Johann Sebastian Bach: Italian Concerto, BWV 971 / Overture in the French Style, BWV 831 / Robert Schumann: Humoreske, Op. 20 / Scherzo, Gigue, Romance and Fughetta, Op. 32

Born on 18 April, 1950 in the city then called Leningrad, the Russian pianist, Grigory Sokolov, is without question one of the most outstanding figures of contemporary pianism. A student of Emil Gilels, his strong sense of individuality has led him to explore unusual repertory for pianists (William Byrd or Jean-Philippe Rameau, for instance) and his readings add great colour and imagination to the more frequently heard pieces. Piano works by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) and Robert Schumann (1810-1856) have been chosen by Sokolov for his recital in Torroella.

Bach’s Italian Concerto, BWV 971, and the Overture in the French Style, BWV 831, were published together in Nuremberg in 1735. While BWV 971 is a singular work in which Bach synthesises the melodic clarity of Italian tradition, BWV 831 (also known as the Partita in B minor) is a typical French-style suite of eleven movements. In this concert, the music of Bach will be intelligently combined with the poetic intensity of the works by Robert Schumann.