The ‘Bridgetower’ Sonata: (Re)arranging the Canon

A programme that celebrates the life of George Bridgetower, a virtuoso violinist of African descent and the original dedicatee of Beethoven’s ‘Kreutzer Sonata’, through music that has also been disregarded by music history: chamber arrangements for the salon.

Bridgetower first encountered Beethoven at a salon event hosted by Count Razumovksy, during which string quartet arrangements of Beethoven’s piano sonatas were performed. Our programme will feature Beethoven’s own arrangement of an early keyboard sonata, followed by a quintet arrangement of The Kreutzer Sonata made by one of his pupils.

We will end the programme with an arrangement by Bridgetower himself, discovered in the British Library: his arrangement of an operatic overture by Cherubini for string quartet plus flute. These vibrant and colourful arrangements, which were hugely popular at the time, offer an exciting new perspective on canonic works - just as we will show how Bridgetower’s own playing was a crucial influence on Beethoven’s writing, restoring his rightful place in the history of the Kreutzer - or Bridgetower - Sonata.

Featuring Rosie Bowker and Kate Bennett Wadsworth.

https://rosiebowker.co.uk

https://katebennettwadsworth.com