Elisabeth Brauß

Solo Piano

Sunday Concert

March 16, 2025, 4-5:30 PM

Livestream available / Online / In-Person

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Members of The Phillips Collection at the Contemporaries ($500) or higher level receive complimentary access to the livestream of this concert. Register to access the livestream link.

Program

J.S. Bach
Capriccio on the departure of a beloved brother, BWV 992
I. Ist eine Schmeichelung der Freunde, um denselben von seiner Reise abzuhalten: Arioso
II. Ist eine Vorstellung unterschiedlicher Casuum, die ihm in der Fremde könnten vorfallen
III. Ist ein allgemeines Lamento der Freunde: Adagissimo
IV. Allhier kommen die Freunde (weil sie doch sehen, dass es anders nicht sein kann) und nehmen Abschied
V. Aria di postiglione: Allegro poco
VI. Fuga all’imitazione della cornetta di postiglione

Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata No. 26 in E♭ major, Op. 81a: ‘Les Adieux’
I. Das Lebewohl (Les Adieux – The Farewell): Adagio – Allegro
II. Abwesenheit (L’Absence – The Absence): Andante espressivo
III. Das Wiedersehen (Le Retour – The Return)

-Intermission-

Robert Schumann
Geistervariationen (Ghost Variations) in E-flat major for piano, WoO 24
Theme – Leise, innig (Quiet, earnest)
Variation I
Variation II – Canonisch (Like a canon)
Variation III – Etwas belebter (Somewhat more animated)
Variation IV
Variation V

Sergei Prokofiev
Sonata No. 7
Allegro inquieto
Andante caloroso
Precipitato

Praised for her mature and sophisticated approach, pianist Elisabeth Brauß is a rising star of her generation and was recently appointed a BBC New Generation Artist. Recent highlights include debuts with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, London Chamber Orchestra, and Staatstheater Meiningen. Her recording of Grażyna Bacewicz’s Double Concerto with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, featuring Nicholas Collon and Peter Jablonski, received critical acclaim. Brauß’s program at the Phillips includes works by J.S. Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Schumann, and Sergei Prokofiev.

The pianist Elisabeth Brauß has been praised by Gramophone Magazine for “the maturity and sophistication of her thoughtful interpretations” which “would be the pride of any pianist twice her age”. Born in Hannover in 1995, Elisabeth is quickly establishing herself as one of the most exciting and versatile musicians of her generation.

As a former member of the BBC New Generation Artist Scheme, Elisabeth continues to appear regularly with solo, chamber and concerto engagements across the UK. In 2021 she made her debut at the BBC Proms, performing Mozart Piano Concerto No.23 with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. In a new partnership between this scheme and the Hallé Orchestra, she was awarded the Terence Judd-Hallé Award, given to a NGA graduate considered to be on the cusp of a major international career.

This season, Elisabeth returns to Staatsorchester Stuttgart and makes debuts with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, London Chamber Orchestra and Staatstheater Meiningen. She will also tour Germany with Wurttemberg Chamber Orchestra and trumpeter Simon Höfele, and will tour Australia with her recital partner, the violinist Noa Wildschut. A renowned chamber musician, Elisabeth will have a three-day residency at Belfast Arts Festival comprising of a solo recital and chamber collaborations. She appears regularly at Wigmore Hall and this season also appears in recital at St George’s Bristol, St John’s International Piano Series Oxford and Royal Welsh College of Music.

Further recent highlights include Finnish Radio Symphony, The Hallé, BBC Symphony, BBC Scottish Symphony and Ulster Orchestras, in addition to dates with Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra and Staatsphilharmonie Nürnberg in her native Germany. During the 2022/23 season, Elisabeth was Artist in Residence at Edesche Concertzaal, performing both solo and chamber concerts. Elisabeth also collaborates with the composer Max Richter, and has appeared in his Reflektor Festival at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg.

In May 2017, Elisabeth’s debut CD featuring works by Beethoven, Prokofiev, Chopin and Denhoff, was released by OehmsClassics. It received critical acclaim and was named ‘Editor’s Choice’ by Gramophone Magazine. Since then, she has gone on to release three more albums, collaborating with Valentino Worlitzsch, Simon Höfele, and the Beethoven Orchester Bonn featuring compositions by Max Richter to commemorate Beethoven’s 250th anniversary. Elisabeth’s most recent recording of the Bacewicz Double Concerto with Finnish Radio Symphony, Nicholas Collon & Peter Jablonski was awarded 5* and Concerto of the Month by BBC Music Magazine.

In addition to winning first prize at the International Steinway Competition in Hamburg, and the International Grotrian Steinweg Piano Competition in Braunschweig, Elisabeth was awarded the Prätorius Musikpreis Lower Saxony Prize in 2012. Further accolades include the main and audience awards at the TONALi Grand Prix in Hamburg (2013) and first prize at the Kissinger KlavierOlymp (October 2016).