Mainly by Moonlight

PREVIEW - SAM HAYWOOD
St Martin-In-The Fields

BEETHOVEN’S Moonlight Sonata is one of the most popular amongst both pianists and music lovers, with its moving melody, infused with melancholy.
But it is a deceptively difficult piece.
On Tuesday pianist Sam Haywood (pictured), whose reputation is growing year on year, is performing the piece amongst a popular programme including Chopin’s Nocturne in C sharp minor and Mozart’s Sonata in A Rondo alla Turca.
The first movement of the Moonlight is characterised by the arpeggiated right hand, the simple melody singing above it, while the left hand is predominantly octave chords. Reading the music itself is relatively straightforward, it is the interpretation of the piece which makes it so difficult – getting the weight of the melody just right, when and where to use the soft pedal.
The second movement is certainly harder, quicker and with aspects of a fugue.
Performed well, the piece is terrifically satisfying and Haywood, who won the Isserlis Award from the Royal Philharmonic Society and is now based in Berlin, is one of the pianists of his generation. The performance is at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Tuesday.
Another piano concert worth catching this week is the appearance of Angela Brownridge, a former child prodigy who has performed extensively around the world, appearing at St Pancras church on Thursday, performing a programme including Mozart, Liszt and Chopin.

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