lovely ‘Moonlight’ sonata for one - but he also springs surprises. The opening Chaconne is by Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina, who died recently. The piece was a commission from a prize-winning pianist and, as Gubaidulina explained, she kept the pianist’s specific abilities very much in mind as she worked. The result is wonderfully virtuosic. Scriabin’s reputation for being difficult came late, his sonata no.2 is readily accessible and filled with delicate imagery. The sea was his inspiration: he has sunlight dancing on waves, gentle moonbeams in the dark of night and sombre agitation from the depths. The piece is fiendishly challenging, a treat to hear it performed live. IPS GS