Piotr Anderszewski has been among the world’s leading pianists for decades. Yet the Polish-Hungarian musician has always maintained an uncompromising approach devoted entirely to the music itself. His acclaimed album, released in early 2026, brings together the highly concentrated late piano works of Johannes Brahms – works Anderszewski now also brings to the Elbphilharmonie.
»These late works by Brahms are like a testament. But what does this enigmatic man reveal to us here? Or rather: what is he still trying to conceal? By holding it back until the very last moment, he awakens in us an irresistible urge to uncover his secret – perhaps that is precisely where the beauty of these pieces lies,« says Piotr Anderszewski of the short intermezzi, each of which unfolds an entire universe within just a few minutes.
An equally self-contained universe is found in Ludwig van Beethoven’s final piano sonata, which forms the second half of the concert. Beginning in the dark »fate-laden key« of C minor, the music gradually works its way toward radiant C major over the course of two movements. Did the composer know that he would never write another piano sonata? The music is visionary enough to suggest such a radical farewell.
PERFORMERS
Piotr Anderszewski piano
PROGRAM
Johannes Brahms
Intermezzo in B minor, Op. 119/1
Johannes Brahms
Intermezzo in C major, Op. 119/3
Johannes Brahms
Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 118/1
Johannes Brahms
Intermezzo in A major, Op. 118/2
Johannes Brahms
Intermezzo in A minor, Op 116/2
Johannes Brahms
Capriccio in G minor, Op. 116/3
Johannes Brahms
Intermezzo in E major, Op. 116/4
Johannes Brahms
Intermezzo in E minor, Op. 116/5
Johannes Brahms
Intermezzo in C-sharp minor, Op. 117/3
Johannes Brahms
Rhapsody in E-flat major, Op. 119/4
Johannes Brahms
Intermezzo in B-flat minor, Op. 117/2
Johannes Brahms
Intermezzo in E-flat minor, Op. 118/6
- Interval -
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata for Piano in C minor, Op. 111
