BEETHOVEN, MENDELSSOHN, GOETHE

Thursday, November 20, 7:30PM

TRIO BOHÉMO

Beethoven Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor, Op. 1 No. 3
Mendelssohn Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49

Illustrated talk by Ulrich Baer

The Players
16 Gramercy Park South, New York

Did you know that both Beethoven and Mendelssohn were deeply influenced by the genius of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe—the renowned German poet, playwright, and towering figure whose works became a cornerstone of German Romanticism? Both composers had the rare privilege of meeting Goethe in person—encounters that left a profound impression on their artistic paths.

Beethoven was notably inspired by Goethe’s novel of unrequited love and existential longing, "The Sorrows of Young Werther." Moreover, Goethe’s reflections on individualism and the role of the artist in society resonated deeply with Beethoven, who regarded himself as a revolutionary figure in music.

Felix Mendelssohn, who met Goethe as a young prodigy, was captivated by Goethe’s monumental drama "Faust"—a two-part masterpiece that took over sixty years to complete and remains one of the defining works of world literature. Mendelssohn’s settings from "Faust Part II" and the "Walpurgisnacht" scenes reveal his response to its philosophical scope and supernatural imagery.

Join us for Ulrich Bayer’s captivating introduction to Goethe’s literary and philosophical genius, followed by Trio Bohémo’s performance of two magnificent piano trios by Beethoven and Mendelssohn—superb examples of how powerfully Goethe’s spirit continued to resonate in music.