“The Road to 2027” consists of a vast series of piano recitals that have a very special meaning for me and present ideas that I treasure deeply in music when I perform. By following this path I believe I will be able to cultivate my craft and fully display my artistry. Two threads run through these twenty programs. One is the exploration of philosophical ideas of music through rhetorical interpretations of Beethoven’s towering Piano Sonatas. Through this series I believe we can discover new insights that may in turn bring us closer to the meaning of life itself. The second thread is the sharpening of our senses through a specific selection of piano pieces that call for a variety of techniques and the various acoustic nuances they produce. Together these works impart the unique feeling of being immersed in the full range of sonority while testing the limits of expression of the piano. I invite you to set out upon this thrilling journey with me on “The Road to 2027.”
Ikuyo Nakamichi
THE SPRING SERIES
Each program on The Spring Series revolves around a particular theme, including pieces preand post-Beethoven, ranging from Bach to Sch nberg. “Beethoven’s music addresses the fundamental questions human beings have about life and death and the existence of the divine” says Nakamichi. The companion pieces provide further inspiration and insight to the theme Beethoven’s Sonatas evoke.
THE AUTUMN SERIES
The Autumn Series will focus on the pursuit of pianism, the technical skills and artistry of playing the piano. Nakamichi says, “Pianists are constantly working to implement the pianism that each composer intends for the performers. The programs are a multifaceted opportunity to discover how pianism reveals the richness of invention and the details of expression in the music.”
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Passion and Reason
MOZART
Piano Sonata No. 8 in A Minor, K. 310BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, “Appassionata”BRAHMS
Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 5 -
Chopin to Pleyel
CHOPIN
Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23CHOPIN
Ballade No. 2 in F Major, Op. 38CHOPIN
Ballade No. 3 in A-Flat Major, Op. 47CHOPIN
Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52CHOPIN
24 Preludes, Op. 28
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The Power of Sorrow
BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13, “Path tique”BRAHMS
8 Klavierstücke, Op. 76SCHUBERT
Piano Sonata No. 19 in C Minor, D. 958 -
Schumann’s Dream
SCHUMANN
Allegro in B Minor, Op. 8SCHUMANN
8 Fantasiestücke, Op. 12SCHUMANN
Waldszenen, Op. 82: No. 7. Vogel als ProphetSCHUMANN
Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-Sharp Minor,Op. 11
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Sacrifice and Music
BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 22 in F Major, Op. 54BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major,
Op. 53, “Waldstein”CHOPIN
2 Nocturnes, Op. 48SCHUMANN
Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 14 -
Debussy’s Illusions
DEBUSSY
Préludes, Book 1DEBUSSY
Images, Book 1DEBUSSY
Images, Book 2DEBUSSY
L’isle joyeuse
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The Genealogy of Fantasias
MOZART
Fantasia in C Minor, K. 475SCHUMANN
Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101SCHUBERT
“Wandererfantasie” in C Major, Op. 15, D. 760 -
Where to Find Fantasy
BRAHMS
Rhapsodie in B Minor, Op. 79, No. 1SCHUMANN
Kreisleriana, Op. 16CHOPIN
Fantaisie in F Minor, Op. 49SCRIABIN
12 Etudes, Op. 8: No. 1, No. 12SCRIABIN
Fantasie in B Minor, Op. 28
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The Wellsprings of Wisdom
BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor,
Op. 31, No. 2, “Tempest”CHOPIN
Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23LISZT
Après une lecture du
Dante-Fantasia quasi sonata S161 / R10-7MUSSORGSKY
Pictures at an Exhibition -
Preludes, Preludes
DEBUSSY
Préludes, Book 2RACHMANINOFF
Prelude, Op. 3, No. 2RACHMANINOFF
10 Preludes, Op. 23: No. 2, No. 5, No. 7RACHMANINOFF
13 Preludes, Op. 32:
No. 2, No. 5, No. 8, No.10, No.11, No.12
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The World of the Theatre
BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 19
in G Minor, Op. 49, No. 1BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 20
in G Major, Op. 49, No. 2BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 18
in E-Flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3SCHUMANN
Papillons, Op. 2SCHUMANN
Carnaval, Op. 9 -
Musings of Brahms
BRAHMS
7 Fantasien, Op. 116BRAHMS
3 Intermezzi, Op. 117BRAHMS
6 Klavierstücke, Op. 118BRAHMS
4 Klavierstücke, Op. 119
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Where Do Dreams Lead Us?
BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 27 in E Minor, Op. 90BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 13
in E-Flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor,
Op. 27, No. 2, “Moonlight”SCHUBERT
Piano Sonata No. 18
in G Major, Op. 78, D. 894 -
Flowers Schubert Cherished
SCHUBERT
4 Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899SCHUBERT
4 Impromptus, Op. 142, D. 935
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Elegant Dances
BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 24
in F-Sharp Major, Op. 78BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op. 79BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 26
in G Major, Op. 81a “Les Adieux”LISZT
Mephisto-Waltz No. 1, S514 / R181RAVEL
Valses nobles et sentimentalesCHOPIN
Waltz in A-Flat Major, Op. 69, No. 1, “L’adieu”CHOPIN
Waltz in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 64, Op. 2CHOPIN
Polonaise No. 6
in A-Flat Major, Op. 53, “Heroic" -
Ravel’s Madness
RAVEL
MiroirsRAVEL
Jeux d’eauRAVEL
Gaspard de la nuit
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A Philosophy of Music
BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 31
in A-Flat Major, Op. 110SCHOENBERG
6 Kleine Klavierstücke, Op. 19BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111 -
Suites
GRIEG
From Holberg’s Time, Op. 40J.S. BACH
Partita No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 826J.S. BACH
Italian Concerto in F Major, BWV 971J.S. BACH
Partita No. 1 in B-Flat Major, BWV 825RAVEL
Le tombeau de Couperin
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Oscillating between
Life and DeathCHOPIN
Piano Sonata No. 2
in B-Flat Minor, Op. 35, “Funeral March“BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 29
in B-Flat Major, Op. 106, “Hammerklavier” -
Refining the Arts of
VariationMOZART
12 Variations on
“Ah, vous dirai-je, maman”, K. 265SCHUMANN
Abegg Variations, Op. 1RACHMANINOFF
Variations on a Theme by Corelli, Op. 42BEETHOVEN
32 Variations in C Minor, WoO 80BRAHMS
Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24
