November Cadenza Recital

AMSF’s November Cadenza Recital offered a wide mix of music, moving comfortably from Baroque clarity to Classical charm, Romantic emotion, and touches of 20th-century color. Instead of spotlighting individual performers, the program itself stood out for how well it balanced variety and flow throughout the evening.

The first half built a strong sense of shape and direction. Starting with Bach’s Invention No. 10 and Prelude No. 3, the program opened with clean lines and structure, giving the audience a grounded, focused beginning. From there, the mood shifted to the gentle, jazz-infused warmth of Laura in André Previn’s arrangement, adding a different kind of charm before returning to the Classical world with the Rondo from Mozart’s Sonata K. 545.

Schubert’s Impromptu Op. 90 No. 2 carried the recital into the early Romantic era with its lyricism and constant motion. That energy then moved naturally into the modern rhythmic punch of Kapustin and the lush Romantic writing of Suk. Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 110 brought the first half to an expressive and reflective close — an emotional peak before intermission.

After the break, the second half leaned more fully into Romantic and early modern styles. Selected movements of Schumann’s Kreisleriana highlighted its dramatic shifts and emotional depth, while Scriabin’s preludes introduced a more introspective world of shifting harmonies and subtle color.

The recital ended with Chopin’s Ballade No. 4, a piece many consider one of the most profound works in the piano repertoire. As a final selection, it tied the evening together, bringing back the themes of lyricism, intensity, and storytelling that appeared throughout the program.

Overall, the recital felt thoughtfully put together and genuinely varied. It guided listeners through a wide spectrum of piano writing — from the order and clarity of the Baroque and Classical periods, to the drama, introspection, and lyricism of the Romantic era, and finally to the rhythmic vitality of jazz-infused contemporary music. The result was a cohesive, well-paced evening that showcased the piano’s remarkable versatility.

The next Cadenza Recital is scheduled for February 8th. Contact Mark Serrano at mserrano@amsfperform.org to join.

Program