Solo Recitals

Jacquelyn Helin

Piano Solo Recitals Santa Fe, New Mexico

The musical equivalent of a one-woman theatrical show, the solo recital showcases a single performer’s range and musical strengths. The solo recital was created by virtuosic 19th century performers, such as Franz Liszt, Clara Schumann, or Niccolò Paganini, who had the technique and musical scope to keep an audience enthralled for an evening. And it was during the 19th century that the piano as we know it today came into its own, with the power, sonority and resonance which could fill a concert hall. This new virtuosity, together with the capabilities of the concert grand piano, fostered the great repertoire of the 19th century by such composers as Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff.

Picture of Jacquelyn Helin sitting at a piano.

“The Copland counterposed crashing dissonant chords with warmer, placatory phrases in a fine demonstration of shifting timbres. Beethoven’s Op. 110 Sonata in A-flat was equally distinguished: phrasing was stylish, melodic and harmonic outlines were always clear–not least in the final fugue–and a strong sense of purpose was confirmed in the closing pages.”


THE LONDON TIMES

Piano Solo Recitals FAQs

  • What is a piano recital?

    A piano recital is a solo performance where a pianist plays alone throughout. Piano recitals may involve works from just one or a number of different composers;  or a recital may be an exploration of a thematic relationship such as, Fin de Siècle Vienna, or American Music of the 1930s and 40s. Sometimes it features composers the performer finds interesting to juxtapose, like Bach and Stravinsky or Mozart and Prokofiev. Live solo recitals often offer some new insights due to the repertoire selected or the juxtaposition of composer’s voices, comments about the music shared by the performer, or the excellence of the playing. 

  • How long does a solo recital usually last?

    Usually a piano recital lasts between 75-90 minutes, often with an intermission.

  • How should I prepare for attending a solo recital?

    Audience members preparing for a solo recital might listen to the pieces ahead of time, listen to other works by the composer or other composers of the same period, learn about the composer’s history and musical significance, or simply come with an open mind and readiness to listen.

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A medium-distance close up of Jacquelyn Helin's hands playing the piano.

Steinway Artist

Every Note Tells A Story