Two Great Cello Sonatas

A wonderful concert is planned for Sunday September 21, 3 pm. in First Congregational Church, Beloit, when two great masterpieces for Cello and Piano will be performed by visiting artists, Benjamin Whitman, cello, of UW-Whitewater, and pianist Vincent deVries of the University of South Korea-Seoul. The two works are the Cello Sonata, Opus 8 (1899), by Ernö Dohnányi  and Richard Strauss' Cello Sonata which he completed in 1883 at age 19. The latter has been one of Strauss' most frequently performed works, with constant critical praise from the very beginning. It should be of special interest to all of us who are perhaps more familiar with Strauss' orchestral works and operas. Maestri Whitman and deVries will open the concert with a set of variations by Beethoven--an appropriate prelude for experiencing these two later masterpieces.