Passion "Beyond the Bounds of Decency" | Aidan Mikdad, Piano

The power, passion and ravishing beauty of Aidan's playing has dazzled audiences ever since he burst onto the musical scene after winning first prize at the Royal Concertgebouw Competition in 2012 at the age of 11. Between 2021–23 Aidan studied with Professor Joanna MacGregor at the Royal Academy of Music where he graduated with Distinction and was awarded the coveted 'Queen's commendation for excellence'.

Programme

BEETHOVEN – The Waldstein Sonata No. 21 Opus 53

CHOPIN – Prelude No. 25 in C-sharp minor from Opus 28

CHOPIN – Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp minor Opus 39

CHOPIN – Berceuse in D-flat major Opus 57

CHOPIN – Sonata No. 3 in B minor Opus 58

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Tonight we shall hear how Chopin, who wrote almost exclusively small works for the piano, exploited the instrument's technical and expressive boundaries in passionate works from preludes and scherzos to mazurkas and sonatas. One disapproving British music critic denounced the finale of Chopin's Sonata in B minor as going 'beyond the bounds of decency'. On the other hand, Schumann was moved to exclaim, "Hats off, gentlemen, a genius!"