Cristian Sandrin performs piano sonatas by Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert

★★★★★ BBC Music Magazine

Critics Choice 2025 - American Record Guide

“Sandrin is a wonderful Beethoven interpreter” - Piano News Deutschland

Hailed by critics on both sides of the Atlantic for his immaculate technique, crystalline clarity and mature interpretations, Cristian Sandrin's latest programme is inspired by Prospero's speech in Shakespeare's play The Tempest as he reflects on the fleeting nature of life, "We are such stuff as dreams are made on and our little life is rounded with a sleep", a sentiment that appealed to the Romantics. Cristian's recital features piano sonatas by three pioneers of Romanticism: Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, in a thrilling musical feast of colour and drama, intimacy and elemental fire.

This recital is produced by the charity PROMOTE OUR PIANISTS working together with KETTNER CONCERTS to offer live performances to outstanding young pianists.

REPERTOIRE

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART

Piano Sonata in A minor K310

Composed in Paris in 1778 where Mozart enjoyed the revolutionary experience of performing to a paying audience, before his mother fell ill and died. The heartbreaking melancholy of the second movement is a timeless outpouring of grief.

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN

Piano Sonata in D minor op. 31 No. 2 'The Tempest'

Beethoven moved from Bonn to Vienna in 1792 in the hope of becoming Mozart's heir by playing in concert halls to a paying public. When his duplicitous factotum asked what the sonata was all about he is said to have retorted, "Read Shakespeare's Tempest."

Franz SCHUBERT

Piano Sonata in A minor D.845

Schubert lived a carefree Bohemian life in Vienna until being diagnosed with syphilis in 1823. The first movement is more tempestuous than any other Schubert sonata. We are then led through a meandering panorama of life towards the final Rondo that seems to rage against fate, reflecting the composer's tortured soul.

Biographies:

Cristian Sandrin

“Immaculate technique, crystalline clarity and thoughtful music input” Classical Voice of America “pianist Cristian Sandrin sets the bar impressively high” ★★★★★ BBC Music Magazine

“This is a pianist to watch and, for any performes worth their salt, to envy and emulate” American Record Guide

I was born in Bucharest into a family of musicians so I have been immersed in classical music all my life. My father was the distinguished pianist and professor Sandu Sandrin. Our home was always buzzing with his musician friends.

From an early age he took me to concerts at the famous Romanian Atheneum concert halland I studies the piano at the Dinu Lipatti college, but I was never pressured to follow in my father's footsteps. It was only when I heard Christian Zacharias and the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra performing the Mozart concerti at the Atheneum when I was twelve that I was inspired to contemplate life as a professional musician. Sixteen years later I had my own debut at the Bucharest Atheneum in 2021 Performin Mozart’s K503 Piano Concerto in C major with the George Enescu Phihamronic.

The works of Mozart remain a passion towards I am continuosly drawn. Last year I performed Mozart Piano concertos with the English Chamber Orchestra Ensemble and in May 2026 I will perform in the Serate Musicale in Milan.

Critics on both sides of the Atlantic have praised my performances and my recordings. My recent Beethoven recording has been awarded the Critics’ Choice 2025 accolade by the American Record Guide and my latest Purcell solo CD, has been awarded th Instrumental Choice by the BBC Music Magazine as well as a finalist in the Presto’s Classical Recordings of 2025.

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