Alexander Melnikov, piano
Jan Söderblom, violin
Kaisa Kortelainen, flute

Several times in his career, Franz Schubert was inspired to compose works of remarkable virtuosity. Three of his most famous examples will be heard in Karhusaari’s Schubertiade, each built around one of Schubert’s own well-known songs. These pieces were all prompted by commissions or other external circumstances, and at first, they failed to gain much acclaim—perhaps because early performances could not meet their extreme technical demands, leaving their poetic qualities underappreciated.

For the flute and violin works, Schubert himself later simplified some of the most fiendish passages, but the piano parts remain unaltered—displaying dazzling challenges on nearly every page. In the refined setting of the Sinebrychoff Villa, these will be brought to life by Alexander Melnikov, one of the world’s leading masters of historical pianos.

Programme:
Franz Schubert: Introduction and Variations for Piano and Flute, D.802 “Trockne Blumen”
Kaisa Kortelainen, flute
Alexander Melnikov, piano

Franz Schubert: Fantasia in C major for Violin and Piano, D.934 “Sei mir gegrüßt”
Jan Söderblom, violin
Alexander Melnikov, piano

Franz Schubert: Fantasia in C major for Piano, Op.15 “Wanderer”
Alexander Melnikov, piano

Duration: approx. 70 minutes, no intermission