Stephen Kovacevich teaches Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2
Treasures of the Masterclass Media Foundation
Thank you for your understanding.
Cast
Stephen Kovacevich — Teacher, pianist
David Kadouch — Pianist (student)
Program notes
Internationally renowned as a soloist and concertist for performing works from the classical and romantic repertoires, Stephen Kovacevich dedicates himself to Beethoven in this masterclass.
When still a teenager, the American Stephen Kovacevich made his first public appearances with the San Francisco Symphony. But it was only in 1961 that his career really started, when he gave a recital at the Wigmore Hall in London in a program bringing Berg, Bach and Beethoven together. He was so successful that night that he was immediately shot to the top. Then he pursued a career as a soloist and chamber musician, accompanied by Major names such as Jacqueline du Pré or Martha Argerich. Since 1984, he has brilliantly been carrying out conductor activities, conducting for instance the Chamber Orchestra of Europe or the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
In 2003, he recorded the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas, earning the distinction "Choc" from the French leading magazine Le Monde de la musique, and also a "Diapason d’or." This time, he has devoted himself to Beethoven’s second of the five piano concertos. In fact, this Piano Concerto No. 2 has been composed before the first one by Beethoven who was 25 years old at that time. This piece, full of subtlety and slow movements, ends on the high notes with robust themes, which reminds us of Mozart’s great classicism.
The Masterclass Media Foundation archives offer to students and music lovers around the world filmed masterclasses, given by the best talents, on the greatest works of the classical repertoire. Their primary purpose is to provide a valuable educational resource in order to perpetuate passion and knowledge from one generation to another.
