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Hélène Grimaud

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Hélène Grimaud sitting on a chair in front of a wooden fence

Free-spirited French pianist Hélène Grimaud brings her radical approach to three transcendental and powerful masterpieces of the piano literature, in an evening of delightful musical contradictions.

Busoni wanted his transcriptions to 'remove the dust of tradition'. Not that Bach's Chaconne could ever be described as dusty, but Busoni's take is enough to make even an atheist look skywards. Beethoven is full of surprises, nowhere more so than in his piano sonatas. No 30 is one of his most intimate, a melting pot of juxtapositions: fast and slow, soft and loud, major and minor.

French pianist Hélène Grimaud brings passion, integrity and creative freedom to everything she does – she is also a conservationist and human rights activist – giving performances that are as heartfelt and direct as if they were being improvised by the composers themselves. Expect the unexpected in her interpretations of these great works.

Tagged with: Classical music Barbican Presents

The end time for this concert will be added here closer to the performance date

Produced by the Barbican

Programme

Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Sonata No 30
Johannes Brahms Three Intermezzi for Piano
Fantasies
Johann Sebastian Bach/Ferruccio Busoni Chaconne

This programme has changed from as originally advertised. Schumann's Kreisleriana has been replaced by Three Intermezzi for Piano and Fantasies by Brahms. 23/2/2023

Performers

Hélène Grimaud piano

Digital programme

Close up photo of Helene Grimaud resting her head on her arms

Hélène Grimaud

In a typically individual programme, much of Hélène Grimaud’s recital is devoted to composers’ late music. Find out more in our free digital programme.

Read the programme

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