Khrystyna Mykhailichenko

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Piano Sonata No. 31, Op. 110 (Beethoven)

i Moderato cantabile molto espressivo, ii Allegro molto, iii Adagio ma non troppo – Allegro ma non troppo

The Piano Sonata No. 31 in A♭ major, Op. 110, by Ludwig van Beethoven was composed in 1821 and published in 1822. It is the middle piano sonata in the group of three (Opp. 109, 110, and 111) that he wrote between 1820 and 1822, and is the penultimate of his piano sonatas. Though the sonata was commissioned in 1820, Beethoven did not begin work on Op. 110 until the latter half of 1821, and final revisions were completed in early 1822. The delay was due to factors such as Beethoven's work on the Missa solemnis and his deteriorating health. The original edition was published by Schlesinger in Paris and Berlin in 1822 without dedication, and an English edition was published by Muzio Clementi in 1823.

Johannes Brahms (1883-1897)

Six Pieces for Piano, Op. 118 (Brahms)

i Intermezzo in A minor, ii Intermezzo in A major, iii Ballade in G minor, iv Intermezzo in F minor, v Romanze in F major, vi Intermezzo in E♭ minor

Brahms’s Six Pieces for Piano, Op. 118, were completed in 1893 and published with a dedication to Clara Schumann. The set was the penultimate of Brahms’s published works. It was also his penultimate work for piano solo.

Mykola Lysenko (1842-1912)

Ukrainian Rhapsody No. 2 ‘Dumka-Schumka’, Op. 18 (Lysenko) 

Rhapsody No. 2, named “Dumka-Shumka” was written by Ukrainian Romantic composer Mykola Lysenko. In this work, the composer continued the traditions of European piano music of the 19th century (originally also written for piano solo), including the famous Hungarian Rhapsodies by Franz Liszt. With this piece, often called “Ukrainian”, Lysenko shows great respect for history, for the heroic times of the Cossacks – an important era of Ukrainian history. It’s displayed in the bright musical image of the Ukrainian musician, a kobzar, as well as in the melodies of Ukrainian folk songs, dumas, and in the rapid and awe-inspiring song and dance “shumka”.

Performers

Khrystyna Mykhailichenko - Piano

Khrystyna Mykhailichenko is a young Ukrainian pianist who was born in Crimea. She began to play the piano when she was four. Within six years, she was winning international piano competitions and was performing in concerts throughout Europe and in the USA. The venues include Salle Cortot in Paris, Bozar Hall in Brussels, the Music Academies of Bruges, Antwerp, Krakow, Bremen, Gariunu concert hall in Vilnius, the University of Miami and Broward Centre for the Performing Arts, the World Bank in Washington DC, the UN residence in New York and all the National Philharmonics of Ukraine.