the 16th eppstein klavierfest embarks on a quest for new musical worlds
This year’s 16th Eppstein Klavierfest set out to explore new musical realms, opening with Schumann’s Papillons—sketched during his 1829 Italian sojourn and completed in Heidelberg in 1830.
The Calliope Duo—violinist Artashes Stamboltsyan and pianist Sarah Stamboltsyan—returned to the Valley Church with polished artistry, guiding the evening through engaging commentary and vivid projections of their Armenian homeland. Featured composers included Arno Babajanyan (1921–1983), whose Vocalise echoes Rachmaninoff’s lyrical sweetness, and Eduard Baghdasaryan (1922–1987), who’s dramatically charged Rhapsody in B Minor brought Armenia’s snow-capped peaks and lush valleys to life. As Reverend Heike Schuffenhauer wittily remarked: “You won’t find a cheaper trip to Armenia anywhere!”
Young Danish pianist Elisabeth Nielsen impressed with works by Scandinavian and Ukrainian composers, while French pianist Pierre-Laurent Boucharlat delivered a powerful rendition of Beethoven’s Hammerklavier Sonata on the 2.75-metre Ritmüller grand, earning a standing ovation. Eva-Maria Meisemann, who attended all five concerts, enthused: “Such magnificent music, and so close to home.”
Artistic Director Anna Victoria Tyshayeva now hopes the festival’s second half (May 28–31) will spark even greater wanderlust among local audiences.
Thursday’s opening recital features the piano duo Carles Lama and Sofia Cabruja, performing Schubert and Brahms lieder, Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre, and a two-piano arrangement of Falla’s El Amor Brujo.
Friday offers an unusual flute-and-piano pairing with Sacha de Ritis and Michela de Amicis, spanning repertoire from Telemann and Mozart to Donizetti. The Italian Trio di Genova, renowned for unearthing forgotten treasures, spotlights Nino Rota (1911–1979)—the composer behind The Godfather, Fellini’s cinematic masterpieces, and Death on the Nile.
The grand finale on Sunday features violinist Michel Gershwin and pianist Anna Victoria Tyshayeva performing works by Bach, Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Schumann. Bon voyage on this musical journey!
