Naum Grubert

For this concert, the Russian pianist Naum Grubert chose two works by Schumann and Liszt, which they dedicated to each other. They are absolute pinnacles of piano literature. 'Phantasie in C' by Robert Schumann (1810-1856) will be first to be heard. This is a work where spontaneity and inspiration come together in a coherent and carefully constructed unified whole. Schumann dedicated his most exhaustive, passionate and most daring piano work to Liszt, in those days probably the only musician, who was able to completely comprehend the piece. This is the only work the composer wrote in 1836, clearly affected by his temporary separation from Clara Wieck. The second part of the concert commences with the five 'Preludes' by Alexander Skriabin (1872-1915), dated 1896. Opus 16 is surely one of the most interesting of a series of preludes, which this author wrote. Next is the highlight from the extensive work of Franz Liszt (1811-1886), the Sonata in b, dedicated to Robert Schumann and an impressionistic answer to 'Fantasie in C'. This monumental work is unique in the repertory for piano, as it represents a thirty-minute summary of Liszt's genius in a single movement.