Pianist Ivan Gusev Performs Solo Masterworks

About the program

Gusev’s program explores piano masterworks by composers whose artistic originality made indelible marks on the classical repertoire. Beginning with three contrasting Sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti, Gusev continues with Klavierstücke No. 2 in E-flat major from D946 by Franz Schubert. Composed six months before the composer’s death, the piece is one of the most beautiful examples of Schubert’s lyrical works for piano. The first half culminates with Beethoven’s Sonata in A major, Opus 101.

In the second half, Gusev presents music by Sergey Rachmaninoff and Alexander Scriabin. He starts with Etude-Tableau Op. 39 No. 2 in A minor (“Sea and Seagulls”) by Rachmaninoff and then moves on to three of the composer’s Preludes from Opuses 23 and 32. Scriabin’s Four Preludes Opus 22 follow, wonderful miniatures full of changing moods and improvisational beauty. The concert concludes with Scriabin’s rapturous Fourth Sonata, replete with the mysticism and symbolism of the composer’s middle period.