Spring, Mountains and Beethoven

Tahoe Music Alive launches its concert series with a salute to spring and mountains in three celebrated sonatas for piano and violin, inspired by the love of nature, composed by Ludwig van Beethoven, and performed by the dazzling duo, Owen Dalby and Stephen Prutsman.

The duo explores the emotional depths and technical heights of three favorite Beethoven Sonatas for piano and violin.

Beethoven was known for his love of nature, and mountains were among his favorite natural landscapes, particularly the Austrian Alps, where he spent much of his time during the summers. The majestic beauty of the mountains provided him with a sense of awe and wonder that he sought to capture in his music. Spending time in nature, and particularly in mountainous regions, provided Beethoven with a sense of peace and solitude that allowed him to focus on his music and creative ideas. Three celebrated works for the piano and violin capture this influence.
Beethoven’s “Spring” Sonata (No. 5 in F major) is evocative of the spring season with its cheerful and optimistic character. His Sonata No. 3 in E-flat major introduces new elements of drama, virtuosity and expressivity with its lyrical melodies, playful rhythms, and inventive harmonies. The Mt Olympus of the violin/piano repertoire, the famous “Kreutzer Sonata” (No. 9 in A minor) is a heroic effort that stretches the expressive and technical abilities of its performers to their maximum.

Stephen Prutsman has been described as one of the most innovative musicians of his time, moving easily from classical to jazz to world music styles as a pianist, composer and conductor.

Owen Dalby is praised as “dazzling” (The New York Times), “expert and versatile” (The New Yorker), and “a fearless and inquisitive violinist” (San Francisco Classical Voice). Owen Dalby leads a rich musical life as a soloist, chamber musician, new and early music expert, orchestral concertmaster, and educator.

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