Beethoven at the Rothko

The 32 Beethoven Piano Sonatas played by Clive Swansbourne
With a corresponding Beethoven lecture series at the MFAH

Dates: September 8 and 11; October 6 and 9;
November 3 and 6; December 1 and 4
Time: Thursdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3:00 pm
Where: The Rothko Chapel, 1409 Sul Ross at Yupon
RSVP's recommended ~ No admission fee

PROGRAM 1 Thursday, September 8, 2005 at 7:30 pm
Sonata in F minor, op.2 no.1 (1795)
Sonata in E flat major (quasi una fantasia), op.27 no.1 (1801)
Sonata in E minor, op.90 (1814)
Sonata in F minor, op.57 ("Appassionata") (1804-5)

PROGRAM 2 Sunday, September 11, 2005 at 3:00 pm
Sonata in C major, op.2 no.3 (1796)
Sonata in E flat major, op.31 no.3 (1802)
Sonata in B flat major, op.106 ("Hammerklavier") (1817-18)

PROGRAM 3 Thursday, October 6, 2005 at 7:30 pm
Sonata in B flat major, op.22 (1800)
Sonata in D major, op.28 ("Pastorale") (1801)
Sonata in G major, op.49 no.2 (1795-6)
Sonata in C major, op.53 ("Waldstein") (1804)

PROGRAM 4 Sunday, October 9, 2005 at 3:00 pm
Sonata in F major, op.10 no.2 (1797)
Sonata in G major, op.31 no.1 (1802)
Sonata in F major, op.54 (1804)
Sonata in G minor, op.49 no.1 (1795-6)
Sonata in E flat major, op.81a ("Les Adieux") (1809)

PROGRAM 5 Thursday, November 3, 2005 at 7:30 pm
Sonata in D major, op.10 no.3 (1798)
Sonata in C minor, op.13 ("Pathetique") (1798?)
Sonata in E major, op.14 no.1 (1799)
Sonata in A major, op.101 (1816)

PROGRAM 6 Sunday, November 6, 2005 at 3:00 pm
Sonata in C minor, op.10 no.1 (1796)
Sonata in E flat major, op.7 (1796)
Sonata in A flat major, op.26 ("Funeral March") (1801)
Sonata in E major, op.109 (1820)

PROGRAM 7 Thursday, December 1, 2005 at 7:30 pm
Sonata in G major, op.14 no.2 (1799)
Sonata in D minor, op.31 no.2 ("Tempest") (1802)
Sonata in F sharp major, op.78 (1809)
Sonata in A flat major, op.110 (1821)

PROGRAM 8 Sunday, December 4, 2005 at 3:00 pm
Sonata in A major, op.2 no.2 (1795)
Sonata in C sharp minor (quasi una fantasia), op.27 no.2 ("Moonlight") (1801)
Sonata in G major, op.79 (1809)
Sonata in C minor, op.111 (1822)

Beethoven Lecture Series

In these four lectures, designed to complement his series of the 32 Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Swansbourne discusses the growth of Beethoven's style as heard in the sonatas, with illustrations at the piano. The compositions will be discussed within the context of their times and Beethoven's life.

Where: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
When: Mondays at 6:00 pm
Reception following each lecture

September 12: Beethoven's Early Influences and First Flowering

October 3: Beethoven's Early Maturity

October 31: The Heroic Period and Years of Hiatus

November 28: The Last Sonatas