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Poetic Nocturnes for the Piano


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Rebecca Bogart full profile / Solo piano / 1 musician


Full program notes

I'll be focusing on Nocturnes by three Romantic composers, Chopin, Clara Schumann, and Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel.

Chopin is one of the best loved composers of classical piano music and for good reason. This program highlights his gentle, lyrical side. I love sharing his beautiful serene melodies with audiences.

Clara and Fanny's Notturnos add a new perspective on Chopin's genius. All three composers knew each other, and in fact Clara was a huge advocate for Chopin throughout her long performing career.

The 4th Scherzo brings the concert to an exciting close. This is one of Chopin's masterpieces. It is full of heartfelt melody, playfulness, dazzlingly brilliant runs and flashy octaves.

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel: 

    Notturno

Clara Schumann: 

    Notturno Opus 6 No. 2

Frederic Chopin:

Nocturnes Opus 15 (1830-1833)
No. 1 in F Major

No. 2 in F Sharp Major


Nocturne Opus 27 (1835-1836)
No. 1 in C Sharp Minor

No. 2 in D Flat Major

Scherzo in E Major Opus 54 (1842)


Historical context

Frederic Chopin is one of the preeminent composers for the piano in spite of his short life (1810-1849). His music is beautiful to listen to and satisfying to practice. It makes the piano sound fantastic. Almost no other composer wrote so many works that have found a permanent home in homes, concert stages, and Youtube shorts.

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel was the older sister of Felix Mendelssohn. Several contemporaries, including the poet Goethe, thought Fanny's musical gifts were as great as Felix's. A recent documentary called "The Other Mendelssohn" tells the fascinating story of the rediscovery of her compositions. (It's streaming now.)

Clara Schumann was one of the most important musicians of the 19th century. She was a revered pianist who toured throughout Europe including in England and Russia. She set new standards of performance that continue to this day. She taught many students that went on to have performance careers. And she championed both living and historic composers whose music was threatened with obscurity during her lifetime, most surprisingly Bach and Beethoven. She also frequently performed works by (Felix) Mendelssohn and Chopin.


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