Free Beethoven (and your mind will follow)

Henderson plays all Beethoven sonatas in 4 days of free shows


Peter Henderson, one of the finest pianists in the metropolitan area, will play all 32 of Beethoven’s sonatas over the course of four days in concert at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park’s Mildred E. Bastian Center for the Performing Arts, 5600 Oakland Ave.

Henderson, who teaches at Maryville University and is in the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, will play 105 movements, about half of them from memory. The house lights will be up, so musicians are encouraged to bring their Beethoven scores with them. The concerts are free and open to the public from Thursday, Dec. 15 through Sunday, Dec. 18.

“Please join us in hearing some of the greatest music ever written. Additionally, you’ll be helping to encourage Peter as he checks this item of his ‘Bucket List,'*” said Thomas Zirkle, associate professor and music coordinator at STLCC-Forest Park.

The schedule is as follows:

Concert 1: Piano Sonatas Nos. 1-4, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15

Concert 2: Piano Sonatas Nos. 5-8, at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16

Concert 3: Piano Sonatas Nos. 19-20, 9-11, at noon on Saturday, Dec. 17

Concert 4: Piano Sonatas Nos. 12-15, at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17

Concert 5: Piano Sonatas Nos. 16-18, and 21, at 7 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 17

Concert 6: Piano Sonatas Nos. 22-26, at noon on Sunday, Dec. 18

Concert 7: Piano Sonatas Nos. 27-29, at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18

Concert 8: Piano Sonatas Nos. 30-32, at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18

For more information, contact Zirkle at: 314-644-9679 or tzirkle@stlcc.edu.

* Confluence City objects to use of cliched meme "Bucket List" in this SLCC press release.
**

Beethoven painting by Rhom.