Graduate piano recital and annotated program notes

Evelina Savonin
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:58:56 PDT

This paper serves as the annotated program notes, examining the repertoire performed in my graduate piano recital on April 14th, 2024. The repertoire features Domenico Scarlatti’s Keyboard Sonatas K. 127, K. 119, K. 466, and K. 427; Johannes Brahms’s Klavierstücke Op. 119; Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sonata in A-Flat Major, Op. 110; and Franz Liszt’s Vallée d’Obermann. The official recital program and YouTube link to my recital are provided in the appendix. Each section of the paper explores the historical context, stylistic characteristics, and interpretive considerations of the compositions, highlighting their distinctive qualities and the composers’ contributions to piano literature. Key elements discussed include form, harmony, thematic connections, structural innovations, and expressive nuances, offering insights into the artistic and technical challenges these works present. This paper thus frames the recital program as a representation of diverse musical traditions and an exploration of contrasting emotional and stylistic landscapes.