In Homage to Beethoven

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven (baptized, December 17, 1770), the Methuen Memorial Music Hall will offer three virtual concerts of his music during the month of December. The concerts will premiere on the Music Hall’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/c/methuenmemorialmusichall) on three consecutive Wednesdays: December 9, 16 and 23, all at 7:30 p.m.
Viewing of all concerts on the MMMH YouTube channel is free.
Music performed for the “In Homage to Beethoven” concerts will be three of his piano and violin sonatas and three solo piano sonatas. The Music Hall is honored to welcome violinist Catherine French, of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and pianist Hugh Hinton, Director of Campus Music Activities at Merrimack College, North Andover, and Instructor in Piano at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, Cambridge.
The first concert will premiere on Wednesday, December 9. The program is Sonata No. 5 for Piano and Violin, in F major, Op. 24, “Spring” (publ. 1801) and Piano Sonata No. 13, in E-flat major, Op. 27, No. 1 (1800-1801).
The second concert, premiering on December 16, features Dr. Hinton in two piano sonatas from Beethoven’s late period of composition. These are No. 30, in E major, Op. 109 (1820), and No. 28, in A major, Op. 101 (1816).
The third concert premieres on December 23. Violinist Catherine French and pianist Hugh Hinton conclude the Beethoven Birthday series with Sonata No. 2 for Piano and Violin, in A major, Op. 12, No. 2 (1797-98), and Sonata No. 8, in G major, Op. 30, No. 3 (1802).
Ms. French’s violin is by Carlo Giuseppe Testore, c 1700. Dr. Hinton plays the Steinway Model D concert grand piano bequeathed to the Hall by the will of the late William A. Goodwin.
The Methuen Memorial Music Hall was built by Edward F. Searles, a benefactor for the town of Methuen, to house the Great Organ. With the gift of the concert grand piano, the MMMH Trustees plan to expand concert offerings at the Hall. The 2020 Summer Series of fifteen organ recitals and other 2020 concerts all have been presented as virtual concerts and can be viewed on the MMMH YouTube channel.