The saying that someone was born with music in their blood applies to Alexandra Dovgan as it does to few others. Her entire family consists of pianists – and Alexandra has been part of that world since the age of three. At just twelve years old, piano legend Grigory Sokolov observed that she already played with the maturity and individuality of a fully developed artist. Now she has chosen two monumental piano sonatas through which to demonstrate her artistic maturity at the Elbphilharmonie.
Referring to his Hammerklavier Sonata, Ludwig van Beethoven once told his publisher that it was »a sonata that will give pianists something to grapple with«. Intensely emotional, technically formidable and surpassing everything that had come before in both scale and range, the work remains a summit that must first be conquered.
For Alexandra Dovgan, however, the sonata merely serves as a warm-up. The second half of the recital features two shorter works by Frédéric Chopin alongside Sergei Rachmaninov’s Piano Sonata No. 2 – another formidable ascent for the young pianist. And there is little doubt that she will master both sonata mountains with the determination and assurance of an experienced climber.
PERFORMERS
Alexandra Dovgan piano
PROGRAM
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata for Piano in B-flat major, Op. 106 »Hammerklavier-Sonata«
- Interval -
Frédéric Chopin
Deux Nocturnes, Op. 27
Frédéric Chopin
Scherzo No. 4 in E major, Op. 54
Sergej Rachmaninow
Sonata for Piano No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36
