Helene Grimaud
Back in the Main Hall: Hélène Grimaud. This pianist has works in her repertoire ranging from Bach to contemporary music. But Grimaud is known not only as a musician, but also for her personal philosophy and involvement in various philanthropic and ecological projects. She has a particular passion for nature conservation, and her love for the wolf led her to found the Wolf Conservation Center in New York State, a center dedicated to protecting wolves in the wild. In addition, Grimaud has written several books.
Beethoven and Schubert
At the end of their lives, Beethoven and Schubert explored new paths and unveiled new vistas. Each did so in their own way. Beethoven's Sonata No. 32 and Schubert's Sonata D 960, two monuments, differ enormously from one another. Beethoven's last sonata, from 1822, is a groundbreaking two-movement piece in which he seeks new, whimsical forms and spectacular techniques. Schubert's D 960 from 1828, also his last sonata, is a sprawling four-movement work, imbued with a melodic lyricism that expresses the deepest emotions in pristine beauty. These two mysterious piano sonatas leave the listener speechless, and that is good, for—as Wittgenstein said—of what we cannot speak, we must remain silent.