It’s hard to go wrong constructing a program of late Schubert works. The challenge lies in finding a complementary mix of performers. Barnatan invited Garrick Ohlsson to play the Piano Sonata in A Major, D. 959 and the two collaborated in a poignant account of the Fantasie in F Minor for Piano Four-Hands. For the radiant Piano Trio in B-flat Major, D. 898, violinist Erin Keefe made her La…

On my February 27 recital at Alice Tully Hall, I feature Beethoven’s most popular “name” sonatas: Appassionata, Moonlight, Pathétique, and Waldstein. These four works reinforce some of our views of the Great Composer—Beethoven seizing fate by the throat, the Promethean bringer of fire, the creator who repeatedly journeys from dark to light, the man who overcame deafness to pen some of…

“You don’t play at the piano, you make the piano your collaborator,” says celebrated American pianist Garrick Ohlsson. But he could just as easily be describing how many musicians feel about performing the music of Beethoven. While the Classical/Romantic composer was very detailed in his score markings, there are myriad ways to interpret their execution. Da Camera presents Garrick Ohlsson…

While waiting for his fight at La Guardia airport, renowned pianist, Garrick Ohlsson, called for the pre-arranged interview. The topic of his non-stop global travel came up and Mr. Ohlsson said, “Any place I am is fine, but the traveling (to get there) is wretched these days.” Mr. Ohlsson is affable and has a rich laugh. Inextricably linked to Chopin as a result of winning first prize at the…

Pianist Garrick Ohlsson isn’t one of those musicians who necessarily believes that concert programs need to be built around a theme. In fact, he said, the selections in any given program “have to fit in a groove with what I’m doing in many other places.” There’s a practical reason for that: “I can only play so many pieces at a time.” So, for example, for…