Pianist Gustavo Romero is presenting a series of all 32 Beethoven Sonatas at the Baxter, and Cape Town Concert Series is collaborating in this series of concerts.
The concerts take place at 6pm on 24 and 26 January, 2, 7, 9 and 11 February with one performance on Saturday 5 February at 11am. The Baxter restaurant is open as well as the bar for refreshments around the concert.
Gustavo Romero has a stellar reputation for both the technical brilliance and interpretive depth of his playing, as well as his commitment to in-depth exploration of individual composers.
A native of San Diego, California, with heritage in Guadalajara, Mexico, Gustavo Romero discovered his love and gift for music at age five, when introduced to the piano of a neighbour. He started taking lessons, and gave his first public performances at the age of 10, while also winning his first piano competition. At age 13, he performed with the New York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta.
Gustavo was planning to present these sonatas in 2020 to mark the 250th celebration of Beethoven’s birth but was unable to because of the Covid lockdown. “I am so excited to finally be back in South Africa and able to perform for a live audience” he says, “ especially in the wonderful acoustics of the Baxter Concert Hall”. Gustavo will be playing on a 1961 Steinway Grand Piano belonging to the Cape Town Concert Series which is assisting with the presentation of the series.
WHAT: Gustavo Romero – 32 Beethoven Sonatas
WHERE: Baxter Concert Hall, Main Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7600
TICKETS: R200 / R150 (pensioners) / R80 (students). R1000 for all 7 concerts. Tickets are on sale through Webtickets but if anyone has any difficulty purchasing this way, Cape Town Concert Series will gladly assist directly. E info@ctconcerts.co.za
WHEN: 6pm on 24 and 26 January, 2, 7, 9 and 11 February with one performance on Saturday 5 February at 11am
MONDAY 24 JANUARY: 6PM
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.1 in F minor, Op.2, No.1 (“Bonn”)
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.13 in E-flat major, Op.27, No.1
(“Quasi una fantasia”)
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.14 in C-sharp minor, Op.27, No.2 (“Moonlight”)
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.24 in F-sharp major, Op.78
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.28 in A major, Op.101
WEDNESDAY 26 JANUARY: 6PM
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.4 in E-flat major, Op.7
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, Op.13 (“Pathétique”)
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.16 in G major, Op.31, No.1
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.30 in E major, Op.109
WEDNESDAY 2 FEBRUARY: 6PM
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.9 in E major, Op.14, No.1
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.10 in G major, Op.14, No.2
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.3 in C major, Op.2, No.3
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.22 in F major, Op.54
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor, Op.57 (“Appassionata”)
SATURDAY 5 FEBRUARY: 11AM
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.6 in F major, Op.10, No.2
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.17 in D minor, Op.31, No.2 (“Tempest”)
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.29 in B-flat major, Op.106 (“Hammerklavier”)
MONDAY 7 FEBRUARY: 6PM
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.11 in B-flat major, Op.22
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.7 in D major, Op.10, No.3
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.27 in E minor, Op.90
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.21 in C major, Op.53 (“Waldstein”)
WEDNESDAY 9 FEBRUARY: 6PM
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.12 in A-flat major, Op.26
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.18 in E-flat major, Op.31, No.3
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.25 in G major, Op.79
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.5 in C minor, Op.10, No.1
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110
FRIDAY 11 FEBRUARY: 6PM
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.2 in A major, Op.2, No.2
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.15 in D major, Op.28 (“Pastoral”)
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.26 in E-flat major, Op.81a (“Les Adieux”)
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.32 in C minor, Op.111
