Ian Pace, Beethoven-Liszt Cycle: Symphony No. 1

To coincide with Beethoven 250 (an international, year-long celebration of 250 years since the composer's birth), Ian Pace performs a complete cycle of Beethoven's symphonies, in the rarely performed transcriptions for solo piano by Franz Liszt.

Pace performs the cycle across eight Friday evening and Friday lunchtime concerts, which also feature complimentary works inspired and illuminated by the symphonies, including music by Schumann, Berlioz, Ives and Finnissy.

Besides being a 'portable' version of Beethoven's orchestral masterpieces, these fearsome, virtuoso renditions are a demonstration of Liszt's exceptional pianism, an insight into the works' structures and material, and foreground perceived demonic and other macabre elements in the music, which relate to Liszt’s original compositions.

Programme, 3 April 2020, 1:10pm

• Beethoven, Piano Sonata in A-flat, op. 26 (1800-01)
• Beethoven-Liszt, Symphony No. 1, S. 464/1 (1863-64) (after op. 21, 1799-1800)

Ian Pace: Beethoven-Liszt Symphony Cycle, 2020

Please note, booking forms for each event are separate. Please visit the links below to reserve places for other concerts in the series.

Friday 27 March 2020, 7pm - Symphony No. 5

• Beethoven-Liszt, Symphony No. 5, S. 464/5 (1863-64) (after op. 67, 1803)
• Charles Ives, Piano Sonata No. 2 "Concord, Mass., 1840-1860" (1916-19, rev. 1920s-40s)

Friday 3 April 2020, 1:10pm - Symphony No. 1

• Beethoven, Piano Sonata in A-flat, op. 26 (1800-01)
• Beethoven-Liszt, Symphony No. 1, S. 464/1 (1863-64) (after op. 21, 1799-1800)

Friday 24 April 2020, 7pm - Symphony No. 2 and 4

• Beethoven-Liszt, Symphony No. 2, S. 464/2 (1863-64) (after op. 36, 1801-2)
• Mendelssohn-Liszt, Wasserfahrt; Der Jäger Abscheid, S. 548 (1848)
• Berlioz-Liszt, Marche des pélerins de la Sinfonie Harold en Italie, S. 473ii (1862)
• Beethoven-Liszt, Symphony No. 4, S. 464/4 (1863-64) (after op. 60, 1806)

Friday 5 June 2020, 1:10pm - Symphony No. 7

• Beethoven-Liszt, Symphony No. 7, S. 464/7 (1863-64) (after op. 92, 1811-12)
• Franz Liszt, Valse oubliée No. 1, S. 215 No. 1 (1881); Ungarischer Geschwindmarsch, S. 233 (1870-71); Unstern: Sinistre, Disastro, S. 208 (1881); Sunt Lacrymae Rerum, from Années de Perlerinage, Troisième Annéé, S. 163 (1872); Bagatelle sans tonalite, S. 216a (1885).

Friday 4 September 2020, 7pm - Symphony No. 8

• Beethoven-Liszt, An die ferne Geliebte, S. 469 (after op. 98, 1816)
• Robert Schumann, Fantasy in C major, op. 17 (1836)
• Beethoven-Liszt, Symphony No. 8, S. 464/8 (1863-64) (after op. 93, 1812)

Friday 2 October 2020, 7pm - Symphony No. 6

• Beethoven-Liszt, Symphony No. 6, "Pastoral", S. 464/6 (1863-64) (after op. 68, 1808)
• Michael Finnissy, English-Country Tunes (1977, rev. 1982-85)

Friday 6 November 2020, 1:10pm - Symphony No. 3

• Beethoven-Liszt, Symphony No. 3, "Eroica", S. 464/3 (1863-64) (after op. 55, 1803)

Friday 11 December 2020, 7pm - Symphony No. 9

• Beethoven-Liszt, Symphony No.  9, "Choral", S. 464/9 (1863-64) (after op. 125, 1822-24)