University of Utah pianist Heather Conner will play a recital this weekend as part of the U.’s Sundays@7 series. She’ll be playing a demanding program with music by three giants of the keyboard: Franz Liszt, Après une lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi Sonata; Ludwig van Beethoven, Appassionata Sonata, op. 57; and Sergei Prokofiev, Sonata No. 7 in B flat.

Heather Conner

Reichel Recommends asked Conner to describe why she chose this particular program. In an email response she wrote:

“I chose this program – three war horses of the piano repertoire – because it is something atypical for me. After playing an all-Chopin and a heavy Germanic program of Schumann and Brahms in late 2010 (I usually gravitate towards those types of recitals), I was ready for a contrast in styles and a vastly different, perhaps more technical, kind of program.

“I have always loved all three sonatas. I learned the Liszt for the Intermezzo Chamber Music Series in July 2011 (for the 200th anniversary of Liszt’s birth). I have frequently taught the Beethoven Appassionata but never performed it myself. I wanted to add another Beethoven sonata to my repertoire, so I decided to learn it last fall, for a guest artist recital at the University of Northern Colorado….The Prokofiev sonata (one of the “war” sonatas) is absolutely electrifying and has been a favorite of mine since I was a young student. Of course, the last movement is legendary and hypnotic, but I also find the sorrowfulness of the second movement and the energy of the first movement very captivating.”

CONCERT INFO:

• What: Heather Conner, piano
• Venue: Libby Gardner Concert Hall
• Time and Date: 7 p.m. March 3
• Tickets: Free
• Web: www.music.utah.edu