*Note: The following program notes were created with the help of AI.Johann Sebastian Bach — Toccata in C Minor, BWV 911Composed during Bach’s early years, likely in Weimar around 1710, the Toccata in C Minor is one of a set of seven keyboard toccatas that show the young composer experimenting boldly with form, texture, and drama. Unlike later works with more fixed structures, this toccata is a … [Read more...]

Beethoven, Thirty-Two Variations in C Minor, WoO 80 (1806) In just ten minutes, Beethoven’s Variations offer a dazzling display of compositional inventiveness, emotional range, and keyboard virtuosity. Composed in 1806, the work is built on a simple eight-bar theme, almost austere in its clarity—yet from this modest beginning, Beethoven spins out a remarkable sequence of variations that explore … [Read more...]

The 2025-26 Season is announced, and we're honored to present these award winning, international pianists bring this music to the San Francisco Bay Area. For easy access to the season at a glance and links to each concert, visit the Concerts Section of the website at https://steinwaysociety.com/concerts/2025-26-season-at-a-glance/ The Steinway Society's 2025-26 concert season will feature a … [Read more...]

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Two Rhapsodies, Op. 79 (1879) Composed during the summer of 1879 in Pörtschach, Austria, Brahms’s Two Rhapsodies, Op. 79, represent a mature phase in his compositional career. Initially titled Klavierstücke (Piano Pieces), Brahms renamed them "Rhapsodies" at the suggestion of his friend and musical confidante, Elisabeth von Herzogenberg, to whom the pieces are … [Read more...]