Patricia Verhagen knows how to fascinate even the most spoiled audience. Apart from musical perfection her solo performances usually obtain an extra dimension by an intelligent thematically approach and the use of visual media.

French program “L’ Eau et Vent” with compositions of Debussy, Ravel and Fauré performed on a modern grand piano or an Erard or Pleyel from the same period, elucidated with images of impressionistic paintings if desired.

Waltz and Tango: forbidden dances!

This program depicts the development of the waltz and tango in the piano music. People were reviled when these dances were played and danced for the first time: much too vulgar. In the first part waltzes of Mozart, Schubert, Chopin, Brahms, Glinka, Grovlez, Turina, Gershwin, and the Curacao composers Palm and Capriles are performed. After the break the tango is highlighted: from the originally Argentinian tango to the tango nuevo of Piazolla. Furthermore tango’s of the Brasilian composer Nazareth will be played, in which Portuguese influences can be detected, of the Spanish composers Albeniz and Turina  and of the American composer Carpenter.

Russian Soulmates

The famous composers Rachmaninoff and Shostakowitch helped their less known but by them very esteemed colleagues, Medtner and Weinberg, in difficult times. In this program I play compositions written by these wonderful composers; short films illustrate their lifes. Medtner wrote more in the style of Brahms and Schumann than of his contemporaries Fauré and Debussy and that’s why he stood on the sidelines. Unfairly! Weinberg’s life was marked by the persecution of the Jews. Nevertheless, his work is impressive and versatile. Besides compositions of these four composers a Sonata by Prokofiev is also played.

Classical – Romantic

A program with works by Haydn, Beethoven, Chopin and Rachmaninoff. A varied and exciting program with a sonata, variations, nocturne and ballade and préludes.