sports
March 13, 2026
Elisabeth Leonskaja review
Wigmore Hall, LondonIn her recital programme of Beethoven, Schoenberg, Chopin, Webern and Schubert, the Austrian pianist brought new insights and expressive playing
TL;DR
- Elisabeth Leonskaja, an eighty-year-old Austrian pianist, performed a program at Wigmore Hall featuring Beethoven, Schoenberg, Chopin, Webern, and Schubert.
- Her playing was characterized by expressive emotion and an unerring sense of underlying architecture, revealing connections between the works.
- Leonskaja interpreted Beethoven's Op 77 Fantasia by focusing on its initial thematic fragments, suggesting they were the true heart of the piece.
- The performance contrasted Schoenberg's lyricism with Chopin's Scherzo, showcasing Leonskaja's dynamic range and intent.
- The recital concluded with Schubert's Piano Sonata in A minor D845, with Leonskaja cherishing its variations and anchoring their lightness.
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