Martha Argerich, long-time resident of Geneva, and one of our dedicated soloists, regularly gracing our concerts with her presence. When her skilful fingers dance across the keys, the young Beethoven’s 1^st Concerto takes on a distinctive character, especially in the impetuous finale, which intriguingly echoes the rhythm of Southern American folk music. This musical journey will be framed by two works evoking the past: A dive into Louis XIV’s France and eminent harpsichord masters; among these, Ravel’s exquisite Tombeau de Couperin, his poignant tribute to friends lost on the battlefields of World War I. At the height of his glory, Beethoven turns to his mentor Joseph Haydn, father of the symphony, with his lively Symphony No. 8. Playful like his elder, he cleverly mimics the unbearable, incessant tick-tock of the metronome, newly invented by his friend Mälzel, in the second movement, replacing the usual slow progression. Audible quirks in the mechanism reveal the faltering orderly cadence.

This concert is recorded and broadcast live on 16.10.24 as part of the programme ‘Plein jeu’, produced by Mitsou Carré. 
Most of the concerts recorded by RTS Espace 2 are available on the Play RTS application: rts.ch/play or rts.ch/culture or osr.ch/live

We are thinking of the Russian pianist and writer, Pawel Kuschnir, a political activist, who died in July 2024, following a hunger strike in a prison in Russia.