“Beyond the Sonata” presents an evening of monumental piano works performed by internationally acclaimed pianist Haochen Zhang. The program pairs two late Beethoven sonatas with two large-scale works by Schumann, exploring the dialogue between Classical form and Romantic imagination.

Program

Ludwig van Beethoven

• Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101
• Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110

Robert Schumann

• Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 11
• Fantasy in C Major, Op. 17

About the Program

This recital brings together two late piano sonatas by Beethoven and two expansive masterpieces by Schumann. As defining figures of the Classical and Romantic eras, the two composers represent distinct musical worlds shaped by their times.

By juxtaposing Beethoven’s late works with Schumann’s passionate Romantic voice, the program highlights both contrast and resonance. The tension and connection between Classical structure and Romantic expressiveness form the conceptual foundation of this recital.

About Haochen Zhang

Praised for his “kaleidoscopic range of color and expression” (Gramophone), Haochen Zhang first gained international recognition when he won the Gold Medal at the 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, becoming the first Asian pianist in the competition’s history to claim the top prize.

Since then, he has captivated audiences worldwide with his extraordinary imagination, virtuosic technique, and profound musical insight.

In March 2025, his latest album was released by BIS, featuring Beethoven’s “Hammerklavier” Sonata and Liszt’s Sonata in B minor, receiving widespread acclaim. His previous recordings on BIS include Liszt’s Transcendental Études (2023), the complete Beethoven Piano Concertos with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Nathalie Stutzmann (2022), Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and his debut solo album.

Born in Shanghai in 1990, Haochen Zhang gave his first recital at the age of five. He studied at the Curtis Institute of Music under Gary Graffman and has collaborated with many of the world’s leading conductors and orchestras.

Why It’s Worth Seeing

This recital offers a rare opportunity to hear two of Beethoven’s late sonatas alongside Schumann’s monumental works in a single evening. It is both an intellectually rich and emotionally expansive program, performed by one of today’s most distinguished pianists.

For lovers of piano music, this is a chance to experience the evolution from Classical architecture to Romantic intensity, interpreted by an artist known for fearless imagination and refined artistry.