For the first concert of 2012, with a week’s notice, I was asked to substitute for pianist Robin Sutherland to play a recital with Alexander Barantschik, San Francisco Symphony’s concertmaster. The recital was held at Santa Rosa Junior College on January 15th. It was a fantastic way to start the new year—performing four masterpieces with an incredible artist. The program consisted of the Mozart sonata in e minor, K.304; the Beethoven sonata No.1 in D major; the Brahms sonata No.1 in G major; and the Franck sonata in A major.
Mr. Barantschik’s fine musicianship and technique was so inspiring that I totally forgot that I had taken on this recital with barely a week’s notice. Also, the audience was very supportive and enthusiastic, perhaps the warmest group of people I have ever played for. I was deeply moved to hear that during the intermission one gentleman in the audience was singing Brahms’s “Rain Song,” which is the melody from the third movement of his G major sonata.
Here is a review.