Acclaimed international pianist back in The House
Image: Pianist, Sarah Grunstein. Image: supplied
One of Australia’s most lauded musicians, Sarah Grunstein returns to the Sydney Opera House for a single performance this October. Grunstein is highly regarded and much in demand around the world. She is considered one of the foremost exponents of Bach, though she is equally engaging as an interpreter of classical and romantic composers.
Grunstein’s talent was evident from an early age. As a young teenager she played the classical piano parts for the score of Bruce Beresford’s iconic Australian film The Getting of Wisdom, which featured pieces by Beethoven, Schumann, and Thalberg, among others.
From there, Grunstein established her career by graduating from the prestigious Juilliard School in New York and going on to perform in Italy, Austria, Hungary, the U.K., New Zealand, and Australia. Over the course of her career, Grunstein has developed a keen affinity with the music of Bach and has drawn praise for her sensitive and intuitive renditions of his work.
“People ask me how I do what I do. I’ve studied and played a lot of Bach, and have read much about 18th and 19th century style – not just musical style, but compositional style, improvisation, improvisatory performance (slightly different from improvisation), and the language of various arts genres including dance, visual arts, and literature. Even though I am playing music that was composed for the harpsichord, I treat the piano as a piano and let my ‘pianist-voice’ speak. And keeping in my mind and heart Bach’s compositional language and what I believe his creative intent was, I go to town with it,” explains Grunstein.
She will perform Bach’s Goldberg Variations on piano. This complex and beautiful work comprising 30 variations on a theme, exemplifies Bach’s love of symmetry, counter-melody, and mathematical patterns.
Grunstein will play in the intimate Utzon Room which has excellent acoustics and a stunning view over the harbour.
Monday, October 24, 7:30pm
Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point
www.sarahgrunstein.com
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