Misha Fomin plays Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms

About the Event

In 2027, the world will commemorate the 200th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven's passing. Pianist Misha Fomin is set to finalize his esteemed Beethoven project, which involves the extensive recording and performing of all thirty‐two of Beethoven’s piano sonatas. This concert program showcases two of Beethoven's sonatas: the unexpected Grande Sonate, Op. 7 and the lyrical, two‐movement Sonata 'Für Thérèse', Op. 78. Post‐intermission, Fomin will delve into the Romantic era with two iconic pieces: Franz Schubert’s exquisite Impromptu and Johannes Brahms’s challenging Paganini Variations.

Misha Fomin
Renowned for his tonal richness and warm, full sound, Fomin is a testament to the Russian piano tradition. He is deeply immersed in the Beethoven project, recording all thirty‐two of Beethoven’s piano sonatas. Opus 7, an early piece by Beethoven, is characterized by its playfulness, sparkling energy, and humor. Sonata 'Für Thérèse', Op. 78 is distinguished by its sophistication, lyricism, and clarity.

Schubert and Brahms
In the Impromptu with Variations, Schubert crafts a piece filled with tension, emotion, and shimmering passagework using an original theme. Brahms, on the other hand, constructs his Variations on a celebrated theme by Niccolò Paganini from Caprice No. 24. Famous for their daunting technical demands—Clara Schumann dubbed them 'witch variations'—these Variations conceal harmonic depth and innovation beneath their virtuosity. Fomin has personally curated a selection of variations from both Book I and Book II.