Celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday with pianist Daniel Epstein and Steeple Concerts in Westfield on Sunday, November 8

Steeple Concerts at St. Paul’s is proud to present renowned pianist Daniel Epstein in recital on Sunday, November 8. In anticipation of Beethoven’s 250th birthday on December 16, the concert will include his Piano Sonata #31 in A-flat major, Op. 110, together with music by Bach and Liszt. The Beethoven sonata is one of his last three piano sonatas, which were composed between 1820 and 1822 and which are considered some of the greatest works in the piano literature. Together with the Ninth Symphony, Missa Solemnis, and final string quartets, these sonatas comprise some of Beethoven’s final compositions.

The same program will be presented twice, at 3pm and 6pm. Following NJ state guidelines, we are restricting our audience size to fifty members per concert and shortening each concert to approximately 45 minutes in length. All concertgoers must wear a mask at all times while in the building and audience members will be asked to remain seated in their assigned pew for the duration of the concert.

Daniel Epstein is a graduate of the Juilliard School, where he studied with Adele Marcus. Mr. Epstein gained international attention in 1973 as the first American to perform the Yellow River Concerto with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, just before their historic tour of China. He has appeared as guest soloist with major symphony orchestras including those of Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas, Detroit, and Rochester. As the pianist and founding member of the famed Raphael Trio, Daniel Epstein has performed virtually the entire piano trio repertoire. He has also collaborated with many renowned string quartets, as well as with many other distinguished chamber musicians and soloists. Mr. Epstein is a member of the piano faculties of Manhattan School of Music and Rutgers University.

The recital is the second of four concerts in the Steeple Concerts 2020-2021 season. The final two programs will feature solo performances by harpist Bridget Kibbey and cellist Oliver Herbert. Advance purchase of tickets is required due to capacity limitations and the collection of necessary information for contact tracing for the 3pm and 6pm performances on each date. Depending on current state recommendations, we may offer a streaming video performance in lieu of a concert with audience present.

Tickets to the concert are $25 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets and details about this concert and upcoming programs for the season are available on the Steeple Concerts website at www.steepleconcerts.org.

St. Paul’s Church is located at 414 East Broad Street in downtown Westfield, NJ. Free parking is available in the parking lot adjacent to the church or on St. Paul’s Street on the south side of the church. Steeple Concerts at St. Paul’s is presented by the Friends of Music, a 501(c)3 organization devoted to presenting the arts in Westfield.

Join us to experience the thrilling experience of live music and celebrate Beethoven’s 250th on Sunday, November 8!