Gifts from the darkness

An extraordinary occasion where classical piano takes center stage.

7:30 p.m. March 16, 2024

Berkeley Piano Club, Berkeley, CA

Buy Tickets Today

anatomy of a nocturne

Sign up for updates and background on the March 16th event and you’ll receive “Anatomy of a Nocturne” as a thank you. 

This beautiful genre is a shining star of the piano literature. Here’s your chance to learn all about this very special type of Romantic music.

Your gift will include a PDF booklet and a video lesson with Rebecca Bogart at the piano.

Fanny Hensel was the older sister of the famous Felix Mendelssohn. And when the German philosopher Goethe met the Mendelssohn siblings, he thought Fanny was more talented than Felix. But her family pressured her to keep her gifts under wraps to preserve their status as part of the gilded circle of Berlin’s elite.

More than two centuries later there are still challenges that keep artistic voices silent.

Rebecca Bogart was a rising star on the San Francisco Bay Area classical scene, until a surprise breast cancer diagnosis forced her to stop her music making. By necessity she focused inward to deal with the emotional and financial darkness of cancer treatment.

After almost a decade, she entered a recording competition on a whim, and won first prize: a performance at Carnegie Hall. Catapulted back into the saddle, she reconnected with her calling.

And now she is ready to share with you a moving program of the gifts to be found from facing darkness.

GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
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The program

The first half will shine a light on unjustly neglected works by composers Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel and Clara Schumann.

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805-1847)
Notturno H. 337
Song for the Piano Opus 8 No. 3
Allegro in B Flat Major H. 294

Clara Schumann (1819-1896)
Prelude and Fugue in G Minor Opus 16 No. 1
Notturno Opus 6 No. 2
Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann Opus 20
Romanze No. 3 in G minor Opus 21 No. 3

Beautiful melody and consummate craft will continue with the second half’s focus on the inimitable Nocturnes of Frederic Chopin. His portrayal of the journey from the depths of despair to the peace and joy to be found within have made him a favorite composer for music lovers worldwide.

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)
Nocturne Opus 15 No. 1 in F Major
Nocturne Opus 15 No. 2 in F Sharp Major
Nocturne Opus 27 No. 1 in C Sharp Minor
Nocturne Opus 27 No. 2 in D Flat Major
Scherzo in E Major Opus 54

The Venue

You’ll hear this inspirational music in a secret East Bay gem, the Berkeley Piano Club. Designed by the man who later created the Hollywood Bowl, this intimate recital space features a resonant acoustic, period charm, and a fantastic golden age Steinway concert grand.

GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
BUY YOUR TICKET NOW TO BE SURE YOU GET A SEAT.

Tickets available online only – no tickets will be sold at the door. All purchases fully refundable until March 1st, 2024

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About the artist

More about the artist

Accolades

“… often delightful… BRAVO!”
David Dubal/ Program Director

WXQR, New York, author, The Art of the Piano

I have to say that I enjoyed Rebecca Bogart’s playing on this disk more than I enjoyed the barnstorming of the Van Cliburn finalists reviewed above. If you want to know the reason, I will give it to you in one word: charm! With the Van Cliburn winners, each one is sending us the message, “I am a great pianist, and I am going to impress you with my virtuoso technique.” With Ms. Bogart, you get the message, “I am a musician. I love these pieces and want to share them with you. ” …
Lynn Bronson

California Music Teacher

Rebecca Bogart’s recital is not merely a showcase of beautiful, dark, and timeless solo piano repertoire, but also a celebration of the rich heritage of women in music. Her masterful interpretations of pieces by Fanny Hensel and Clara Schumann—alongside Chopin’s enchanting Nocturnes—provide a rare opportunity to experience these composers’ profound contributions in person, as they are still so rarely performed. Crafted by pioneering women, these works resonate with unmatched depth and brilliance, and Rebecca’s exceptional artistry brings their magic to life.
Molly McCann

HenselPushers.org

On stage, Rebecca Bogart is graceful and poised, gliding up to the piano and creating music in a way which can only be described as gifted… Bogart’s range is wide and versatile. Her interpretation made the ovation she received well deserved…richly expressive playing
Stephanie Kirtland

Peninsula Times Tribune, (Palo Alto, CA)

During her performance, Bogart clearly illustrated the beauty of how music speaks to an audience. Bogart demonstrated passion for the music as well as a heartfelt enthusiasm for communicating what the composer intended to express.
Kristina Anderson

Trinity News, Deerfield Illinois

One of the most gifted and intellectually adventurous pianists of our generation…
I have heard this artist play over the years, everything from blissful Rachmaninoff Preludes to labyrinthine passages by Liszt, with a dazzling technique, and a spirit that was equal to the music. Her new CD is an exhilarating testament to the fact that some of our best artists are yet to be discovered and as widely acclaimed as they deserve. This is playing with a keen sensitivity and intelligence.
Valerie Andrews

Buy Tickets Today

anatomy of a nocturne

Sign up for updates and background on the March 16th event and you’ll receive “Anatomy of a Nocturne” as a thank you. 

This beautiful genre is a shining star of the piano literature. Here’s your chance to learn all about this very special type of Romantic music.

Your gift will include a PDF booklet and a video lesson with Rebecca Bogart at the piano.

Info@rebeccabogart.com