Beethoven Perspectives Series: Kristof Barati, violin; Klara Wurtz, piano play Beethoven sonatas

Da Camera of Houston presents Kristof Barati, violin; Klara Wurtz, piano play Beethoven sonatas Monday and Tuesday, April 25 & 26, at The Menil Collection, in conjunction with its Beethoven Perspectives Series.

Some of Beethoven’s most powerful and expressive music can be found in intimate forms like the violin sonata.

Da Camera continues its Beethoven celebration with the Houston debut of violinist Kristóf Baráti and pianist Klára Würtz. This extraordinary, celebrated duo has received rave reviews for their recording of these brilliant works.

“No matter how many other sets of Beethoven’s complete violin sonatas you may have…you might as well give them away to friends or Goodwill, because once you’ve heard Baráti and Würtz, you’ll never listen to anyone else again.” — Fanfare

SCHEDULED PROGRAMS:

Monday, April 25, 2016

Sonata for violin and piano No. 8 in G Major, Op. 30. No. 3
Sonata for violin and piano No. 2 in A Major, Op.12. No. 2
Sonata for violin and piano No. 9 in A Major “Kreutzer”, Op. 47

Tuesday, April 26, 2016   

Sonata for violin and piano No. 3 in E Flat Major Op. 12. No. 3
Sonata for violin and piano No. 5 in F Major “Spring”, Op. 24
Sonata for violin and piano No. 10 in G Major, Op. 96

One of the most important artists of his generation in Hungary, Kristof Barati performs regularly in his native country with all the major Hungarian orchestras, in recital and chamber music, and in 2014 he was awarded Hungary’s highest cultural award, the Kossuth Prize, following in the footsteps of András Schiff, György Ligeti and Iván Fischer amongst others. Across the rest of the world Barati is gaining recognition for the extraordinary quality of his musicianship.

Klara Wurtz was born in Budapest, Hungary, and started playing the piano at the age of five. As a child she soon showed an exceptional talent for this instrument. Her musical career started in the early seventies, when she became a member of the Hungarian Children’s Choir of Radio and Television. As the pianist of the Choir, she performed musical intermezzos during tours in Japan, Greece, Italy, Austria and Romania. At the age of fourteen Klára was accepted at the Ferenc Liszt Music Academy, Budapest, where she studied at the faculty for the exceptionally gifted children with Mrs. Máthé.