Brahms and the Progressives

Aug 1, 11:27 PM

The promise of the future, and then a vintage Romantic. Following the noontime master class, led by pianist and artistic director Wu Han, Saturday’s Koret Young Performers Concert spotlighted an astounding array of youthful talent (musicians ages 10-18) in works by Handel, Ravel, Mendelssohn, Saint-Saëns, and Cėsar Franck. At the evening’s Carte Blanche Concert came two distinguished maestros’ time to shine, as violinist Joseph Swensen and pianist Jeffrey Kahane—longtime collaborators and each an internationally renowned conductor—joined forces for a heartstopping performance of the three Sonatas for Violin and Piano of Johannes Brahms.

The season’s Carte Blanche Concerts conclude on Sunday evening with An Evening with Menahem Pressler. The pianist and former founding member of the venerable Beaux Arts Trio makes his long-awaited Music@Menlo debut with an ambitious recital program that includes the late sonatas of Beethoven and Schubert, as well as as a guest appearance by Wu Han in Schubert’s four-hand Lebensstürme.