Virtuoso Voices™ - Misha Dichter (Resolving Beethoven)  0:24
November 2010 CD 


[Use this clip to introduce Misha Dichter playing Beethoven – “Moonlight” Sonata (Pentatone 5186124); “Pathetique” Sonata (Pentatone (5186125).  Misha Dichter’s complete discography is available at arkivmusic.com.]



SUGGESTED HOST INTRO

How fast should Beethoven be played?  Pianist Misha Dichter (MIH-sha Dickh-tur) usually believes in following the composer’s instructions.  But with Beethoven he’s not so sure, especially if you follow the composer’s metronome markings – the directions in the music that tell you how fast to play the notes.*



Misha Dichter Clip:

“I’m still working on sonatas that I’ve been playing for forty years where I play through and I just – ‘This is crazy.  He couldn’t have meant that, maybe he did mean that, why didn’t he write that?’  I have not resolved anything yet.  I have no idea.  People always said later in his life some of these metronome markings are extremely fast because he had a problematic metronome.  I hope that’s the case because some of these things are almost unplayable.”



SUGGESTED HOST OUTRO

Here’s how pianist Misha Dichter (MIH-sha Dickh-tur) came to terms with tempo in Beethoven’s (insert sonata number).

*You may want to explain what a metronome is in greater detail:  A metronome is a ticking device used by composers to show the performer how fast or how slow a piece should be played.



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