Lura Johnson plays Beethoven Piano Sonata Op. 22, second movement

A note from pianist Lura Johnson:
Beethoven’s Op. 22 Sonata is a special piece for me. It is one I studied with Leon Fleisher, whose wisdom and grace form a sort of cosmic halo around him. I was chosen, along with four other pianists from across the country, to participate in a workshop at Carnegie Hall. We four were immersed in Beethoven Piano Sonatas, with hours of lessons every day with Mr. Fleisher, interspersed with ancillary activities designed to challenge us as young artists. We attended workshops on programming, musical analysis, and even physical movement. It was an intense unforgettable immersion experience that left an indelible impression on me. Our ten days of work were rewarded at the close of the festival with a performance in the storied Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. It was a thrill I’ll never forget. Mr. Fleisher’s teaching resonated with me. Almost everything he told me just felt like truth with a capital T. Many of his ideas were ones I had heard before from other teachers. But his focus on freedom, listening, allowing, and letting go had a dramatic impact on me. It was as though he unlocked something deep within me that was holding back. The immense gratitude and affection that I feel for him are impossible to quantify.
It’s a great pleasure for me to share this incredible slow movement from Beethoven’s Op. 22 with the CC@2 audience! We musicians miss you, our audience, very much. We look forward to the day when we can be together again, making and enjoying music.

[@hillarykruh]

Thank you. Beautiful!

[@markshepherd3709]

beautiful!

[@konstantinkartashov3808]

Great performance, deeply felt