Washington Musica Viva: Raycurt Johnson & Carl Banner in 'The Bridgetower Sonata' Dec. 22

[George Bridgetower and Raycurt Johnson, Violinist and Baritone]

Washington Musica Viva

Sunday, December 12, 2010

The Bridgetower Sonata

About George Bridgetower, from Raycurt Johnson:

He visited Vienna later in 1803, where he performed with Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven was impressed, and dedicated his great Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major (Op. 47) to Bridgetower, with the goodheartedly mocking dedication Sonata per uno mulaticco lunattico. Barely finished, the piece received its first public performance at the Augarten Theatre on 24 May 1803, with Beethoven on pianoforte and Bridgetower on violin. Bridgetower had to read the violin part of the second movement from Beethoven's copy, over his shoulder. He made a slight amendment to his part, which Beethoven gratefully accepted, jumping up to say "Noch einmal, mein lieber Bursch!" ("Once more, my dear fellow!"). Beethoven also presented Bridgetower with his tuning fork, now held by the British Library. The pair fell out soon afterwards, Bridgetower having insulted a woman who turned out to be Beethoven's friend; Beethoven broke off all relations with Bridgetower and changed the dedication of the new violin sonata to the violin virtuoso Rudolphe Kreutzer, who never played it, saying that it had already been performed once and was too difficult — the piece is now known as the Kreutzer Sonata.

“BEETHOVEN Christmas Holiday Soiree

Filming Recital at the

Shiloh Baptist Church Chapel Hall

1500 9th street N.W.

Washington, D.C.

“Wednesday December 22 2010, 7:00 pm

Ludwig von Beethoven Sonata #9 in A major, Op.47

*Sonata per uno mulaticco lunattico.*

Re-dedication as Kreutzer Sonata

“George Frederick Handel, Excerpts from the 'MESSIAH' Oratorio.

'Thus saith the Lord': and 'But Whom may abide the day of his comming'"

“Raycurt Johnson, Violinist/Baritone

Carl Banner, Pianist”

[George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower (1780-1860) is featured at AfriClassical.com on a page researched and written by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma of Lawrence University Conservatory in Appleton, Wisconsin.]