Beethoven Celebration!

Program:

Coriolanus Overture 
Piano Concerto No. 3 Featuring Peter Takacs, Pianist
Symphony No. 7

2020 is the the 250th anniversary of the Beethoven’s birth year,1770. It is quite a milestone and testament to the universal and enduring power of Beethoven’s music.

Take a moment and ponder how quickly some pop and commercial music can fade, in some cases in a few weeks. Beethoven (who did not posses the same inborn talent as Mozart) struggled immensely to discover the truth and beauty in his music, and only succeeded after torturous effort – proving that absolute beauty does indeed exist. What is it about Beethoven’s compositions that make them endure the test of time? They are not simply “catchy tunes” or trendy devices. Rather, they possess a certain inevitability that is found through his clever use of motive development and structure. The listener is aware of a sense of finality and completion upon hearing the return of the material introduced at the beginning of each symphony. These elements and much more make Beethoven’s music a deeply moving experience for all who listen and appreciate its power.

About Peter Takacs, Pianist. Professor of Piano, Oberlin Conservatory of Music

Hailed by the New York Times as “a marvelous pianist”, Peter Takács has performed widely, receiving critical and audience acclaim for his penetrating and communicative musical interpretations.  Having started piano lessons in his native Bucharest before his fourth birthday, Takács pursued his studies at the Central Music School in Bucharest, the Paris National Conservatory, and Northwestern University, completing his artistic training at the Peabody Conservatory with renowned American pianist and teacher Leon Fleisher.

Takács’ exceptional talents have been recognized with a First Prize in the William Kapell International Piano Competition, the Jackson Award for Excellence in Chamber Music at the Tanglewood Music Center, and a Solo Recitalist grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.  He is sought-after as a performer, chamber musician, teacher, and lecturer, and has participated in summer festivals throughout the world.  He has performed and recorded the complete cycle of Beethoven Piano Sonatas, which were released on the Cambria Master Recordings label in July 2011 to critical acclaim.  In 2015-16 he performed three sold-out recitals at Carnegie Hall entitled “The Beethoven Experience”, inaugurating a new series entitled “Key Pianists.” His recording of the Beethoven cello sonatas and variations with Los Angeles Philharmonic principal cellist Robert DeMaine is due for release in 2020, Beethoven’s 250th anniversary. Takács is Professor of Piano at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he has been teaching since 1976.  For more information, please access his website at petertakacspianist.com