Violinist Benjamin Beilman Selects:

About the Playlist

April 2, 2020

Violinist Benjamin Beilman was set to make his PUC debut on Thursday, April 2, 2020 but the concert was canceled due to Covid-19. In this list he curated, he shares with us some music that is bringing him optimism.

Eugène Ysaÿe: Solo Violin Sonata No. 5 in G Major “L’aurore,” Leonidas Kavakos, Violin

Like everyone, I’m trying to balance a few manageable goals while also treating myself in this time of isolation. This Ysaÿe sonata had been sitting on my wish list for quite some time now. It feels like a splurge to work on it since I’m not scheduled to perform it anywhere on the horizon. Ysaÿe titled this sonata “the dawn” and I think it’s worth a listen, especially since we could all use a dose of optimism. I especially love how Leonidas Kavakos reaches the swirling, euphoric climax at the end of the first movement.

Antonin Dvorak: Piano Trio No. 3 in F Minor Op. 65, Tetzlaff Trio

This piece is one of my desert island must-haves; I could listen to it on repeat and never tire of it. The second movement is a work of total genius—Dvorak starts the strings in one rhythmic meter and a few bars later sends the piano voyaging off in a totally different realm. And if you’re looking for catharsis from our current crisis, you can’t do better than diving into the third movement. Christian Tetzlaff has been a huge influence on my artistic outlook and the balance on this recording between him, his sister Tanja, and pianist Lars Vogt is pure magic.

Benjamin Britten: A Ceremony of Carols Op. 28

Since the present and near future are looking increasingly uncertain, I find myself burrowing into fond memories from my childhood. Violin was my first instrument, but my earliest pivotal musical experiences came during my time singing as an alto in the Atlanta Boy Choir. This work by Benjamin Britten was a staple of the choir’s repertoire and we performed it on an Italian tour at the Vatican, the Duomo in Siena, and the basilica in Assisi. The whole cycle is gorgeous but my personal favorites include “There is No Rose” and “Balulalow.”