The Beethoven Connection Jean-Efflam Bavouzet

• Joseph Wölfl (1773 - 1812): Piano Sonata in E Major, Op. 33 No. 3:
• 1 Piano Sonata in E Major, Op. 33 No. 3: I. Allegro 08:04
• 2 Piano Sonata in E Major, Op. 33 No. 3: II. Andante cantabile 02:29
• 3 Piano Sonata in E Major, Op. 33 No. 3: III. Rondo. Allegretto 04:24
• Muzio Clementi (1752 - 1832): Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 50 No. 1:
• 4 Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 50 No. 1: I. Allegro maestoso e con sentimento 08:34
• 5 Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 50 No. 1: II. Adagio sostenuto e patetico - Canone. Andante con moto 05:28
• 6 Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 50 No. 1: III. Allegro vivace 07:47
• Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778 - 1837): Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 20:
• 7 Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 20: I. Allegro moderato - Adagio 09:23
• 8 Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 20: II. Adagio maestoso 07:02
• 9 Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 20: III. Finale. Presto - Ancor più presto 04:35
• Jan Ladislav Dussek (1760 - 1812): Piano Sonata No. 24 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 61, C. 211 "Elégie harmonique":
• 10 Piano Sonata No. 24 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 61, C. 211 "Elégie harmonique": I. Lento patetico - Tempo agitato 11:34
• 11 Piano Sonata No. 24 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 61, C. 211 "Elégie harmonique": II. Tempo vivace e con fuoco quasi presto 05:20
• Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (b. 1962): Musical Illustrations:
• 12 Musical Illustrations (After Beethoven, Clementi, Dussek & Hummel) 07:49
• Total Runtime 01:22:29

Info for The Beethoven Connection

In the 250th Beethoven anniversary year, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet has chosen this programme of works by contemporary composers to illuminate and contextualise Beethoven’s extraordinary output for piano. In his explanatory note for the album, the pianist writes: ‘Just as a mountain peak is always surrounded by other perhaps less lofty but no less fascinating summits, the major works of Beethoven are not isolated rock formations rising from the desert, but, as it were, “Himalayas”, forming part of a range in which other mountains might be the best pieces by contemporaries such as Clementi, Hummel, Dussek, and Wölfl. These composers all knew Beethoven well and were in contact with one another. It is essential to know and to make known their music in order better to understand and more thoroughly appreciate the lingua franca of the music of the time, which in turn is part and parcel of the “spirit of the age”, and to be aware of that which unites them, as well as to recognise that which differentiates them and renders each unique. In this year of plentiful Beethovenian commemorations, it appears to me natural, indeed essential, to pay admiring and enthusiastic homage to these composers, each of whom, in his own way, followed his route to the summit.’

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, piano

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet

French pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet combines a rare elegance and clarity in his playing with deep and thoughtful musicality, for which he continues to win the highest acclaim from both critics and audiences.

Recent engagements for Bavouzet have included appearances with the London Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland and Philharmonia orchestras, and the New Japan Philharmonic. He also premiered Bruno Mantovani’s Piano Concerto with Orchestre National de Lille.

Highlights of his 2010/11 season include performances with Philharmonia and BBC Symphony orchestras and make debut appearances with the London Philharmonic and City of Birmingham Symphony orchestras, and the Sydney Symphony with Vladimir Ashkenazy. In spring 2011 he will tour the US with the Orchestre National de France and Daniele Gatti.

An exclusive Chandos recording artist, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s discography includes a cycle of Debussy’s complete works for piano, which has been recognised by many international awards, not least of which a Gramophone and a BBC Music Magazine awards in 2009. His most recently released recording of Bartók’s Piano Concertos with the BBC Philharmonic has already received great acclaim.

Booklet for The Beethoven Connection