Gradus ad Parnassum – Beethoven 250
Jean Rondeau
Chamber Music
Friday, 4 September 2020
7.30 pm, Rougemont Church
Greatly celebrated at the Victoires de la musique classique in 2015, French artist Jean Rondeau quickly established himself as the new international star on the harpsichord. A “Menuhin's Heritage Artist” since 2017, he continues his journey off the beaten track by pushing beyond the boundaries of his favourite repertoire: in the direction of Beethoven and – to guide us there – of two masters whose influence on his art had been considerable, Johann Joseph Fux and Muzio Clementi. They both wrote a fundamental work called Gradus ad Parnassum (literally “ascent to Parnassus”). The first is a Viennese baroque work recommended to him by his master Joseph Haydn. The second is an Italian classic which includes in its Gradus a whole series of piano studies: Beethoven is said to have been greatly affected by their study.
Jean Rondeau, Cembalo
Menuhin's Heritage Artist
| Johann Joseph Fux (1660-1741) | |
| Harpeggio e Fuga | 5' |
| Ciaccona | 10' |
| Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) | |
| Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Hob. XVI:46: | |
| II. Adagio | 8' |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) | |
| Fantasia in D Minor, K. 397 | 6' |
| Adagio in B Minor, K. 540 | 8' |
| Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, K. 279/189d | 14' |
| Muzio Clementi (1752-1832) | |
| «Gradus ad Paranassum», Op. 44 | 4' |
| No. 72: Adagio sostenuto (in F Major) | |
| No. 2: Veloce | |
| No. 92: Preludio andante malinconico (in C Minor) | |
| Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) | |
| 2 Preludes for Piano or Organ, Op. 39 | 10' |
| Claude Debussy (1862 - 1918) | |
| «Children’s Corner», L. 113: | |
| I. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum (arr. by Jean Rondeau) | 3' |
| 80' | |
| CHF 80/60/40 |