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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Exploring Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas by Curtis Institute of Music

4.8
stars
605 ratings

About the Course

Our relationship to Beethoven is a deep and paradoxical one. For many musicians, he represents a kind of holy grail: His music has an intensity, rigor, and profundity which keep us in its thrall, and it is perhaps unequalled in the interpretive, technical, and even spiritual challenges it poses to performers. At the same time, Beethoven’s music is casually familiar to millions of people who do not attend concerts or consider themselves musically inclined. Two hundred years after his death, he is everywhere in the culture, yet still represents its summit. This course takes an inside-out look at the 32 piano sonatas from the point of view of a performer. Each lecture will focus on one sonata and an aspect of Beethoven’s music exemplified by it. (These might include: the relationship between Beethoven the pianist and Beethoven the composer; the critical role improvisation plays in his highly structured music; his mixing of extremely refined music with rougher elements; and the often surprising ways in which the events of his life influenced his compositional process and the character of the music he was writing.) The course will feature some analysis and historical background, but its perspective is that of a player, not a musicologist. Its main aim is to explore and demystify the work of the performer, even while embracing the eternal mystery of Beethoven’s music itself. This season's Curtis courses are sponsored by Linda Richardson in loving memory of her husband, Dr. Paul Richardson. The Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation supports Curtis's lifelong learning initiatives....

Top reviews

M

Jun 3, 2020

This course and Mr. Biss' immense knowledge of Beethoven's sonatas and that era has given me a new interest in classical music. I can understand and speak about it more confidently than ever!

JN

Apr 14, 2020

Excellent coverage of the essentials. Provided me with a lot of understanding that I didn't find elsewhere. I would recommend this to anyone interested in knowing about the sonatas.

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101 - 125 of 147 Reviews for Exploring Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas

By Jak K

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Aug 31, 2015

Perfection, both in content and execution!

By Luis L

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Aug 28, 2015

A great pianist and teacher, bravo Maestro

By Cary C

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May 6, 2019

Absolutely fabulous teaching about music.

By Francisco P M

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Jan 9, 2017

Really interesting. Highly recommendable.

By Mario A

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Aug 31, 2015

Excelente maestro... recomendable 100%

By Amparo R S

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Aug 10, 2017

Interesantes tópicos y buen análisis.

By Marlene W

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Sep 10, 2022

have completed but remains at 99%

By Richard G

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Dec 2, 2019

Excellent material and instructor.

By jean j

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Oct 4, 2015

fantastic course. excellent prof

By Aida B S H

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Aug 17, 2015

Instructor is amazing! The best!

By Ni H

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Aug 19, 2015

Very insightful and inspiring

By Shadow041036 I

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Oct 1, 2024

Thank you very much 😊 ☺️ 🙏

By centro d e a C I

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Jan 26, 2017

Thank you very much.

By Percy Y

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Nov 1, 2015

Exciting and Clear !

By Rafael S

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Mar 21, 2016

So far, excellent!

By Karim T R

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Feb 9, 2017

Incredible class.

By wang p

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Nov 13, 2015

非常好！~！！！！！！！！一定要听

By LUANA M L A

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Sep 3, 2016

Great course!

By Jacob F

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Aug 15, 2015

great teacher

By Beethoven

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Feb 8, 2016

Inspiration!

By Ji Y

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Aug 15, 2015

Pretty good!

By elizabeth c

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Feb 7, 2019

Phenomenal!

By Tom M

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Jan 19, 2016

Good stuff.

By Ignacio T A

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Oct 18, 2016

Excellent.

By Wan Y

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Sep 1, 2016

excellent!