Program Mezzo

Go behind the scenes at the Steinway & Sons factory and discover Spirio, the incredible technology that allows a piano to replay a performance exactly as it was played live. Mr. Guido Zimmermann, the president of the world-famous pianomakers, talks us through the revolutionary concept, accompanied by images of the precise, fascinating craftmanship and engineering that goes into each one of the Spirio pianos. Hugo Cohen Sprung's documentary also allows us insight into French pianist and Steinway artist Bertrand Chamayou's experience with the technology and features a preview of his unique two-piano concert in which he performs with his "shadow"!

Lucas Debargue (piano) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791) Piano Sonata No. 8 in A minor, KV 310 Frédéric Chopin 1810 - 1849 Ballade no. 2 op. 38 Prélude op. 45 Polonaise-Fantaisie op. 61 Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813 – 1888) Concerto for solo piano op. 39 No. 8 Paris, Philharmonie, April 3, 2023

Directed by Nathan Benisty and Olivier Deck

Rachmaninov revisited Celebrated in his day not only as a great composer, Sergei Rachmaninov was also admired as an outstanding pianist who was a peerless interpreter of his own works including the piano concerti and the Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini. It is well known that he was in effect the sole pianist capable of performing his most demanding Third Piano Concerto and his performances and recording of the concerto came to be considered as the definitive ones. The relationship between performance, interpretation, and Rachmaninov’s own life is addressed in this film by young pianists. They explore the evolution of interpretation over the past few decades with brief excerpts of recordings by Rachmaninov as contrasted with contemporary performances by today’s well-known young pianists as they comment on the differences (or similarities) of their approach. Directed by Peter Rosen

Yehudi Menuhin, the Violin of the Century Lord Yehudi Menuhin, relaxing at his home in the Greek isles, tells the story of his wonderful career on the eve of his 80th birthday. A wealth of rare archival material illustrates this highly informative and entertaining profile of the world's greatest violinist, providing insight into the life of the young San Franciscan wonderchild, his sudden rise to stardom which led to an outstanding international career, his encounters with the world's greatest musicians and music traditions, and his involvement in world politics. Directed by Bruno Monsaingeon 1995

B'Rock Orchestra, René Jacobs (conductor) Kateryna Kasper (soprano), Helena Raske (alto) Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Cantata ‘Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust’ for alto, BWV 170, version 1746/47 Cantata ‘Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut’ for soprano, BWV 199, Weimar version Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736) Stabat Mater dolorosa, P.77 (instrumentation by Bach, 1746) Aix-en-Provence, Grand Théâtre de Provence (Easter Festival), April 6, 2023